Use of sodium alginate coatings enriched with aloe vera in postharvest treatment of tomatoes

Abstract

The effect of sodium alginate coatings and aqueous extract of Aloe vera in posharvest treatment of tomatoes was evaluated. The coatings were applied by double immersion of samples in the film-forming solution of sodium alginate at 2% (m/v) with 5% (v/v) aqueous extract of A. vera and glycerol, depending on the treatments. Some parameters of quality were evaluated during the storage at ambient conditions during 17 days: ripening degree, weight loss, crumpling, soluble solids content, titrable acidity, pH and penetration distance. The coatings of sodium alginate at 2% (m/v) with 5% (v/v) of A. vera improved the global quality of tomatoes, delaying the ripening, decreasing weight losses and exercising a positive effect in the maintenance of fruits stability and it was the treatment with smaller percentage of crumpled tomatoes.