Introduction
Strawberries are one of the most economically important fruits
worldwide, and the United States is a main producer (FAOSTAT
2013). Strawberries are a nonclimacteric fruit, susceptible to mechanical
injury. They are also highly perishable due to high rates of
respiration (Campaniello and others 2008). Furthermore, fungal
infections, caused by molds Botrytis cinerea and Rhizopus stolonifer,
are the main causes of altered color, firmness, quality, and postharvest
loss (Mali and Grossmann 2003; Peretto and others 2014).
The most prevalent methods of maintaining quality and controlling
the decay of strawberries is by rapid cooling, storage at
low temperatures (0 to 4 °C) with high humidity, and elevating
CO2 and decreasing O2 levels (Garc´ıa and others 1998a; Xiao and
others 2004). However, control of temperature during transport
and storage of strawberries is difficult, therefore other means of
preservation have been sought (Mali and Grossmann 2003; Campaniello
and others 2008).
Edible coatings (ECs) protect perishable food products from
deterioration (Atress and others 2010). An EC consists of a thin
layer, which is pre-formed or formed directly on the surface of
the product as a protective cover. These materials act as barriers