Impact of Edible Coating on Papaya Fruit Fresh-Cut Quality during Cold Storage

The study investigated the effect of Aloe vera gel alone and combined with lemon essential oil and chitosan as a possible alternative edible coating for maintaining quality of fresh-cut papaya cubes. The cubes were dipped in treatment solutions which were: chitosan (1%), chitosan (2%), Aloe vera gel (40 %), Aloe vera gel (40%) combined with lemon essential oil (1%), lemon essential oil (1%) and distilled water (control). Samples treated with Aloe vera gel (40%) combined with lemon essential oil (1%) had the best results in terms of weight loss, titratable acidity, vitamin C content, color values and total antioxidants while chitosan (2%) was the most effective treatment in reducing browning index, introducing the best sensory attributes, and increased total phenolics by 250% approximately than control.