Abstract: After receiving dipping treatment with composite chitosan/nano-SiOx solution (CTSS) for 30, Yanhong peach fruits were stored under the conditions of 26-29 ℃ and relative humidity of 65%-75%. The dehydration rate of the fruits were optimized with U10(102×52) uniform design and L9(34) orthogonal array design. The results indicated that the optimal ingredients in 300 mL solution included chitosan 5.0 g, glycerol monostearate 0.11 g, nano-SiOx 0.07 g, and glycerin 6.0 g. Coating treatment with CTSS revealed the best fresh-keeping effect at the end of the storage period for 20 days. The dehydration rate and the decay index in CTSS group revealed the reduction by 43.96% and 30.56%, while reducing sugar, ascorbic acid and titrable acidity increased by 44.00%, 66.87% and 52.77%, respectively, when compared with those in the control group. These results suggest that CTSS coating can significantly improve the quality of post-harvest fruits and extend the shelf life of Yanhong peach.

Key words: chitosan, nano-SiOx, Yanhong peach, orthogonal array design, uniform design