Edible coating functionalized with ornamental plant extracts affect the postharvest quality of guava (Psidium guajava']java) during storage

Present study was carried out during 2021-23 at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to investigate the efficacy of active edible coatings, incorporated with extracts from rose leaves and marigold petals in preserving the quality of mature green guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. Allahabad Safeda during storage at both ambient (25 +/- 2 degrees C) and cold (10 +/- 1 degrees C) conditions. The coatings, particularly carboxy methyl cellulose combined with rose leaf extract (CMC+RL) demonstrated the highest effectiveness in minimizing per cent firmness reduction (PFR; 77.02% and 84.71%) compared to the control (89.95% and 89.73%) after 4 and 18 days of ambient and cold storage, respectively. Additionally, the coatings significantly influenced total soluble solids (TSS), total sugar content (TSC) and yellowness index (YI) showing potential in slowing down the fruit ripening. Moreover, the coatings demonstrated notable antioxidant activity with CMC+RL coating exhibited the highest activity. Furthermore, the coatings exhibited a substantial inhibitory effect on polygalactouronase (PG) activity, indicating a potential to mitigate cell wall degradation. Overall, the results highlight the promise of these biodegradable coatings as an alternative to synthetic preservatives in preserving postharvest quality and enhancing the shelf -life of guava fruits.