Edible coatings enriched with essential oils, the best option to store Arbutus unedo L. fresh fruit

Poscosecha, postcosecha, postharvest, Arbutus unedo The shrub Arbutus unedo L. is native of the Mediterranean region and its fruits commonly used in Portugal in the production of ?brandy?. Only small quantities are used for fresh consumption despite its excellent flavor, due to high perishability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the use of edible films on maintaining fruit quality through shelf life of Arbutus unedo fresh fruit. The fruits were harvested in the Algarve mountain ?Caldeir?o?, in mid-November when they were ripe. Fruits were selected and randomly divided into 4 groups, which were dipped for 2 minutes in solutions of distilled water (control), Citral (0.01% (w / v)) Natureseal (0.6% (w / v)) and Natureseal (0 , 6% (w / v)) + Citral (0.01% (w / v)), and stored for 0, 8, 15 and 22 days. Panelists appreciated the fruits being the Natureseal+Citral treated fruit, the best in appearance. Treatment with Natureseal+Citral showed to be the one which preserved better most fruit quality parameters measured, in the conditions of this experiment. The original summary contains more details. Original title, complete list of authors and source:Edible coatings enriched with essential oils effect on the storage ability of Arbutus unedo L. fresh fruitCust?dia Gago, Adriana Guerreiro, Gra?a Miguel, Ana Cavaco & Dulce AntunesPostLleida 2012, X Simposio Nacional y VII Ib?rico Sobre Maduraci?n y Postcosecha The picture of the fruits on the tree is by maringatova.blogspot.com, and the one of the Madrid sculpture is by en.wikipedia.org ? ? ?