The Preservation Effect of Chitosan-hawthorn Leaf Extract Coating on Strawberries

Strawberries rapidly deteriorate postharvest, necessitating effective measures to extend their shelf life. This study focused on developing an eco-friendly chitosan-based protective film for strawberry preservation. Strawberries were treated with a coating solution containing varying concentrations of hawthorn leaf extract (HLE) (0.4%, 0.7%, and 1.0%), 1.5% chitosan (CH), and 1% acetic acid. The results demonstrated that coating strawberry fruit with 1% CH-HLE notably delayed fruit spoilage. In-depth analysis revealed that, compared with the uncoated strawberry fruits, the 1% CH-HLE coating effectively reduced weight loss, the respiration intensity, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and superoxide anion (O