Reducing Energy Consumption in Cold Storage of Agaricus bisporus Using Cactus Fruit Pigment–Enriched Edible Coating

Cold storage is one of the most energy intensive stages in the postharvest management of fresh agricultural products such as edible mushrooms. Strategies that extend shelf life while preserving quality can effectively reduce refrigeration demand and improve energy efficiency in the agricultural supply chain. This study evaluated the impact of an edible coating enriched with cactus fruit pigment on the postharvest quality, microbial stability, and shelf life of Agaricus bisporus during cold storage, with an emphasis on energy related implications. Mushrooms were divided into three treatments: uncoated control (C), non pigmented coating (NPC), and pigmented coating (PC). Samples were stored at ۴ °C and ۹۰% relative humidity for ۱۰ days, and quality parameters including color attributes (L*, a*, b*), browning index, firmness, pH, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activity, and total microbial load were monitored at regular intervals. The PC treatment significantly delayed browning, maintained higher L* values, reduced enzymatic activity, and lowered microbial counts by approximately ۳ log CFU g⁻¹ compared with the control at day ۱۰ (p < ۰.۰۵). The improved quality retention resulted in an effective shelf life extension of ۳–۴ days under refrigerated conditions, indicating a reduced need for intensive cooling and lower postharvest losses. These findings demonstrate that bio based edible coatings enriched with natural pigments can function as a smart postharvest solution to enhance product quality while indirectly contributing to reduced energy consumption in cold storage systems, supporting energy efficient and sustainable agricultural production.

کلیدواژه ها:

Energy efficiency ، Edible coating ، Cold storage ، Cactus fruit pigment ، Agaricus bisporus