Effects of ultrasound-assisted chitosan grafted caffeic acid coating on the quality and microbial composition of pompano during ice storage

•Ultrasound-assisted chitosan grafted caffeic acid coating (USG) was applied in Trachinotus ovatus preservation.•The microbiota community of iced Trachinotus ovatus was altered by USG treatment.•USG inhibited the microbial growth and retarded the quality deterioration of Trachinotus ovatus. The effects of ultrasound-assisted chitosan grafted caffeic acid coating on the quality and microbial composition of fresh pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) fillets during ice storage for 24 days were evaluated. Samples were treated by distilled water (CK), ultrasound (US), chitosan grafted caffeic acid coating (G), and chitosan grafted caffeic acid coating with ultrasound-assisted (USG). Results showed that samples treated with USG could inhibit the formation of corrupt substances such as TVB-N, TBA, biogenic amines (BAs), hypoxanthine (Hx), and hypoxanthine riboside (HxR) when compared to the CK group.The results of high-throughput sequencing technology observed that the major bacteria genus of fresh samples was Acinetobacter.The diversity of bacterial communities at the initial stage was more diverse than that at the end of stage. With the extension of storage time, the USG treatment could maintain the microbial diversity. The dominant microbiota was Shewanella and Brochothrix in the CK group after 24 days of storage. In addition, Brochothrix in treated groups was effectively decreased. The microbial communities of samples in all treatments were changed during storage. At the end of storage, there was a significant difference in bacterial composition between the CK and treated samples, indicating that the treatment can effectively inhibit the growth of microorganisms, especially spoilage microorganisms, and reduce the quality deterioration caused by bacteria.