Organic and in-organic coatings for improving post-harvest quality and shelf life of ‘Rangpur lime’ (Citrus limonia osbeck)

Rangpur lime serves as a crucial rootstock for mandarin cultivation and holds potential for processing industries. The preservation of fruit quality during transportation and storage is vital. Coating agents play a significant role in extending the shelf life and maintaining the quality of produce. This investigation explores the practical application of various organic coatings to enhance the postharvest quality and shelf life of Rangpur lime fruits. The study employed a range of treatments over a 16-day storage period, including uncoated fruits (T₁), guava leaf extract (GLE) at 15% combined with lemon extract (LE) at 5% (T₂), GLE at 30% with LE at 10% (T₃), GLE at 45% with LE at 15% (T₄), potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) at 4 g with calcium chloride (CaCl₂) at 1% (T₅), KMnO₄ at 8 g with CaCl₂ at 2% (T₆), silver nitrate (AgNO₃) at 2% (T₇), AgNO₃ at 4% (T₈), and bamboo leaves (T₉). Among all treatments, T₄ (GLE at 45% + LE at 15%) emerged as the most effective organic coating, significantly preserving acidity, total soluble solids (TSS), and vitamin C content. Notably, the fruits treated with bamboo leaves and those coated with 8 g of KMnO₄ plus 2% CaCl₂ exhibited superior external appearance. This study demonstrates that treatments T₄ (GLE at 45% + LE at 15%) and T₉ (bamboo leaves) are effective coating materials for maintaining the post-harvest quality of Rangpur lime fruits under ambient storage conditions.