Influence of a biological coating and a wax on postharvest quality of mango (Mangifera indica L) variety "Keitt"

Mango (Mangifera indica L) is one of the most important tropical fruits worldwide; however, being a climacteric fruit, its postharvest deterioration is rapid, which implies that the presence of anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloesporioides and the long storage periods for its commercialization affect the shelf life of the fruit. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of three concentrations of a shellac-based wax and three concentrations of a biological coating (bioprotectant) made with Bacillus spp. and Streptomyces spp. as coatings for the preservation of physicochemical and microbiological quality parameters in Keitt mangoes stored for 35 days at 7 oC +/- 3. Mangoes with 0.5% bioprotectant and 30% wax showed an incidence of 40% up to day 35, which was significantly lower than that reported for the control group (80%). In the physicochemical parameters, the 30% wax preserved firmness, maintained a weight loss percentage of less than 10% during 35 days and presented the lowest pH values and the highest percentages of citric acid as of day 21 of storage, and the 0.5% bioprotectant in the variables of pH, total soluble solids and titratable acidity were similar to those reported in the control group; firmness was not affected during the days of storage.