Ultrasound and autoclave-deacetylated Achatina fulica shell chitosan: Characterisation and effect on tomato and cucumber fruit qualities during storage

•Deacetylated snail shell chitosan was evaluated for tomato and cucumber storage.•Autoclave and ultrasound-derived snail shell chitosan had low deacetylation degree.•Cold storage mostly influenced colour variations than chitosan treatment of tomato.•Chitosan coating effectively inhibited microbes in tomato and cucumber in storage.•Moisture loss was mostly abated in tomatoes by autoclave-derived chitosan coating. Chitosan from African giant snail (Achatina fulica) shells derived through autoclave- (SSCA) or ultrasound-assisted (SSCU) deacetylation was characterised and evaluated for quality and shelf life of tomatoes and cucumbers over 10 days of ambient (26 ± 2 °C) and refrigerated (4 ± 2 °C) storage. A 64.03 and 54.41% deacetylation degrees were achieved for SSCA and SSCU, respectively with the SEM showing uniform surface morphologies. Moisture loss in tomatoes was effectively moderated by SSCA and SSCU treatments as depicted by higher weight retention (93.65% and 81.80%) compared to untreated samples (58.52%) after 10 days of refrigerated storage. Autoclave-derived chitosan significantly retained colour of tomato and cucumber. Ascorbic acid retentions were 88.76% and 87.34%, and 86.40% and 77.01% for SSCA and SSCU-treated tomatoes at ambient and refrigerated storage, respectively. Yeast and mould growths were completely inhibited for 10 days of refrigerated storage. Chitosan treatment enhanced quality and shelf life of tomatoes and cucumbers in the order SSCA > SSCU > control.