Composite edible coatings can extend shelf-life and maintain postharvest qualities of guava under natural storage

The current study explores innovative strategies for extending the postharvest shelf life of guava under high humidity and temperature conditions prevalent in sub-tropical regions with composite edible coatings to guava fruits and analyzing their impact on key physiological parameters. Results reveal that the composite Olive oil with texture enhancer + Antioxidant (OTE + AO) treatment consistently maintained superior fruit firmness throughout storage, with a remarkable reduction in softening by 34.3% compared to uncoated controls. Composite edible coatings viz. Olive oil with texture enhancer (OTE), Sodium alginate with texture enhancer + Antioxidant (STE + AO), and Aloe vera with texture enhancer + Antioxidant (ATE + AO) exhibited elevated titratable acidity levels on the third day of storage, surpassing the control by 10–15%, indicating potential for extended shelf life. Moreover, coated fruits exhibited sustained total sugar levels, with OTE + AO treatment demonstrating a significant 8.5% increase compared to controls after fifteen days. Notably, the OTE + AO and OTE treatments showcased the least decline in total flavonoid content throughout storage, maintaining 12–15% higher levels than uncoated counterparts. These displayed substantial efficacy in mitigating polyphenol oxidase activity, reducing enzymatic browning by 32.7–34.3%. Preserving superoxide dismutase activity in coated treatments, resulting in 10–15% increased levels, indicates enhanced antioxidant defence systems. This study’s results have found the possibility of extending guava’s shelf life with optimum biochemical properties with composite coatings.