Effect of Clausena lansium oil and chitosan compound coating on physiology and quality of papaya fruits at ambient temperature

In this research, the fresh-keeping effect of Clausena lansium oil and chitosan compound coating on the papaya fruits (Risheng variety) (Carica papaya L.) at ambient temperature (25 ℃) were investigated.The appearance feature and nutrition quality changes of fruits were monitored periodically during storage.Results showed that the Clausena lansium oil and chitosan compound coating had significant preservation effects.With the application of Clausena lansium oil and chitosan compound coating, the decrease of total soluble solids (TSS) of papaya fruits was delayed, hardness, weightlessness, vitamin C (VC) and moisture in fruit tissue maintained normal during a longer time, and the increase of malondiadehyde (MDA) content and relative conductance were significantly inhibited, of which 0.8% chitosan and 40 μL/L Clausena lansium oil compound coating was the best.But chitosan coating had no significant preservation effects, of which hardness and relative conductance were higher than the control group during the later stage of storage. Thus, 0.8% chitosan and 40 μL/L Clausena lansium oil compound coating could maintain higher storage quality and extend the storage time of papaya fruits at ambient temperature, which could be used as a safe, non-toxic, biological preservation method to alternate to chemicals.