Chitin nanofiber coating retains postharvest quality and extends shelf life of mango

Munira, Shirazoom; Kabir, Md. Yamin; Khan, Shamim Ahmed Kamal Uddin; Shams, Md. Iftekhar

doi:10.22077/jhpr.2025.8984.1479

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Agrotechnology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh

² Faculty of Agriculture, Khulna Agricultural University, Khulna 9100, Bangladesh

³ Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh

https://doi.org/10.22077/jhpr.2025.8984.1479

Abstract

Purpose: Mango is a well-known fruit in tropical and sub-tropical countries, including Bangladesh. However, mangoes are climacteric fruits and exhibit limited storage life due to a high respiration rate. Mangoes are also susceptible to particular storage pathogens at postharvest and thus possess a short shelf life. Research Method: Mature mangoes were treated with different concentrations of chitin nanofiber (CNF) and stored in ambient conditions to evaluate the effect of CNF (0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5%) on postharvest quality and shelf life. Disease-free and physiologically mature mangoes were collected from an orchard. The experiment was devised following a Completely Randomized Design with three replications, and each replication consisted of 10 fruits. Fruits were evaluated for physical quality (weight loss, fruit firmness, and color changes), chemical attributes [ changes in total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), vitamin C content], microbial (disease incidence and disease severity), and shelf life. Findings: The application of 0.3% CNF maintains fruit color (6.33 vs. 4), decreases disease incidence (62.5% vs. 100%) and prolongs the shelf life (8.5 days vs. 6.02 days) of mangoes than the control. Similarly, 0.1% of CNF retains vitamin C (24.33 mg/100g vs. 12.33 mg/100g), decreases disease severity (62% vs. 85.68%), and 0.5% of CNF reduces weight loss (19.34% vs. 31.4%) than the control. Research Limitations: CNF preparation requires lab facilities and technical expertise, and it is costly. Originality/Value: CNF 0.3% has the potential to maintain postharvest quality and extend the shelf life of mangoes. However, more research is needed to make the final recommendation at the farmers’ level.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Food Science and Technology

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Chitin nanofiber coating retains postharvest quality and extends shelf life of mango

References

References

Articles in Press, Corrected Proof Available Online from 22 August 2025

Articles in Press, Corrected Proof
Available Online from 22 August 2025