Effects of chitosan coatings fused with medicinal plant extracts on postharvest quality and storage stability of purple passion fruit (<i>Passiflora edulis</i> var. Ester)

Abstract Chitosan edible coating (Ch; 2%, mass concentration) enriched with 2% of 0.1 mg/L Bidens pilosa (Ch+B), Lippia javanica (Ch+L), Syzygium cordatum (Ch+S), or Ximenia caffra (Ch+X) was applied as a composite in alleviating shrivel and maintaining the quality purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis var. Ester). Treated dipped for 3 min solution, control distilled water. The were stored at (8±2) °C 90%±5% relative humidity (RH) 32 d. Sampling done every 8 d plus ((20±2) (50%±5%) RH) to simulate retail conditions. Efficacy medicinal plant extracts chitosan matrix varied; lower ethylene production (82.42 µL C2H4/(kg·h)) seen coated Ch+S, lowest respiration rate (75 mL CO2/(kg·h)) observed Ch+B. showed highest (84.90 (117.98 CO2/(kg·h)). Fruit Ch+B had weight loss (41.67%), higher juice content (60.13%) BrimA (3.31); while (88.03%), (21.90%), (2.49). Shrivel incidence (23.70%) on Ch+L (83.30%) fruit. Ch+X electrolyte leakage (71.40%), (91.97%). alone performed better than but did not exceed chitosan-coated Based principal component analysis, it can be concluded that more effective incidence, maintained during storage, shows potential commercial applications.