Abstract
The conservation of cola nuts (Cola nitida) poses a real problem in Cote d’Ivoire because of the post-harvest losses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of post-harvest technologies on organoleptic and physical properties of cola nut during storage. A biopesticide, glucose syrup and biopesticide + glucose syrup were applied to fresh cola nuts before conditioning and kept at 28°C for 6 weeks. Physicochemical and sensory analyses were performed to check the quality of the nuts during storage. The results showed that the biopesticide keep cola nuts better than the others methods with only 11.66% ± 3.04% and 13.66% ± 3.95% of loss rates for white and red cola nuts respectively. Cola nuts treated with bio-pesticide retain significantly their freshness with 62.00% ± 1.15% of moisture for white nuts and 64.00% ± 2.00% of moisture for red nuts compared to those treated with glucose syrup and bio-pesticide + glucose syrup (56.66% ± 1.15%). Cola nuts treated with biopesticide have a better acceptability compared to those subjected to others treatments. The use of biopesticide for the storage of cola nuts minimizes the losses and maintains the quality whatever the type of cola.
Highlights
The results showed that the biopesticide keep cola nuts better than the others methods with only 11.66% ± 3.04% and 13.66% ± 3.95% of loss rates for white and red cola nuts respectively
Cola nuts treated with bio-pesticide retain significantly their freshness with 62.00% ± 1.15% of moisture for white nuts and 64.00% ± 2.00% of moisture for red nuts compared to those treated with glucose syrup and bio-pesticide + glucose syrup (56.66% ± 1.15%)
This paper aimed to investigate the potential of biopesticide in the maintaining of the quality of the cola nuts during storage
Summary
The nuts are consumed for their stimulant properties and their taste and are traditionally used in Western and Central Africa during weddings funerals and ritual sacrifices They are used in the pharmaceutical and food industries to produce cardiac stimulants, laxatives, sedatives and sodas [4]. Cola is attacked by weevils (Balanogastriskolae) and fungi (Aspergillus niger, Penicillium sp) that can cause 30% - 70% losses during storage [5] To limit losses, these actors use conservation techniques using chemical pesticide treatments of organochlorine, organophosphorus and pyrethroid families [6]. The potential of biopesticides for promoting sustainable agriculture has been known for many years [8] In spite of these advantages, the use of biopesticides in Côte d’Ivoire is almost absent in agriculture especially in the production and the treatment of cola nuts. This paper aimed to investigate the potential of biopesticide in the maintaining of the quality of the cola nuts during storage
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