Effects of carboxymethyl cellulose incorporated with garlic essential oil composite coatings for improving quality of strawberries

The present study was aimed to determine the effects of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/garlic essential oil (GEO) composite coatings in improving the quality of strawberries stored at 20 degrees C and 35-40% RH. To find the effects of CMC/GEO composite coatings, strawberries were coated with CMC, CMC+ GEO (1%), CMC + GEO (2%), CMC + GEO (3%) and stored, while the uncoated strawberries were taken as control during storing. The effectiveness of CMC/GEO composite coatings was evaluated by measuring their weight loss, decay percentage, ascorbic acid, total phenols, anthocyanins, titratable acidity, total soluble solids and sensory evaluation. After 6 days of storage, CMC+ GEO (2%) composite coatings was found very effective in decreasing the senescence and maintaining the nutritional contents of strawberries. Results of this study confirm that CMC/GEO composite coatings can be used to improve the quality of strawberries. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.