Novel Prosopis juliflora leaf ethanolic extract coating for extending postharvest shelf-life of strawberries

Abstract

Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) is a rich source of nutrients, minerals, and antioxidants including vitamin C. Its susceptibility to mechanical injuries, dehydration, and fungal infections make its postharvest shelf-life very short. Prosopis juliflora water-soluble leaf ethanolic (PJ-WS-LE) extract previously described by our team has a strong antifungal activity. The present study investigates the potential effect of PJ-WS-LE extract coating on the extension of strawberries shelf-life, and the values of the extract alone and the extract embedded in 1% chitosan (edible coating) in delaying spoilage-related symptoms and in maintaining good storage quality parameters at 4 °C. PJ-WS-LE extract alone extended strawberries shelf-life at 4 °C by 2.32 times. Best storage quality-parameters were observed with strawberry samples coated with PJ-WS-LE extract embedded in 1% chitosan, this includes liked sensory characteristics, maintenance of firmness and total soluble solids levels, lower surrounding microbial count, lower percent weight loss and lower total antioxidant levels increase.