Abstract
Vermicompost is an organic waste produced from earthworms that can enhance the soil condition and is rich with essential plant nutrients, thus increasing produce quality and shelf life. In this study, a one-year field trial was conducted to elucidate the effects of vermicompost supplementation on the composition of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities of pineapple (Ananas comosus var. MD2) fruits, compared to control and application of chemical fertilizer. Based on the results, pineapple fruits produced from plants supplemented with chemical fertilizer showed the strongest radical scavenging properties against 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), followed by vermicompost and control plants. Application of chemical fertilizer and vermicompost also produced fruits with a very high content of chlorophylls and β-carotene compared to control plants. However, the amounts of bioactive compounds present in fruits produced with chemical fertilizer are higher than in fruits produced with vermicompost. Total phenolics content and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) reducing power were lowest in fruit extracts produced from pineapple plants supplemented with vermicompost. These results suggested that vermicompost cannot completely replace chemical fertilizer for the production of fruits with a high content of phytoconstituents but could be used as an additional supplement to reduce environmental pollution and ensure agricultural sustainability.
Highlights
Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) belongs to the Bromeliaceae or Bromeliad family and is generally cultivated for its fruit
Tannins were observed to be strongly present in fruit extracts produced from plants treated with chemical fertilizer while flavonoids were strongly detected in fruit extracts grown with vermicompost
The fruit extracts produced from plants supplied with chemical fertilizer showed significantly higher Total Phenolic Content (TPC) compared with other treatments
Summary
Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) belongs to the Bromeliaceae or Bromeliad family and is generally cultivated for its fruit. The fruit can be eaten fresh, canned, frozen or made into juice, syrups or candied [1]. Pineapple is found in almost all subtropical and tropical areas of the world and has become one of the leading tropical fruits in international commerce [1]. The introduction of MD2 variety into the fresh pineapple market has increased its demand. The MD2 hybrid variety developed by Del Monte Fresh Produced International Inc. is currently the most preferred tropical fruit for both domestic and international markets [2]. A study by Wardy et al [3] showed that MD2 variety has a great potential in the horticultural industry compared to Sugarloaf and Smooth Cayenne
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
