Effect of ultraviolet irradiation combined with chitosan coating on preservation of jujube under ambient temperature

- UV irradiation combined with chitosan coating was used for jujube preservation.
- The increase of decay incidence, respiration rate and weight loss was restrained.
- The activities of defense enzymes were maintained at higher levels.
- The increase of electrolyte leakage and malonaldehyde content was restrained.
- The decline of ascorbic acid content and chlorophyll content was delayed.

The effect of ultraviolet irradiation combined with chitosan coating on fresh jujube under ambient temperature was investigated. In the first period, the jujubes were irradiated for 4, 6, 8, 10 min at 253.7 nm ultraviolet, or coated with 1%, 1.5%, 2% and 2.5% of chitosan, respectively. In the second period, the jujubes were firstly irradiated 6 min, and then coated with 1.5% of chitosan. The result showed that combined treatment could reduce decay incidence of jujubes and restrain increase of respiration rate, weight loss, malonaldehyde content and electrolyte leakage of jujubes. Furthermore, the activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase were maintained at higher level, and the decrease of ascorbic acid and chlorophyll was restricted. The present data indicated that treating post-harvest jujubes with ultraviolet irradiation combined with chitosan coating was an effective method, and might be considered in commercial application for preservation of postharvest fruit.