Impact ofAloe veragel coating enriched with basil (Ocimum basilicumL.) essential oil on postharvest quality of strawberry fruit

Strawberries are very perishable and decay rapidly after harvest. Among the several preservation techniques, application of edible coating is found to be an effective way to extend the fruits shelf life and has gained lots of attentions in the recent years. In the present study, the effect ofAloe veragel coating alone and combined with basil essential oil in 500 and 1000 mu L L(- 1)concentrations on the postharvest qualities of strawberry fruit was investigated. After treatment, the fruit were stored at 4 degrees C and 85% relative humidity for 12 days. The surface morphology of samples was also studied by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that the coating treatments had a significant effect on the respiration rate of the fruit, delayed weight loss, softening, and fungal growth. Besides, the treatments led to maintain the total acidity, flavor index,L*, and hue degrees color values and sensory attributes without affecting total soluble solids, and pH of strawberries during storage. The efficacy of treatments enhanced in the samples whereAloe veragel was combined with basil oil specially at 1000 mu L L(- 1)of basil oil. Thus, the edible coating prepared from the combination ofAloe veragel and basil oil could be a promising postharvest treatment for maintaining the quality of strawberry fruit during cold storage.

Automated summary

The study found that the edible coating prepared from the combination of Aloe vera gel and basil oil had a significant effect on delaying the respiration rate, weight loss, softening, and fungal growth of strawberry fruit while maintaining total acidity, flavor index, L*, and hue degrees color values and sensory attributes during storage. The efficacy of treatments was enhanced in samples where Aloe vera gel was combined with basil oil, especially at a concentration of 1000 mu L L(-1) of basil oil, suggesting that it could be a promising postharvest treatment for maintaining the quality of strawberry fruit during cold storage.