Characterization of starch from different non-traditional sources and its application as coating in ‘Palmer’ mango fruit

Caracterização do amido de diferentes fontes não tradicionais e sua aplicação como revestimento em manga ‘Palmer’

ABSTRACT

Yam, cassava, jackfruit seed and mango seed kernel have potential for the extraction and use as starch in the food industry of starch or for the formulation of biodegradable coatings. As a biodegradable coating, starch can be applied in fruits characterized by a fast maturation, such as mango, which requires technologies to increase its shelf life. The aim of this study was to characterize starch from four non-traditional sources and to evaluate their potential as coating for ‘Palmer’ mango fruit. Starches used were extracted from cassava, mango seed kernel, jackfruit seed, and yam, and had their physical, optical, and chemical properties characterized for later use as coatings of ‘Palmer’ mango fruit. Fruits were coated with 3% cassava starch, 3.5% jackfruit seed starch, 3.5% mango seed kernel starch and 3.5% yam starch, and were compared to the control (uncoated). They were then stored at 24.4 ± 0.3 °C and 87 ± 2% RH and evaluated for 12 days. A 5x7 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized experimental design was adopted. Total starch content was higher than 70% in the four sources of starch. Starches from jackfruit and yam had higher amylose content. The four sources of starch had low water solubility and swelling power, with jackfruit seed starch having the highest values. The coating sources were effective in maintaining quality, particularly mango seed kernel starch because it reduced respiratory rate and weight loss in 27.7% and 33.8%, respectively, as well as jackfruit seed starch as it delayed fruit skin yellowing.

Index terms:
Amylose; solubility; weight loss; postharvest; respiratory rate; shelf life