Enhancing the shelf life of Thomson Novel oranges through nutritional and coating treatments

The post-harvest management of oranges is critical in Iran, given their importance as an agricultural commodity and a significant source of income for farmers. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of nutritional treatments and storage coatings on the yield and quality of Thomson Novel oranges in post-harvest conditions. A two-year factorial experiment was conducted in Sari, Mazandaran, Iran, to evaluate the effects of four nutritional treatments and nine storage coatings on the quality parameters of Thomson Novel oranges during post-harvest storage. The quality traits were monitored at 45-day intervals over the course of the study. Based on the results of ANOVA, both the individual effects of nutritional treatments and storage coatings were found to be statistically significant for all measured parameters, including fruit texture firmness, fruit peel thickness, vitamin C, titratable acidity, fruit sugar, fruit pH, and fresh weight. However, the interaction effects of nutritional treatments and storage coatings were only significant for fresh weight. The study found that the foliar application of potassium had a positive effect on post-harvest orange quality, while nylon and Xeda wax were the most effective storage coatings for improving various fruit quality parameters. These findings highlight the importance of using appropriate nutritional treatments and storage coatings to enhance the quality and prolong the shelf life of oranges during storage.