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Preharvest Shellac Fruit Coating at Mature Green Stage Delays Ripening Process and Alleviates Translucent Flesh Disorder of Harvested Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.)

Parutuch Luangsriumporn, Sompoch Noichinda, Kitti Bodhipadma, Suriya Rutatip, Wattana Aschariyaphotha, Chalermchai Wongs-Aree

Abstract


Translucent flesh disorder (TFD) is a major physiological problem in mangosteen fruit, often triggered by heavy rainfall during fruit maturation. This study demonstrated that preharvest applications of shellac coating effectively mitigated TFD. Mature–green fruits on the tree were coated with shellac (0, 5, and 10%) and exposed to simulated rainfall prior to harvest.  Uncoated fruits subjected to water treatment exhibited a three–fold higher incidence of TFD upon ripening. In contrast, shellac–coated fruits, regardless of water treatment, showed a marked reduction in the disorder, with higher shellac concentrations offering greater protection. The shellac coating functioned as a physical barrier, preventing water infiltration and maintaining normal pericarp moisture at approximately 70%, whereas the pericarp of TFD–affected fruit reached 74%.  Sequential pectin extraction from affected arils revealed elevated levels of Na₂CO₃–soluble pectin, suggesting that cell wall modifications contribute to increased aril firmness and the characteristic translucency of the tissue. In addition to preventing TFD, the shellac coating delayed ripening and extended postharvest shelf life by approximately one week. These results indicate that preharvest shellac coating during the rainy season is a promising strategy to reduce the incidence of TFD and extend the postharvest shelf life of mangosteen fruits.

Keywords



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DOI: 10.14416/j.asep.2026.02.005

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