Effect of composite edible coating from gelatin and glycerol triacetate on prolonging shelf life of refrigerated strawberry

Abstract

Postharvest treatments of strawberries are necessary to maintain high quality of the product for longer periods, to reduce postharvest losses and to add quality value .The ability of three solution of edible films (6%gelatin-6%gelatin with 10% glycerol triacetate - 6%gelatin with 20% glycerol triacetate), to extend the shelf-life of strawberry fruit over 12 days was studied. Strawberries were immersed in the films solutions for 1 minute and after coated were dried at 15 ºC for 24 hours. The strawberries were then kept under refrigeration .The quality of coated and non-coated strawberries was evaluated by weight loss , titratable acidity, total soluble solids and total sugar concentration ,vitamin C and visible decay during over a 12-day storage period. Results showed that the merge of fat material with gelatin films extend shelf-life of strawberries and keep the quality of the strawberries during storage, when compared with control fruits, but it did not delay of visible decay during refrigerated storage.