Preparation of edible coatings
i. Preparation of Aloe vera gel
Matured leaves of Aloe vera plant was
harvested and washed with a mild chlorine solution of
25%. Aloe vera gel matrix was then separated from the
outer cortex of leave and this colorless
hydroparenchyma was ground in a blender .The
resulting mixture was filtered to remove the firbres. The
liquid obtained constituted fresh Aloe vera gel. The gel
matrix was pasteurized at 70oC for 45min. For stabilized
the gel was cooled immediately to an ambient
temperature and ascorbic acid (1.9 - 2.0g L-1)was then
to evaluate the effect of
Aloe vera gel as an edible coating on
weight loss, ascorbic acid, pH and firmness in order to extend
the shelf-life of pineapple stored at ambient temperature of
(27+2oC) and relative humidity of 55-60% for seven weeks.
The above parameters which are related to postharvest
quality loss were however significantly controlled in the
pineapple coated with A. vera gel. The storability of orange
fruits was extended by seven weeks. It was concluded that A.
vera gel used as a coating for pineapple could serve as an
alternative to post-harvest chemical treatments.