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The effect of Aloe vera (ALV) coating was studied on chillies at 10 ± 1°C for 28 days. ALV gel-coated chillies showed reduced weight loss, disease incidence, red chili percentage, respiration rate, electrolyte leakage, hydrogen peroxide, and superoxide anion contents. The ALV coating maintained general acceptance in terms of visual quality and marketability index with higher chlorophyll contents, ascorbic acid contents, total phenolic contents, and total antioxidants. In addition, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase activities were markedly higher in coated chillies compared to control. The biochemical attributes such as soluble solids content, acidity, sugar: acid ratio, and juice pH were non-significantly affected by ALV application; however, the said attributes were comparatively higher in contrast to control. In conclusion, ALV edible coating could be used as an eco-friendly approach for delaying senescence and maintaining the postharvest quality of green chillies up to 28 days. Practical applications: Green chilies being highly perishable exhibit limited postharvest life with rapid loss of water, shrivelling, wilting, disease incidence, and reduced consumer acceptability. ALV gel coating significantly delayed postharvest senescence, reduced disease spread, maintained higher antioxidant activities of green chilies during cold storage. Therefore, ALV coating [50%] would be the suitable alternative to synthetic preservatives for extending the storage life and conserving the quality of green chilies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aloe vera (ALV) with its unique nutritional profile is being used for food, health, and nutraceutical industries globally. Due to its organic nature, ALV gel coating has created lot of interest for exploring its potential in extending the shelf and storage life of fresh produce. ALV gel coating plays imperative role in delaying fruit ripening by lowering ethylene biosynthesis, respiration rate, and internal metabolic activities associated with fruit softening, color development, enzymatic browning, and decay. ALV gel coating reduces the microbial spoilage due to its antifungal properties and maintains visual appearance, firmness, sugar: acid ratio, total antioxidants, and phenolic contents with conserved eating quality. ALV coated fruits and vegetables showed reduced weight loss, superoxide ion (O2-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), ion leakage, and soluble solids content and exhibited higher acidity, anthocyanins, ascorbic acid, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities. It also delayed the enzymatic browning by inducing peroxidase (POD) activity during storage. Recent local studies also revealed that ALV gel coating markedly conserved higher consuming quality and extended storage period (>1.34-fold) of different fruits and vegetables. Overall, Aloe vera gel coating alone or in combination with other organic compounds has shown great potential as a food-safe and eco-friendly coating for maintaining the quality of fruits and vegetables over extended period and reducing postharvest losses in the supply chain. Practical applications: ALV gel is a plant-based natural coating of eco-friendly nature. The present review summarizes the updated information of ALV gel coating application, methods of extraction, combinations with other postharvest coatings, and its impact on quality of various fruits and vegetables. It also provides future insights for the development of commercially applicable ALV gel coating protocols through simulation studies. So, being a natural coating, ALV gel has tremendous potential to be used in fruit and vegetable industries around the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to investigate the influence of oxalic acid on pericarp browning, biochemical quality, antioxidative and enzymatic changes in litchi cv. 'Gola' fruit under extended cold storage, which has not been studied extensively. Postharvest application of 2 mM oxalic acid reduced fruit weight loss and delayed pericarp browning by maintaining higher anthocyanin contents, as compared with control. Activities of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase enzymes in litchi peel as well as pulp tissues were reduced in fruit treated with 2 mM oxalic acid during 28 days of cold storage. Activities of antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) and level of total phenolic contents and total antioxidants in litchi peel as well as pulp tissues were significantly higher in 2 mM oxalic acid-treated fruit. In conclusion, postharvest application of 2 mM oxalic acid significantly delayed pericarp browning and maintained better quality of litchi cv. 'Gola' fruit during cold storage. Practical Applications Pericarp browning of litchi fruit is associated with postharvest oxidative stress, which deteriorates its quality, long-term storability and commercial value. Postharvest application of oxalic acid has been found to be a useful strategy to overcome the issue of pericarp browning and enhance antioxidative potential of litchi under low temperature storage; thereby, applicable to commercial supply chains for domestic and export markets. Furthermore, this study may facilitate in understanding the changes in antioxidative potential and enzymatic activities during cold storage with gradual browning in pulp as well as peel tissues of litchi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Litchi fruit were treated with methionine [(0.25%) MN] and cysteine [(025%) CN] alone or in combination, and kept under 1% O2 + 5% CO2 controlled atmosphere (CA) at 5 ± 1ºC for 28 days. Among different treatments, CN was most effective to inhibit browning, than MN and CN + MN under CA conditions. Application of 0.25% CN significantly delayed browning index, reduced disease incidence, weight loss, malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, electrolyte leakage, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anion (O2–•) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activities with higher contents of total anthocyanins under CA‐storage. In addition, 0.25% CN treatment showed higher contents of ascorbic acid, total phenolics (TPC), and 2,2–diphenyl–1–picrylhydrazyl–radical scavenging capacity and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT) enzymes having maintained quality attributes. Therefore, 0.25% CN pre‐treatment could be considered a promising way for managing browning, and conserving litchi fruit quality under CA‐storage. Practical applications: Litchi fruit are highly perishable due to rapid pericarp browning having limited postharvest market potential. The browning takes place due to enzymatic reactions and phenolic oxidation. However, it can be delayed by exogenous antibrowning treatments and suitable storage environment. The delayed incidence of pericarp browning may help to maintain its quality with extended storage potential suitable for domestic and international markets. So, the outcomes of the current work may help to maintain overall quality and to extend its storage potential that would be helpful in extending its market life with maintained visual quality at domestic and international destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]