Abstract
The market trend for pitaya is increasing, although the preservation of the quality of this fruit after the harvest is challenging due to microbial decay, dehydration, and oxidation. In this work, the application of antimicrobial chitosan-based coatings achieved successful postharvest preservation of pitaya (Stenocereus pruinosus) during storage at 10 ± 2 °C with a relative humidity of 80 ± 5%. The solution of cross-linked chitosan with hydroxypropylmethylcellulose with entrapped Neem oil (16 g·L−1) displayed the best postharvest fruit characteristics. The reduction of physiological weight loss and fungal contamination, with an increased redness index and release of azadirachtin from the microencapsulated oil, resulted in up to a 15 day shelf life for this fruit. This postharvest procedure has the potential to increase commercial exploitation of fresh pitaya, owing to its good taste and high content of antioxidants.
Highlights
Stenocereus pruinosus (Otto) Buxbaum is a columnar cactus endemic of the arid and semi-arid regions of Mexico, whose fruit is commonly named pitaya of May [1,2]
The Neem has been used for the control of phytopathogenic fungi by Wang et al [19], which describes the control of Monilinia fructicola, Penicillium expansum, Trichothecium roseum, and Alternaria alternata by Neem seed kernel extract in plums (Prunus salicina) and Yali pear (Pyrus bertschneideri)
This study demonstrates that the use of these coatings on pitaya increases the shelf life, and thereby, the commercial exportation for this fruit
Summary
Stenocereus pruinosus (Otto) Buxbaum is a columnar cactus endemic of the arid and semi-arid regions of Mexico, whose fruit is commonly named pitaya of May [1,2]. The Neem has been used for the control of phytopathogenic fungi by Wang et al [19], which describes the control of Monilinia fructicola, Penicillium expansum, Trichothecium roseum, and Alternaria alternata by Neem seed kernel extract in plums (Prunus salicina) and Yali pear (Pyrus bertschneideri) In another related study, Neem within 1.5% and 2% concentration coated precooling apples (Malus domestica) in a shrink-wrapped tray packing at 18–25 ◦ C and with 65–75% relative humidity (RH) attained a 45 day storage life and remarkably reduced disease incidence with the minimum physiological weight loss [20]. This study demonstrates that the use of these coatings on pitaya increases the shelf life, and thereby, the commercial exportation for this fruit
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