Effects of postharvest polyamine application and edible coating on maintaining quality of mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Langra during cold storage

Mango is a tropical fruit which is sensitive to chilling injury. The present work investigated the potential of edible coatings of chitosan and polyamine spermidine in increasing shelf life and quality of mango. The control fruits (treated with distilled water) and the mango fruits treated with different concentrations of chitosan (0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0%) and spermidine (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mM) were studied to improve postharvest characteristics and quality maintenance during cold storage. Parameters such as firmness, weight loss, fungal contamination, total phenol, antioxidant activity, vitamin C, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), flavor index, color index, and ethylene production were measured after at harvest (0), 8, 16, and 24 days of storage at 15 ± 2°C and relative humidity of 85%–90%. Chitosan and spermidine delayed water loss, firmness, and fungal contamination. Application of chitosan containing ascorbic acid significantly increased phenolic content and antioxidant activity compared to the control plants. It also changed soluble solid content, TA, pH of pulp, and sugar content and decreased ethylene production. The obtained results suggested that chitosan (2%) and spermidine (2 mM) had potential to improve firmness and delay deterioration processes of “Langra” mango after harvest.