Effect of chitosan coatings on physico-chemical and enzymatic activities in mango cv Dashehari stored at low temperature

Physico-chemical and enzymatic changes in mango ( Mangifera indica) cv. Dashehari in response to postharvest application of chitosan (0, 0.5 and 1.0%) were studied during 4 weeks that were stored between 10 +/- 1 degrees C, 90-95% RH. Fruits were evaluated for various quality parameters such as firmness, weight loss, pulp colour, beta-carotene, soluble solid content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA) and activities of polygalactouronase (PG) and cellulase on 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. Results exhibited that chitosan coatings (1.0%) effectively reduced the weight loss (5.82%) and markedly slowed down the ripening changes as evidenced from their retention of fruit firmness (15.50 N), maintenance of SSC (18.85%) and TA (0.44%) at 21 days of storage. Chitosan coatings also retarded the pulp colour development and lowered activities of PG and cellulase enzymes as compared to non-coated fruits. Overall, chitosan coating at 1.0% was found to be most effective in enhancing the storability and quality of mango fruits at cool storage temperatures.