Study on water-soluble chitosan RE complexes to the preservation of tomatoes and the degradation of pesticide residues

Objective:The fresh-keeping effect and pesticide residues degradation effect of water-soluble chitosan and water-soluble chitosan-RE complexes on cherry tomatoes were studied. Methods:Cherry tomatoes were coated by water-soluble chitosan (1%) , cerium complex (1%) and lanthanum complex (1%) solution. The good fruit rate, the pH changes, the weight loss rate and the degradation effect of pesticides (omethoate) were investigated to study fresh-keeping effect and pesticide degradation effect on Cherry tomatoes. Results:Indexes of the treatment group were better than the control group. Cerium complex was the best, and water-soluble chitosan followed by lanthanide complex was the lowest. Conclusion:Soluble chitosan and its rare earth complexes could keep fresh cherry tomatoes. Chitosan lanthanide complexes could simulate degrading enzyme to degrade organophosphorus pesticide (omethoate) residues. The degree of degradation of water-soluble chitosan cerium complex could reach 74.09% which was the best.