| ABSTRACT Climacteric fruits have short postharvest shelf life. Coating is an alternative to minimize fruit ripening and post-harvest losses. Maize starch (S) and polivinilic alcohol - PVOH (P), isolated or blended, can be used in the formulation of coatings. However, little is known about the potential of PVOH-containing coatings in postharvest conservation of fruits. Papaya were aftercoated with 5 coating formulations: 3% starch (S), 3% PVOH (P), 2.25% S + 0.75% P, 1.5% S + 1.5% P and 0.75% S + 2.25% P. The fruits were kept at room temperature (20 ± 5 °C and 70 ± 10% RH) and physicochemical characteristics were evaluated for up to eight days. Uncoated fruits were used as control. In general, maize starch and PVOH. In general, maize starch and PVOH... |
