Hydrocolloid-Based Bilayer Edible Coatings Maintain Bioactive Compounds and Nutritional Quality of ‘Dashehari’ Mango (Mangifera Indica L.) Fruits

The present study aimed to know the effects of hydrocolloid-based bilayer coatings on bioactive compounds and nutritional profile of ‘Dashehari’ mango fruits at ambient storage. Freshly harvested mature mango fruits were dipped in the first coating emulsion of gum acacia (GA) (2%) and air dried for 5 min; then, same fruits were dipped in the second coating emulsion of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) (1%). Similarly, the second lot was dipped in GA (2%) followed by guar gum (GG) (2%), and the third lot of fruits was dipped in CMC followed by GG alternatively to form bilayers. Results demonstrated that bilayer coating with GA/CMC significantly reduced the weight loss (1.86-fold) and decay incidence (4.51-fold) during ambient storage. Likewise, bilayer coating of GA/CMC preserved higher titratable acidity (TA) (0.42%), ascorbic acid (AA), chlorophyll content (4.43 mg.100 g −1 ), total phenol content (TPC) (1.23-fold) and antioxidant capacity (AOX) (2.13-fold) compared to control fruits during ambient storage for up to 9 days. Softening enzyme such as pectin methyl esterase (PME) activity was found minimum in bilayer GA/CMC-treated fruits. Hence, bilayer coating of GA/CMC was effective in preserving postharvest quality parameters of stored ‘Dashehari’ mango fruits. Graphical Abstract