Efficacy of Aloe vera based composite edible coatings to maintain the post-harvest appearance of Ber fruits (Zizyphus mauritiana) cv. Umran

Abstract

Umran is a most popular variety in India among other cultivars of Ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk.) fruit. It provides nutritious fruit at very low cost even under marginal growing conditions but has short shelf life of 3-5 days. The research conducted to check the efficacy of Aloe vera gel based composite edible coating to maintain the post-harvest physical attributes of Ber fruits. After harvesting, the fruits were coated with Aloe vera gelincorporated with texture enhancer (calcium gluconate @ 1 and 2%) and antioxidant (ascorbic acid @1 and 2%) and stored at ambient storage condition sup to 15 days. Among all the treatments 75% Aloe vera gel incorporated with 1% ascorbic acid significantly reduces the physiological loss in weight (8.89%), decay per cent (10.08%), shrinkage of fruits (5.03%) and retained Better fruit weight (14.98g), diameter (2.42cm) and firmness of fruits (1.09 kg/cm2) up to 15 days. While the uncoated (control) ber fruits start losing their physical attributes after 5 days.