Background:

On the last years the interest on fresh fruits consumption has been increased due to its nutritional potential as well as high energetic demand generated by the cold-chains storage. It is the reason why it has been dabbled on edible coating as an alternative method on fruits preservation.

Objectives:

This investigation focused on the coating application using a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose based with bees wax applied all over blackberry fruits in order to evaluate the effects on its preservation.

Methods:

A multifactorial categorical design was used through the Fisher LSD method as a statistical analysis with a confidence level of 95%; it were determined physiological properties such respiration and weight loss, and physicochemical properties like pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids, and ripeness index within a period of 15 days at 4°C.

Results:

It were obtained significant differences (p<0.05) between the evaluated treatments from the third storage day for physicochemical and physiological parameters. The titratable acidity has a marked decrease on the control treatment (T5) regarding treatments where coatings were applied (T1, T2, T3, T4) where a smaller decrease on acidity was obtained. In other hand, the weight loss, total soluble solids, pH, ripening and respiration index showed an increase over storage time. The blackberry fruits processed with edible coating presented a slight increase compared to control samples.

Conclusions:

Edible coatings applied on blackberry fruits had a positive effect in the evaluated properties, treatments T3 and T4. Generally, edible coatings with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose base and beeswax increase the shelf life of blackberry.

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