Innovative coatings of Aloe Vera gel with salicylic acid and melatonin to preserve mango (Mangifera indica L.) fruit quality.

BACKGROUND

Mango fruit has a limited shelf life and is susceptible to rapid quality deterioration owing to its climacteric nature. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a newly developed Aloe vera (AV)-based edible coating containing melatonin (ML) and salicylic acid (SA) on postharvest quality preservation of mango fruits during storage (15 days at 20 ± 2 °C).

RESULTS

The results showed that the treated fruits exhibited a noticeably preserved quality compared to the control fruits, with the highest marketability observed in AV + ML and AV + SA. Fruit firmness was better maintained in the treated fruits, particularly in the AV + ML treatment (4.5 kg/cm). Fruit treated with Al + SA exhibited lower respiration rate than control and other treatments. Treated fruits also showed lower weight loss and higher levels of total phenolic content, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity compared to the control group. Color changes were also mitigated in treated fruits, with higher a* and lower b* values. The PCA analysis showed that the AV + ML treatment was very different from the other treatments and the control at 15 days of storage.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the effectiveness of AV + ML and AV + SA in preserving the postharvest quality of mango fruits, providing valuable insights into postharvest quality, and improving market acceptance.