Chitosan Coating and UV-C Irradiation to Maintain Postharvest Quality of Minimally Processed Table Grapes cv ‘Michele Palieri’

Abstract

International trade in table grapes has expanded tremendously over the last few decades, with out-of season fresh produce now being consumed and traded globally. However, fresh table grapes decay quickly due to pathogen infestation and water loss, which make it difficult to preserve without an effective treatment. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of UV‑C and chitosan coatings (1%), alone or in combination, on the quality of minimally processed table grapes cv ‘Michele Palieri’ during cold storage at 1 ± 0.5 °C and 90 ± 5% RH for 21 days. The minimal operation was performed by cutting the pedicel with a sharp scissor leaving 1–2 mm of cap stem. The treatments were effective on maintenance of general quality of the berries in comparison to control. But, the chitosan coating with UV‑C irradiation could further extent the postharvest quality of stem-excised ‘Michele Palieri’ berries, by restraining the increase in weight loss and keeping the visual quality compared to other treatments. Overall results showed that UV‑C plus chitosan treatment can be an effective method for enhancing the phytochemical content and delaying the senescence of minimally processed table grapes during cold storage.