This research was undertaken to establish the preservative role of lactic acid (LA) and salicylic acid (SA) included in a gelatin–glycerol film over the harvested plums. The results showed that highest catalase activity was achieved for the plums modified with LA 0.2% wt and with SA 0.00375 M, after 12 days of storage. The most reduced variation of the physical, chemical, and enzymatic parameters was noticed in the plums coated with LA 0.2% wt. Statistical processing showed that the variation of all physical–chemical parameters, excepting catalase is significant. Variation of catalase is significant only in the case of the plums modified with LA 3% wt and of reference plums. Thus, the coating of the harvested plums with a low amount of LA (≤0.2% wt) can be considered as preservation method during storage for 12 days.
Practical applications
Lactic acid (LA) and salicylic acid (SA) were coated on the harvested plums and their role as preservative during the fruit storage was established. The results showed that coating the harvested plums with a gelatin–glycerol film modified with LA at low concentration (≤0.2% wt) is an efficient method for preservation at room temperature for 12 days, taking in consideration that the commercial shelf life of harvested plums is 2–6 weeks, at 0 °C.