The color of strawberries is an important attribute for consumer product
. As shown in Table 1, the application of EACs did not change initial L∗ values, which ranged from 28.59 to 35.44.
This demonstrates that EACs did not alter the lightness of strawberries.
Indeed, the L∗ coordinate remained constant as a function of storage time for pectin-EAC coated fruits.
However, L∗ values of pullulan and chitosan-EAC coated samples decreased by the end of storage,and control samples showed higher values on day15,probably because these samples were contaminated with molds (white color),hampering the analysis.
Furthermore,addition of EACs did not modify initials a∗ values (30.43 to 34.29) compared to control samples. By day 15, this parameter decreased (P < 0.05) in all treatments, although coated strawberries presented higher values (P < 0.05) compared to control (Table 1).
A decrease in redness may be due to an increase in respiration rate and enzymatic processes (anthocyanin degradation by hydrolytic enzymes) that lead to loss of color, browning, and other reactions .
In summary, while EACs did not change the original color of strawberries, they did slow darkening (by preventing enzymatic or oxidative browning).
Regarding the yellowness values (Table 1), despite differences in the b∗ coordinate on day 7 evaluation, the analysis of day 15 did not show differences in this parameter , indicating that the change was negligible.