1995/04/01 by Raymond G. McGuire, Guy J. Hallman · 1 citation
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Postharvest Quality and Shelf Life Management #Plant Physiology and Cultivation Studies #Plant Surface Properties and Treatments
paper · pdf · doi:10.21273/hortsci.30.2.294
Harvested, mature-green guava (Psidium guajava L.) fruit were coated with cellulose- or carnauba-based emulsions to compare the effect on fruit ripening and quality of ripened fruit. Coatings containing 2% or 4% hydroxypropylcellulose significantly slowed softening an average of 35% or 45%, respectively, compared to uncoated fruit (a delay of 1 to 2 days in September and 4 to 5 days by January). A 5% carnauba formulation slowed softening by 10% to 30% and was most effective at reducing weight loss. Neither of the cellulose- nor the carnauba-based coatings affected the decay susceptibility of softened fruit, but coated fruit did not develop as much color, had a lower soluble solids concentration, and were more prone to surface blackening in storage than uncoated fruit.