Chitosan-Based Coatings for Fruit Preservation: A Bibliometric Study and Evidence of Shelf-Life Extension

Post-harvest fruit losses threaten food security. We conducted a PRISMA-guided bibliometric mapping and descriptive synthesis of shelf-life outcomes. A Scopus search on 10 June 2025 (original research, English, final versions) yielded 1,087 articles (1993–2025). Two reviewers screened titles/abstracts and full texts. Scientific mapping (Bibliometrix, VOSviewer) shows output rising since 2017, with the latest period (2017–2025) contributing 864/1,087 records (~79%) and 21,891 citations. China leads production and international collaboration. Research concentrates on strawberry, mango, tomato, grape and papaya. Shelf life was harmonised to days; within each study we extracted paired values for chitosan-treated fruit and its matched control under identical storage. Illustrative pairs show Citrus × sinensis 30.9 vs 17.5 days, Pyrus communis 21.4 vs 7.0, and Vaccinium spp. 14.8 vs 5.7. Formulations with essential oils (n=90) and metallic nanoparticles (n=89) were the most frequently investigated and were often associated with longer shelf life and antifungal/antioxidant effects in individual studies. Overall, chitosan coatings emerge as a bio-based, biodegradable and widely investigated approach to mitigating post-harvest losses. Keywords: Biocontrol; chitosan; antifungal; food loss mitigation; fruit.