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Triunfo M, Guarnieri A, Ianniciello D, Coviello L, Vitti A, Nuzzaci M, Salvia R, Scieuzo C, Falabella P. Hermetia illucens, an innovative and sustainable source of chitosan-based coating for postharvest preservation of strawberries. iScience 2023; 26:108576. [PMID: 38162020 PMCID: PMC10755050 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The ability of chitosan produced from pupal exuviae of Hermetia illucens to retard the decay of the local strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) cultivar Melissa was investigated for the first time in this paper. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of insect chitosan compared to the commercial polymer in preserving and enhancing, at the same time, some physicochemical parameters (weight loss, pH and soluble solids content) and nutraceutical properties (total polyphenol content, total flavonoid content and total antioxidant activity) of strawberries stored at RT, 4°C and at mixed storage conditions (4°C + RT). Moreover, chitosan from H. illucens was also effective in reducing fungal decay and improving fruit shelf life. The obtained results confirm that insect chitosan, particularly deriving from H. illucens pupal exuviae, can be a viable alternative to crustacean one in safeguarding postharvest fruits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micaela Triunfo
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Anna Guarnieri
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Dolores Ianniciello
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Leonardo Coviello
- School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Antonella Vitti
- School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Maria Nuzzaci
- School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Rosanna Salvia
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
- Spinoff XFlies s.r.l, University of Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Carmen Scieuzo
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
- Spinoff XFlies s.r.l, University of Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Patrizia Falabella
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
- Spinoff XFlies s.r.l, University of Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
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