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WOS: 000442606600002, The growing consumer demand for produces without chemical residues has focused efforts on the assessment of innovative natural antimicrobials. In this context, chitosan, derived from abundantly available chitin sources such as crab, shrimp and insects, has been reported to possess an excellent film-forming ability and inherent antimicrobial properties suitable for development of edible antimicrobial films. Thus, the present study was established to study the effect of chitosan coating on extending postharvest quality of fresh tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. 'Diamentino') maintained at two different storage temperatures (5 degrees C with 90% relative humidity and 21 degrees C with 65% relative humidity). Coating the tomatoes with chitosan solutions reduced the weight loss, with greater effect at 1% than 0.5 or 2% concentrations. Chitosan-coated tomatoes were firmer, higher in titratable acidity, and exhibited less biochemical changes than the control fruit at the end of storage. The loss in visual quality was significantly reduced by coating the fruits with chitosan solutions of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% as compared to the control. Among the applied concentrations, chitosan at 1% can be recommended as it was pioneering for most of the parameters analyzed during cold storage at both 5 degrees C for 20 d and at 21 degrees C for 10 d. Due to its lower cost and convenience to human health, chitosan may be one of the attractive and effective biopolymers for achieving adequate conservation of fresh tomatoes., Selcuk University Scientific Research Project Coordination Unit (BAP) [17201097], This paper has been generated from Master Science Thesis of Hayriye Fatma Kibar. Authors would like to thank Selcuk University Scientific Research Project Coordination Unit (BAP) for supporting the study (Project No: 17201097).

BACKGROUND: A wide range of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) concentrations as well as various treatment durations have been studied in tomatoes by different researchers. However, little is known about interaction of 1-MCP doses and maturity stages of tomatoes. Therefore the effects of different concentrations of 1-MCP on storage and postharvest quality of 'Zorro' tomatoes harvested at mature green or pink maturity stages were investigated in a 2-year trial study.

WOS: 000496477600001, Demand for fresh grapes is increasing globally due to their rich composition in phenolic compounds, which have a strong antioxidant capacity. However, fresh table grapes deteriorate rapidly due to berry water loss and pathogen growth, which make it difficult to preserve without treatment. Chitosan coating, as a healthy, simple and innovative technology against to common SO2 fumigation, was tested at various concentrations (0%, 0.5%, 1.0% and 2.0%) for the effectiveness on postharvest quality extension of detached grapes of 'Alphonse Lavallee' cultivar. Chitosan coating at all doses significantly retarded the loss in berry weight, extended the skin rupture force and total phenol content. Visual quality was higher due to coating the berries with chitosan. Chitosan at all concentrations was effective on delaying maturity index (used to express postharvest senescence) and changes in berry colour values such as L*, C and Hue angle. Among the applied doses, 1% chitosan solution can be recommended to apply since higher doses were more effective with similar results on overall quality features of berries. Overall findings demonstrated that chitosan as an edible coating with their unique barrier can be utilized as a natural preservative of detached grapes to extend the postharvest quality up to 28 days.

WOS: 000492414300004, Certain postharvest disorders such as rachis desiccation, weight loss, accelerated softening and biochemical changes limit the postharvest life of table grapes. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of pre-harvest micronized calcium pulverizations, postharvest UV-C treatment and their combined applications on extending postharvest quality of table grapes cv 'Crimson Seedless'. Pre-harvest micronized calcium pulverization was performed to improve rachis greenness and berry resistance while postharvest UV-C was aimed to induce physiological resistance and delay senescence in grape berries. Ca treatments significantly increased chlorophyll concentrations of rachis while Ca plus UV-C was the best treatment to maintain rachis chlorophyll concentration. UV-C with or without pre-harvest Ca treatment effectively delayed the weight loss during the storage. Ca delayed the increase of SSC during the storage. All the treatments, particularly postharvest UV-C, significantly delayed the berry senescence by delaying the decrease in acidity. UV-C with or without Ca, with the lowest values, significantly retarded the changes in phenols and decreased the berry decay. Ca plus UV-C treatment also effectively maintained the skin rupture force during the storage. Overall, pre-harvest micronized Ca pulverizations plus postharvest UV-C treatment can be recommended to extent the quality of table grapes cv. 'Crimson Seedless' up to 120 days at cold storage.