The effect of postharvest application of melatonin, chitosan and
nano chitosan in improving the quality characteristics and
increasing the storage life of apple variety (Red Delicious)
Mostaghim Hamidi
Background: Apple fruit is an ascending fruit and shows a strong increase in
respiration after harvesting. Therefore, storing and keeping apple fruit is an
important issue from an economic point of view, so that it can be provided with
high quality throughout the year. Any substance that can reduce the amount of
water loss and the amount of biochemical activities of this fruit can increase the
shelf life of the product.
Aim: In this research, the effectiveness of an edible coating containing chitosan,
nanochitosan and melatonin was investigated with the aim of increasing the shelf
life of Red Delicious apples.
Methodology: This experiment was conducted as a factorial experiment in the
form of a completely random basic design with two factors and 4 repetitions in the
laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Persian Gulf
University, Bushehr, during the year 1401. The treatments included melatonin (1
and 10 mM), chitosan (1 mM) and nano chitosan (1 and 3 mM) along with
control. The storage period for fruits was considered to be 4 months, and in each
period of 30 days, the attributes of fruit weight loss percentage, browning
percentage, fruit juice volume, fruit firmness, fruit vitamin C, TA, TSS, taste
index, pH Fruit, anthocyanin and total phenol content were measured.
Conclusions: Examining the results of comparing the average data indicated that
with the passage of time of storage, the characteristics of weight loss percentage,
browning percentage, flavor index, TSS and pH of fruit juice increased and the
characteristics of texture firmness, juice volume, vitamin C, TA, anthocyanin and
total phenol decreased. The highest strength in the concentration of 1 mM
nanochitosan (7.23), the volume of fruit juice in 1 mM nanochitosan and
melatonin trea