Prolonging post-harvest quality and storage life of pomegranate wonderful as affected by Arabic gum and different edible coatings

Abstract

Due to the rising interest in healthy products, super foods such as pomegranate have spread widely on the international market in recent years. Several postharvest treatments have been applied in order to maintain the quality and extend shelf life of pomegranate arils. This study evaluated the effect of Arabic gum treatment as well as different edible coatings (Jojoba oil, Gelatin, Wheat Germ oil and Rosemary oil) on shelf life and fruit quality parameters of Wonderful pomegranate during cold storage at 5oC with 85-90% relative humidity for 45 days. Fruit characteristics, such as fruit weight, volume, firmness, and weight loss%, total juice weight and volume, total soluble solids, total acidity, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), total anthocyanin, total sugars % and total phenols were determined periodically along a storage period of 45 days. It is clear that, all fruit characteristics were positively affected by different edible coating treatments. Pomegranate fruits coated with rosemary oil at 2% in combination with Arabic gum at 10% effectively reduced weight loss%, maintained higher firmness, fruit weight, fruit volume, juice weight and juice volume.