Abstract

"Palermitana" loquat fruits were stored at 2, 4 or 8°C for 15 or 30 days before being transferred to shelf-life conditions (20°C and 75% RH) for 1 week. Before storage, fruits were dipped in an emulsion of an edible coating (Semperfresh) or wrapped with an extensible PVC film, while one lot received no treatment and was used as control. Fruit stored at 2°C maintained better the chemical and aesthetical characteristics, while a progressive increase in overall alteration was observed for the other IMO temperature regimes. In particular, fruits which were held at 4°C reported the highest weight loss and the highest rate of overall appearance alteration. The effect of plastic film was very important in preserving weight loss and overall appearance, while Semperfresh enhanced transpiration and visual appearance deterioration even more than the control. The results obtained show that fruit can be stored conveniently for 1 month at 2°C without no postharvest treatment, while, if applying a plastic film, they can hold an appreciable quality level for 1 month even at 4 or 8°C. Disappointing, on the other hand, was the response of the edible coating.

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