Pectin and starch- based composite coating functionalized with snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata) extract: Shelf-life extension and suppression of anthracnose in banana

Mishal, P and Kumar, Aundy and Kundu, Aditi and Arora, Bindvi and Balamurugan, Alexander and Varghese, Eldho and Kumar, Dinesh and Kaur, Charanjith (2025) Pectin and starch- based composite coating functionalized with snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata) extract: Shelf-life extension and suppression of anthracnose in banana. South African Journal of Botany, 183. pp. 1-12. ISSN 1727-9321

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Abstract

The study examined the antifungal effects of a phenolic-rich extract (SE) from the Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata) when added to a pectin-starch composite coating (PS) to prolong the shelf life of bananas. The antifungal properties of SE in the composite coating were tested against anthracnose (Colletotrichum musae) through both in-vitro and in-vivo experiments. Over 12 days under ambient conditions, the impact of PS, PS-P (10 % SE), and PS-PP (20 % SE) on the physicochemical quality (weight loss, soluble solid content, acidity, colour), physiological attributes (ethylene production, respiration rate, texture), and functional quality (total phenolic content and antioxidant activity) of bananas was monitored. The results showed that bananas coated with PS-PP exhibited significantly lower decay incidence (p < 0.05) and maintained superior quality attributes, such as higher firmness, yellow peel colour, and reduced respiration and ethylene production rates. The respiratory climacteric peak in coated fruits was delayed by four days compared to the control, which peaked on the fourth day. On the eighth day, PS-PP-coated bananas retained higher levels of total phenolics (93.57 %) and antioxidant activity (71.21 %) compared to the control fruits, which showed 49.23 % TPC and 27.96 % AOX. Overall, the PS-PP coating extended bananas’ shelf life and marketability by four days. The study suggests that SE can be effectively used as a natural agent for controlling postharvest diseases.

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