Effect of Cmtosan Coating on Postharvest Quality and Shelf Life of Dragon Fruits (Hyjocereus Spp.) At Ambient Condition

Abstract

The study was carried out at the Molecular Horticulture Laboratory of Agrotechnology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, from November 2022 to April 2023 to investigate the effect of chitosan coating on the postharvest quality and shelf life of dragon fruits under ambient conditions. The experiment consisted of four treatments with three varieties of dragon fruits and was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design with three replications for the treatments. The treatments were four levels of chitosan solution, viz. T₁ = control, T₂ = 0.1%, T₃ = 0.3%, and T₄ = 0.5% concentration, and the three varieties of dragon fruits were V₁ = pink-fleshed, V₂ = white-fleshed, and V₃ = yellow-fleshed. There were significant differences in all the physicochemical parameters, viz. weight loss, firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, vitamin C content, total flavonoid, antioxidant, total carotenoid content, and shelf life. At 9 DAS, the highest firmness (3.07 N), TA (0.13%), vitamin C (19.61 mg/100 g), total flavonoid content (2.58 mg/100 g), total carotenoid content (28 mg/100 g), and antioxidant activity (67.50%) were observed in pink-fleshed fruits coated with 0.5% chitosan coating, whereas these values were the lowest in white-fleshed uncoated fruits. On the other hand, the lowest weight loss (3.2%) and TSS content (10.67) were found in pink-fleshed fruits coated with 0.5% chitosan, whereas these values were the highest in white-fleshed uncoated fruits. The results of the experiment revealed that pink-fleshed dragon fruit coated with 0.5% chitosan solution performed better with respect to all the desirable parameters studied. Therefore, it could be concluded that pink-fleshed dragon fruit with 0.5% chitosan solution may be recommended for storing dragon fruits under ambient conditions.