**5. Conclusions**

In conclusion, macro-perforated PET-CS was found to be a comparatively better packaging than LDPE–SSB for postharvest quality maintenance during the storage of RaS and HbS microgreens. Though PET–CS would be commercially preferred as a rigid packaging during long-distance transportation, LDPE–SSB could also be used as an economical alternative in short distance markets and for sturdier microgreens. *Aloe vera* gel edible coating acted as a primary packaging and helped to

overcome the drawbacks of macro-perforated packaging and significantly enhanced the postharvest quality and shelf life of the studied microgreens. Aloe gel coated samples also had ~40% to 70% higher total ascorbic acid content and maintained 2- to 3-fold lower DHA/FAA ratios compared to uncoated ones. Aloe gel coating is an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to chemical pre-treatments for shelf-life quality enhancement in the studied microgreens. The spray-coating technique performed similar to or better than the dip-coating technique. It was found to be a superior option as it helped to circumvent the drawbacks of the dip-coating technique, such as dilution of coating solution and risk of contamination. The AGSC technique also o ffers the advantages of uniform coating, lesser handling of microgreens and lower coating solution requirement, leading to reduced cost (approx. 10-fold less). In addition, it is also amenable to large scale setups, making it a promising preharvest treatment for enhancing the postharvest quality and shelf life of radish and roselle microgreens. The AGSC technique, along with PET–CS, has potential for applications in other microgreens and fresh-cut produce. Future work will consider the use of biodegradable packaging along with edible coating as a total sustainable packaging approach for premium produce like microgreens. In addition, edible coating formulated for nutrient enrichment of high-value microgreens is also under evaluation.

**Supplementary Materials:** The following are available online at http://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/9/5/653/s1, Figure S1: Digital photographs showing e ffect of packaging on radish (RaS) and roselle (HbS) microgreens on 0 day and 8th day of storage, Figure S2: Digital photographs showing e ffect of edible coating techniques on radish (RaS) and roselle (HbS) microgreens on 0 day and 12th day of storage. Table S1: E ffect of packaging on the marketability of radish and roselle microgreens during storage at 5 ◦C, Table S2: Effect of edible coating treatment on the marketability of radish and roselle microgreens during storage at 5 ◦C.

**Author Contributions:** Conceptualization, N.S.; methodology, N.S.; software, M.D.G.; validation, N.S.; formal analysis and investigation, M.D.G.; writing—original draft preparation, M.D.G.; data analysis and writing—review and editing, N.S.; visualization, M.D.G.; supervision, N.S. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

**Funding:** This research received no external funding.

**Acknowledgments:** The authors are grateful to the founder Chancellor and acknowledge the managemen<sup>t</sup> of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL), Andhra Pradesh, India, for the research amenities provided. The authors also thank the Central Research Instrument Facility (SSSIHL-CRIF), Prasanthi Nilayam, for extending the SEM instrumentation facility, and V. Sai Muthukumar, SSSIHL, for his guidance during the SEM analysis.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.
