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Horticulturae
Special Issues
Edible Films and Coatings for the Postharvest Management of Horticultural...
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Edible Films and Coatings for the Postharvest Management of Horticultural Products

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Postharvest Biology, Quality, Safety, and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 November 2025 | Viewed by 611

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Zhenbin Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Food Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710021, China
Interests: new preservation and processing technologies; postharvest physiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue seeks high-quality research and review articles that explore the development, application, and effectiveness of edible films and coatings in enhancing horticultural products’ postharvest shelf life, quality, and safety. This Special Issue aims to highlight advancements in sustainable and biodegradable materials offering innovative solutions for reducing postharvest losses and extending fresh produce marketability. Papers addressing novel formulations, cutting-edge coating application techniques, and the incorporation of active ingredients with antimicrobial, antioxidant, or other functional properties are particularly welcome.

Original and review articles in (but not limited to) the following areas are welcome:

  • Edible films and coatings’ physicochemical properties and their effects on the sensory attributes and nutritional profiles of horticultural products;
  • The interaction of coatings or films with product physiology, consumer acceptance, and regulatory considerations;
  • Contributions from interdisciplinary fields such as food and material science and postharvest technology are encouraged to provide a comprehensive overview of the current challenges and opportunities in the use of edible films and coatings for sustainable postharvest management.

Dr. Zhenbin Liu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • edible films
  • coatings
  • fruit and vegetable preservation

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

24 pages, 1096 KiB  
Review
Edible Coatings to Prolong the Shelf Life and Improve the Quality of Subtropical Fresh/Fresh-Cut Fruits: A Review
by Farid Moradinezhad, Atman Adiba, Azam Ranjbar and Maryam Dorostkar
Horticulturae 2025, 11(6), 577; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060577 - 23 May 2025
Viewed by 337
Abstract
Despite the growth of fruit production, the challenge of postharvest fruit loss particularly in tropical and subtropical fruits due to spoilage, decay, and natural deterioration remains a critical issue, impacting the global food supply chain by reducing both the quantity and quality of [...] Read more.
Despite the growth of fruit production, the challenge of postharvest fruit loss particularly in tropical and subtropical fruits due to spoilage, decay, and natural deterioration remains a critical issue, impacting the global food supply chain by reducing both the quantity and quality of fruits postharvest. Edible coatings have emerged as a sustainable solution to extending the shelf life of fruits and decreasing postharvest losses. The precise composition and application of these coatings are crucial in determining their effectiveness in preventing microbial growth and preserving the sensory attributes of fruits. Furthermore, the integration of nanotechnology into edible coatings has the potential to enhance their functionalities, including improved barrier properties, the controlled release of active substances, and increased antimicrobial capabilities. Recent advancements highlighting the impact of edible coatings are underscored in this review, showcasing how they help in prolonging shelf life, preserving quality, and minimizing postharvest losses of subtropical fresh fruits worldwide. The utilization of edible coatings presents challenges in terms of production, storage, and large-scale application, all while ensuring consumer acceptance, food safety, nutritional value, and extended shelf life. Edible coatings based on polysaccharides and proteins encounter difficulties due to inadequate water and gas barrier properties, necessitating the incorporation of plasticizers, emulsifiers, and other additives to enhance their mechanical and thermal durability. Moreover, high levels of biopolymers and active components like essential oils and plant extracts could potentially impact the taste of the produce, directly influencing consumer satisfaction. Therefore, ongoing research and innovation in this field show great potential for reducing postharvest losses and strengthening food security. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in the application of edible coatings and their influence on extending the postharvest longevity of main subtropical fruits, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the quality of fresh and fresh-cut subtropical fruits, prolonging their shelf life, and protecting them from deterioration through innovative techniques. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Edible Films and Coatings for the Postharvest Management of Horticultural Products)
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