Preservation of mango quality by using functional chitosan-lactoperoxidase systems coatings

• A chitosan/LPOS edible coating exhibited strong antifungal activity against mango pathogens.
• Chitosan delayed mango ripening without altering quality.
• Chitosan concentration at 1% was sufficient to fix LPOS for preserving mango quality.
• LPOS did not alter the mechanical properties of the films.
• Presence of iodine as a second electron donor did not influence the antifungal activity of LPOS.

Influence of chitosan coating with or without the active antimicrobial lactoperoxidase system was studied on postharvest mangoes. Mangoes were treated with three concentrations of chitosan (0.5; 1; 1.5%) containing or not lactoperoxidase with or without iodine as a second electron donor. Coatings containing 1 and 1.5% chitosan incorporated with lactoperoxidase system efficiently inhibited fungal proliferation and delayed mango ripening. Iodine did not influence antifungal activity. Ripening parameters (firmness, respiration, weight loss and color) were not influenced by the lactoperoxidase system, but were more influenced by chitosan concentration. Chitosan coating alone reduced weight loss, and delayed the decline in firmness and respiration rate. It exhibited a beneficial effect on the contents of total soluble solids (TSS), ascorbic acid, total acidity (TA) and pH.