New postharvest fungicides (azoxystrobin and propiconazole) and edible coatings (shellac and stayfresh) were evaluated for the extension of shelf-life of Nagpur mandarin fruits. Freshly harvested fruits were washed thoroughly and treated with different combinations of fungicides and coating alone and in combination on a mechanised packing line. A set of fruits was also treated as control. The fruits were allowed to airdry, packed in CFB boxes and analyzed after 21 days of storage in ambient conditions (temp 25-30°C, RH 25-40). Maximum juice recovery (42.52 ± 4.83), total soluble solids (13.10 ± 0.85° Brix), vitamin C (21.99 ± 0.43 mg/100ml) was recorded in SH10B and azoxystrobin coated fruits. Treated fruits retained gloss and acidity as compared to control. Minimum physiological loss in weight of 14.98 ± 2.59 was also found in SH10B and azoxystrobin coated fruits, while it was 26.48 ± 1.74 in untreated control. Minimum rate of spoilage (3.17 ± 2.75) was recorded in shellac SH10B and azoxystrobin coated fruits followed by fruits with SH10 and azoxystrobin (4.40 ± 0.38) coating. Shellac coating retained organoleptic characteristic of fruit, and was found effective in combination with azoxystrobin fungicide in enhancing the shelf-life of Nagpur mandarin fruits.
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