Integrated Preharvest Applications and Natural Coatings Improve Postharvest Quality and Storability of Opuntia ficus-indica L. Mill Fruits

Abstract

Prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica L. Mill.) is a highly perishable fruit whose rapid postharvest deterioration severely limits its storage life and commercial distribution. This study investigated the effectiveness of integrating preharvest foliar applications with natural postharvest edible coatings to improve fruit quality and extend storability under refrigerated conditions. Four-year-old plants were sprayed before harvest with water (control), calcium chloride (1%), or chitosan (0.5%). Harvested fruits were subsequently dipped in water, gelatine (4%), or Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaf extract (10%) and stored at 7 ± 1 °C and 90–95% relative humidity for 40 days. Fruit quality was evaluated at 10-day intervals by determining weight loss, decay incidence, firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), TSS/TA ratio, and sugar fractions. Storage duration significantly affected all measured attributes, resulting in increased weight loss and decay, accompanied by declines in firmness and chemical quality. Preharvest chitosan or calcium chloride, particularly when combined with postharvest gelatine or Moringa leaf extract, significantly reduced weight loss and decay and maintained higher firmness and internal quality attributes compared with the untreated control. Among the evaluated treatments, preharvest chitosan followed by postharvest gelatine or Moringa extract consistently provided the greatest preservation of fruit quality, extending marketable storage life to 40 days. These findings demonstrate that integrating preharvest biostimulant applications with natural edible coatings provides an effective, environmentally friendly strategy for preserving prickly pear quality and reducing postharvest losses, offering a practical alternative to conventional synthetic postharvest treatments.