Influence of nano-ZnO on microbial growth, bioactive content and postharvest quality of strawberries during storage

• The bioactive compounds of strawberries decreased during storage.
• Nano-ZnO coatings controlled aerobic mesophilic bacteria and yeast and mold populations on strawberries during storage.
• The inhibitory effect of nano-ZnO against total aerobic bacteria was greater than yeasts and molds during storage.
• Nano-ZnO coatings, specially higher concentrations (0.07 and 0.5%), maintained bioactive constituents and fruit quality.

A rapid decline of quality causes economic loss of strawberries after harvest. Treatments based on nano-ZnO at different concentrations (0.03%, 0.07% and 0.5%) were used to prolong the shelf-life of strawberry fruit in cold storage. After treatments microbial growth, weight loss, firmness, titratable acidity, soluble solid content, pH value, vitamin C, anthocyanin and total phenolics and antioxidant activity were evaluated at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 days of storage. Furthermore, the levels of zinc and the sensory attributes of treated strawberries were evaluated three days after treatment. Nano-ZnO treatments decreased the microbial load during fruit storage (total mesophilic bacteria in control and 0.5% nano-ZnO treated strawberries were 4.35 and 3.67 Log CFU g− 1, respectively). Treatments delayed weight loss, retained fruit firmness and maintained anthocyanin, vitamin C, phenol content and antioxidant activity at higher concentration than those of untreated fruit. Fruit sweetness and aftertaste attributes were not affected by treatments but the 0.5% ZnO treated fruit was less luminous (1.6) compared to control (5.6). 0.5% nano-ZnO was the most effective in delaying changes in the ripening and reducing microbial populations among the treatments. These findings indicated that the nano-ZnO might provide an alternative to maintain quality and control decay of fresh strawberries during extended storage.Industrial relevanceStrawberries are a highly perishable fruit and postharvest life is limited to 4 days or even shorter at room temperature or 2 weeks at cold storage, therefore finding a method to extend the shelf life of strawberries is important. Modified atmosphere packaging is a useful method but control of spoilage microorganisms is still a problem. Fruit coating has great potential to extend fruit postharvest life and maintain nutritional quality. Nano-ZnO may be an effective alternative.