Formulation of a Protective Non-Edible Coating Incorporating Dawul Kurudu (Neolitsea cassia) Leaf Extract and Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) Gel for Extending the Postharvest Shelf Life of Bananas

Bananas are one of the most popular fruits in the world due to their delicious flavour, smooth texture, and high nutritional content. However, they are extremely susceptible to microbial contamination and post-harvest degradation during storage and transit, leading to large post-harvest losses. This study aimed to develop a non-edible protective coating using Dawul Kurudu (DK) leaf extract and flax (FX) seed gel to extend the shelf life of bananas. Cavendish bananas were harvested at 15 days after flowering and coated with formulations with varying FX gel-to-DK leaf extract ratios of 4:1, 3:2, 2:3, and 1:4. Changes in weight loss, pH, titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), and microbial colony counts were evaluated over a 15-day storage period in both coated and uncoated bananas. All treatments were performed in triplicate. When compared to the uncoated control, the coated bananas had significantly (p< 0.05) less weight loss, TA, and TSS over the storage time. The coating with an FX gel-to-DK leaf extract ratio of 2:3 exhibited the most effective efficacy among the tested formulations. Overall, the coatings made of FX seed gel and DK leaf extract effectively extended the shelf life of bananas. The best preservation effectiveness was observed with the FX gel-to-DK leaf extract ratio of 2:3, maintaining acceptable fruit quality for more than 12 days. These findings suggest that this natural, non-edible coating has the potential to serve as an effective and environmentally friendly method for extending the post-harvest shelf life of bananas.