*4.3. Preharvest Application of Chitosan Reduced the Weight Loss of 'Garmrok' Kiwifruit during Cold Storage*

The proper status of water in fresh fruit before and during postharvest handling plays a critical role in maintaining the quality of the crop [36]. In general, weight loss in fresh fruits is caused by water loss associated with the metabolic activities occurring during respiration and transpiration processes [19]. In this study, we show that the application of preharvest chitosan reduces the weight loss of 'Garmrok' kiwifruit during cold storage. Previous studies have demonstrated that several features of chitosan treatment are linked to the reduction of weight loss in various fruits [13,17,19,36,43–46]. These include chitosan coatings not just as a barrier of transpiration, but also as a protectant and a wound sealer of fruit skin from mechanical injuries that delayed dehydration.
