Effect of Gum Arabic and Starch-Based Coating and Different Polyliners on Postharvest Quality Attributes of Whole Pomegranate Fruit

This study investigated the effect of gum Arabic and starch-based coating and two polyliners (Liner 1-micro-perforated Xtend(R) and Liner 2-macro-perforated high-density polyethylene) on whole 'Wonderful' pomegranate fruit during cold storage (5 +/- 1 degrees C and 95 +/- 2% RH). Uncoated (UC) and coated (GA(MS)) fruit were packaged into standard open top ventilated cartons (dimensions: 0.40 m long, 0.30 m wide and 0.12 m high) with (GA(MS) + Liner 1, GA(MS) + Liner 2, UC + Liner 1 and UC + Liner 2) or without (UC and GA(MS)) polyliners. After 42 d, treatment GA(MS) + Liner 1 recorded the least weight loss (4.82%), whilst GA(MS) recorded lower (8.77%) weight loss than UC + Liner 2 (10.07%). The highest (24.74 mLCO(2) kg(-1)h(-1)) and lowest (13.14 mLCO(2) kg(-1)h(-1)) respiration rates were detected in UC and GA(MS) + Liner 1, respectively. The highest and lowest total soluble solids were recorded for GA(MS) (16.87 degrees Brix), and GA(MS) + Liner 1 (15.60 degrees Brix) and UC + Liner 1 (15.60 degrees Brix), respectively. Overall, no decay was detected for coated fruit packaged with either Liner 1 or Liner 2. Therefore, the combination of GA(MS) with Xtend(R) polyliners proved to be an effective treatment to maintain the quality of 'Wonderful' pomegranates during storage.

Automated summary

This study investigated the effects of gum Arabic and starch-based coating, as well as different polyliners, on the quality of 'Wonderful' pomegranate fruit during cold storage. The results suggest that the combination of GA(MS) coating with Xtend polyliners can effectively maintain the fruit quality, reduce weight loss, and decrease respiration rate.