Effect of Opuntia ficus-indica Mucilage Edible Coating in Combination with Ascorbic Acid, on Strawberry Fruit Quality during Cold Storage

Table 2

Microbial loads of control (C) and coated (O. ficus-indica mucilage in combination with ascorbic acid-MA) strawberry fruit samples during storage at 4°C.

Samples	Microorganisms
	TMM	TPM	Molds
C 0 d	3.04 ± 0.22^a	2.81 ± 0.15^a	3.34 ± 0.23^a
MA 0 d	2.99 ± 0.19^a	2.88 ± 0.23^a	3.26 ± 0.12^a
C 3 d	3.19 ± 0.17^a	3.30 ± 0.27^a	3.49 ± 0.21^a
MA 3 d	2.74 ± 0.12^b	2.72 ± 0.11^b	2.89 ± 0.15^b
C 6 d	3.59 ± 0.21^a	3.47 ± 0.25^a	3.65 ± 0.26^a
MA 6 d	3.01 ± 0.15^b	2.95 ± 0.20^b	2.96 ± 0.17^b
C 9 d	3.75 ± 0.18^a	3.70 ± 0.24^a	3.81 ± 0.19^a
MA 9 d	3.15 ± 0.21^b	3.07 ± 0.22^b	3.10 ± 0.24^b
C 12 d	4.08 ± 0.24^a	4.12 ± 0.21^a	4.23 ± 0.21^a
MA 12 d	3.49 ± 0.19^b	3.38 ± 0.19^b	3.59 ± 0.25^b

Units are log CFU g⁻¹. Results indicate mean values ± S.D. of three plate counts. Data within a column followed by the same letter between the C and MA on the same day of refrigerated storage are not significantly different according to Tukey’s test at .