Search

This study aimed to reveal the effects of different concentrations (0, 5, 10, and 20%) of Aloe veragel (AV) coating on the quality-related characteristics of table grapes (‘Alphonse Lavallée’ and ‘Red Globe’) during cold storage at 1.0 ± 0.5 °C with 90 ± 5.0% relative humidity for 75 days. Sulphur dioxide (SO2) was also used as a common chemical-based postharvest application to compare the effectiveness of the treatments. During the cold storage, AV treatments were remarkably effective in delaying the loss in fresh weight of grapes with greater effects than both the control and SO2. Postharvest changes in biochemical features such as the soluble solid contents (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), and maturity index (MI) of both grape cultivars were significantly delayed by AV concentrations. Higher concentrations of AV displayed better protection in the physical, biochemical, and visual quality-related properties of the grape cultivars. Considering the general findings, the use of 10% AV treatment could be recommended as a natural, safe, and healthy alternative strategy to chemicals as it provided better conservation of the fresh grapes in long-term cold storage.

Edible coating is an environmentally friendly, safe, and effective practice to extend the physical and biochemical qualities of fresh commodities. The present study evaluated the effects of preharvest Aloe vera(AV) spraying 1 week before harvest (25%), postharvest AV coating (25%), and their combined use on the quality of table grape (‘Sultani Cekirdeksiz’ syn.‘Thompson Seedless’) during cold storage at 1.0 ± 0.5 °C and 90 ± 5.0% relative humidity for 120 d. Berry adherence was significantly improved by preharvest AV pulverization by increasing the berry detachment force, a prime feature determining the storage and marketing lifetime of table grapes. Both preharvest and postharvest AV treatments remarkably delayed the loss in weight and maintained the rachis chlorophyll content and antioxidant capacity during the storage. Visual quality was obviously higher in grapes subjected to both treatments. Overall investigations showed that both treatments significantly maintained the storage lifetime of the grapes. Based on the findings, AV treatment as a natural and healthy compound could be used as a suitable alternative to extend the marketable period of table grapes and minimize postharvest losses.