Effect of chitosan with different molecular weights on the antifungal activity against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and activation of the non-enzymatic antioxidant system on infected papaya.

Chitosan (Ch) is a biopolymer with excellent antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, capable of maintaining the organoleptic quality of fruits. These properties have been related to its molecular weight. However, the effect of different molecular weights on the non-enzymatic antioxidant system and postharvest quality of anthracnose-infected papaya is still unknown.