LAUSR

To further investigate fresh‐keeping effect of fucoidan from Laminaria japonica (FL) on postharvest strawberry, this study assessed the degradation kinetics of antioxidant capacity and antioxidants in cold‐stored strawberry coated with FL by layer‐by‐layer method. Fruit coated with FL were subjected to determine antioxidant capacity and endogenous antioxidants contents during the scheduled cold‐storage period. Results showed that FL obviously suppressed degradation rates of both antioxidant capacity and contents of phenolic compounds and ascorbic acid, which were demonstrated by reduced rate constant and increased half‐time periods of antioxidant activity and antioxidants in FL‐coated strawberry during cold storage. High Pearson correlation coefficients and significant differences among antioxidant‐associated indicators indicated that there was a close relationship between antioxidant activity degradation and antioxidants degradation in strawberry fruit during cold‐storage period. FL treatment inhibited degradation of total polyphenol and ascorbic acid which ultimately controlled degradation of antioxidant capacity in cold‐storage strawberry. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Laminaria japonica rich in brown seaweed may be developed to be a natural and nontoxic preservative for postharvest strawberry or other fruit and vegetables.