Antifungal Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC)-Lipid Composite Edible Coatings and Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) to Reduce Postharvest Decay and Improve Storability of ‘Mollar De Elche’ Pomegranates

Pomegranate exhibits important postharvest quality losses that limit its storage potential, caused mainly by weight loss, chilling injury and fungal diseases. In this work, we evaluated the effect of novel hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) edible coatings (ECs) formulated with three different lipids (beeswax (BW), carnauba wax, glycerol monostearate), as hydrophobic components, two GRAS salts (potassium bicarbonate (PBC) sodium benzoate (SB)), antifungal ingredients, to control loss natural decay ‘Mollar de Elche’ pomegranates during at 20 °C. Afterwards, selected ECs commercial modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) films were assayed alone or in combination preserve fruit stored 5 °C for 4 months plus 1 week Results showed amended SB reduced pomegranate latent infections Botrytis cinerea wound diseases Penicillium spp. Moreover, MAP technologies confirmed an efficient mean freshness, prevent shriveling rind browning, reduce decay, thus extending life pomegranates. The HPMC-BW-SB + was most promising treatment it without negatively affecting physicochemical sensory quality.