Bioactive Nano-Based Packaging for Postharvest Storage of Horticultural Produce

Horticulture science is defined as the cultivation and handling of vegetables, fruits, flowers, and ornamental plants. In recent years, fruit and vegetable consumption has gained tremendous global attention. Fruits and vegetables are the sources of nutrients, such as proteins, vitamins, minerals, fibers, and phytochemicals, that are important to human nutrition and well-being. Following harvesting, fresh fruits and vegetables are subject to continuous water loss and solute and gas exchange with the environment by respiration and transpiration. In general, the rapid decrease in quality during postharvest results in huge economic losses of fruits and vegetables. New achievements indicate that nanomaterials could provide an alternative opportunity to maintain the quality and control the decay of fresh fruits and vegetables after harvest or during storage. Incorporating nanomaterials into the biopolymer matrix can enhance the physical, mechanical, thermal, barrier, heat sealability, and antibacterial properties of packaging materials. Furthermore, several nanostructures can provide active properties to packaging systems such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and oxygen-scavenging properties. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of bioactive nano-based packaging for postharvest storage of horticultural produce and its potential application in the industry. The packaging's positive and negative efficacy on physiological properties of products, such as ripening, respiration rates, antifungal, antimicrobial, antioxidants, organic acid, texture, and color enhancers have been mentioned.