Fruit pH Research Articles

Evaluation of different plant extracts as a postharvest management strategy for enhancement of shelf life in Tomato fruit

Tomatoes are the most commercialized vegetable due their high nutritional content and health-promoting properties. However, tomatoes have a short shelf life; edible coatings have evolved as an effective approach to enhance its shelf life. Edible coatings are thin layers applied onto the surface of fruits and vegetables to improve their physiochemical properties. Different natural extract such as neem leaf extract, lemongrass leaf extract, ginger extract, garlic extract, aloevera gel and distilled water along with control were used as edible coating on shelf life and quality of tomatoes under room temperature. Data was collected on many traits i.e., tomato weight loss, fruit pH, fruit color, total soluble salts (TSS), firmness and total phenolics contents. The treated tomatoes showed significantly minimum weight loss, good appearance, color, firmness and high total phenolics contents. So, these natural and environmental friendly edible coating could be considered a potential postharvest treatment to delay ripening and to conserve the quality of harvested tomatoes. Data was analyzed using LSD test at 5% probability level.

Heterosis breeding could improve fruit yield and quality with appreciable bacterial wilt tolerance in tomato

ABSTRACT Growers may adopt a tomato hybrid if it is high yielder with good fruit quality and can withstand the bacterial wilt (BW) disease. A line × tester mating design was used to determine heterobeltiosis, combining ability and gene action for 15 characters in tomato. Most traits under study exhibited additive and non-additive gene action except days to 50% flowering, polar diameter of fruit, pH of fruit and lycopene content of fruit which were controlled by additive gene effect. Two genotypes, ‘Utkal Kumari’ and ‘CLN-2460E’ were identified as potential donors. The maximum, significant, heterobeltiosis was for disease incidence of BW followed by fruit yield per plant, fruit firmness, and fruits per plant. In the tropical tomato growing zones, two potential hybrids, ‘Utkal Kumari × CLN-2460E' and ‘Utkal Deepti × CLN-2460E', may fulfil significant horticultural requirements since they exhibited resistance against virulent biovars 3 and 6. More testing in a variety of edapho-climatic conditions is required to confirm the stability of the developed resistance and the hybrids’ resilience. Partial- to over-dominance reactions of fruit yield and other economic traits were reflected. Isolating pure lines from the segregating generation of heterotic F1s is another method to improve fruit yield and quality as well as disease resistance against bacterial wilt.

Effect of simulated 2,4-D and dicamba drift on strawberry plant and fruit development

Abstract Greenhouse studies were conducted from 2020 to 2021 to evaluate the effect of simulated drift rates of 2,4-D and dicamba on strawberry growth, fruit development and fruit quality in Raleigh, NC. Treatments included 2,4-D choline and dicamba DGA plus Vapor Grip at 1/2x, 1/20x, and 1/200x of the 1x field rate of 1.09 and 0.8 kg ae ha-1, respectively. Treatments were applied to strawberry at three reproductive stages, including bud, flower, and fruit. Averaged across both herbicides, strawberry canopy size was reduced by the 1/2x rate 18, 25, 30, and 36% at 3, 6, 9, and 11 wk after treatment (WAT). The 1/2x rate of both herbicides caused greater injury to strawberry than the 1/20x or 1/200x, with maximum stunting from 2,4-D and dicamba of 54 and 36%, respectively. Fruit pH and SSC increased due to the 1/2x rate of dicamba compared to the 1/20x and 1/200x rates and the nontreated. Treated fruit (across all herbicides) were larger than fruit developing following herbicide application to flowers or buds but were similar to nontreated fruit.

Impact of fertilizer doses on soil properties, vegetative growth, fruit quality and biochemical compounds of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch)

Fertilizers are important for plant growth, yield enhancement, and achieving food security, but overdose can have negative effects. This study sought to determine the impact of different fertilizer doses on soil properties, vegetative growth, fruit quality, and biochemical compounds of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch) cv. ‘Camarosa’. During the years 2022-2023, strawberry seedlings were grown in pots in a greenhouse. Four increasing dosages of fertilizers were applied. The results showed that following treatment, electrical conductivity and soil organic matter rose to maximum values of 176.26 µS. cm-1 and 2.63%, respectively, with d2 treatment. However, the pH was initially high before dropping considerably to 7.34 with d4 dosage. Treatment d1 was highly suggested for enhanced fruit number (5.8) and total yield (729 g. plant-1). The treatment d2 produced the highest fruit weight (24.3 g), volume (27.71 cm3), length (5.55 cm), and width (5.15 cm). The medium dose d3 drastically increased leaf area (2652.76 cm2), total soluble solids (7.4 °Brix), total phenols (1,332.54 mg GAE· L-1) and antioxidant activity (89.53%), but not significantly. The maximum petiole length (12.66 cm), petiole number (29.4), chlorophyll content, runners number (6), roots length (22.33 cm), fresh root and shoot weight (73.11 and 96.41 g), root and shoot dry weight (10.84 and 30.64 g), were recorded at d4 treatment. In control plants, all of these measures were lower, despite having higher fruit pH (3.72), titratable acidity (0.87%), and flowers number (4.40). In conclusion, increasing fertilizer doses may affect soil and strawberry plant qualities, and farmers must use them appropriately.

Effects of Retention Time, pH, Temperature and Type of Fruit Wastes on the Bioelectricity Generation Performance of Microbial Fuel Cell during the Biotreatment of Pharmaceutical Wastewater: Experimental Study, Optimization and Modelling

Effects of Retention Time, pH, Temperature and Type of Fruit Wastes on the Bioelectricity Generation Performance of Microbial Fuel Cell during the Biotreatment of Pharmaceutical Wastewater: Experimental Study, Optimization and Modelling

Artificial Neural Network Model to Predict OBrix and pH of Banana Based on Color Parameters

Artificial neural network (ANN) was used to predict internal quality parameters (oBrix and pH) of lady finger banana. This research consisted of three stages, namely: (1) capturing images of lady finger banana using a computer vision system; (2) measurement of oBrix and pH of the banana; (3) ANN architecture analysis using the Matlab R2019a application. The ANN architectural model consisted of 3 output models, namely: (1) oBrix values; (2) pH value; (3) oBrix and pH values. The ANN architecture analysis was carried out through two phases. Phase I consisted of 45 experimental units and phase II with 35 experimental units. The best ANN architecture to be used as a prediction model for oBrix and pH of golden banana fruit is ANN architecture model 3 with the number of neurons inside the hidden layer = 3; activation function in hidden layer = logsig; activation function inside the output layer = logsig; data transformation range 0 – 1; learning rate value = 0.01; learning algorithm = tradingda; with MSE (mean square error), MAE (mean absolute error) performance and R correlation coefficient from training results of 0.0954; 0.2619 and 0.6538; test results 0.0392; 0.1606 and 0.7000 and validation results 0.0289; 0.1474 and 0.7889. Keywords: Artificial neural networks, Color, Computer vision system, CVS, RGB.

Behavior of ponkan mandarin tree canopy grafted onto rangpur lime and flying dragon rootstocks

The Rangpur lime rootstock was the basis of Brazilian citrus growing for many years. However, this rootstock has been gradually replaced due to the occurrence of Citrus Sudden Death. The Flying Dragon rootstock has stood out as one of the options for replacement as it has different characteristics, such as reducing the size of the plant. There is no information in the literature about the behavior of Flying Dragon as a rootstock for Ponkan mandarin. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of Ponkan mandarin tree canopy grafted onto Rangpur lime and Flying Dragon rootstocks concerning physiological, agronomic, and fruit quality parameters. In the experiment, productivity, soil moisture, water potential, plant height, fruit diameter, fruit length, fruit mass, fruit pH, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, and ratio were evaluated. The Flying Dragon rootstock was responsible for the decrease in average productivity in the Ponkan mandarin culture. Greater plant heights were obtained when canopies were grafted on Rangpur lime. The soluble solids content of fruits from scions grafted on Flying Dragon was higher, but the degree of uniformity of the soluble solids values obtained from the Rangpur lime tree was higher.

The influence of different fertigation levels on the functional quality characteristics of three different strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) varieties cultivated under protected conditions

The strawberry, a member of the Rosaceae family, is one of the most significant fruit crops due to its widespread cultivation and the high appreciation it garners for its distinctive aroma, bright red colour, juicy texture and delightful sweetness. A field study was conducted during 2021-2022 to assess “the influence of different fertigation levels on the functional quality characteristics of 3different strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassaDuch.) varieties cultivated under protected conditions”. The study employed a Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design, encompassing 12 treatment combinations, replicated3times.The application of 100% RDF of NPK significantlyimpacted the functional quality characteristics of strawberries. The findings indicate that the highest values for total soluble solids (11.00 ºBrix), total sugars (7.70%), reducing sugars (5.40%), non-reducing sugars (2.31%), TSS: acidity ratio (14.28), juice content (45.32%), fruit pH (3.79%), antioxidants (0.19%), phenols (1.20%), fruit volume (12.89 cm3), fruit firmness (1.68 kg/cm2), specific gravity (1.04 g/cc)and shelf life (2.24 days) were observed under the fertigation level F3 (100% RDF of NPK).Additionally, minimum acidity (0.77%) and minimum physiological loss in weight (5.36 g) were also recorded at this fertigation level. The aim of this study is to enhance fruit production, increase yields and extend the shelf life of strawberries. By exploring factors such as fertigation levels and cultivars, this study provides valuable insights that promote sustainable and efficient practices. These findings hold promise for shaping the future of strawberry cultivation, facilitating increased yields and prolonged preservation.

The effect of zinc fertilization on yield and quality of commercial processing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivars

Objective: In this study, conducted in two production seasons, the effects of zinc fertilization on yield and fruit quality of processing tomato varieties (H-1015, Lalin and Kendras) were investigated. Material and Method: Material consisted of ‘H-1015’, ‘Lalin’, and Kendras’ processing tomato varieties. The study consisted of 3 different treatments; zinc applied plots, zinc-free plots and control. Results: The results showed that zinc application to H-1015 and Lalin cultivars gave the highest yield values compared to zinc-free and control treatments in both production seasons. While the differences between the pulp colour values L* and a/b were found to be insignificant in both years, the differences between the values of a* and b* were found to be significant in both years. Similarly, zinc fertilization had no positive effects on the TA and lycopene contents of the varieties. The differences between the fruit pH values of the varieties were found to be significant. While the differences among the Brix values were found to be significant only in 2018, the variety H-1015 showed the highest Brix values in both testing years. Conclusion: Zinc fertilization is proposed to obtain a high yield in processing tomatoes.

Sensor-Based Fertigation Management Enhances Resource Utilization and Crop Performance in Soilless Strawberry Cultivation

The use of wireless sensors for real-time sensing of substrate water status and electrical conductivity could be an effective tool for precision irrigation management in soilless cultivation. In this research, the effects of timer-based (TB) compared to smart sensor-based irrigation (SB) were investigated. The highest consumption of fertilizers and water were recorded in TB, with nutrient solution and total applied water savings of 38% and 26%, respectively, in SB. The highest yield was obtained in SB treatment, with a total and marketable yield decrease of 7% in TB, with no differences in terms of the total soluble solids content, dry matter, firmness, juice pH and titratable acidity of the strawberry fruits. The higher yield, combined with water and nutrient saving in SB, allowed water use efficiency (fresh weight of marketable fruits per liter of total water applied) to be increased by 46% and nutrient productivity (fresh weight of marketable product per gram of nutrient supplied via nutrient solution) by 74%. The study confirms that sensor-based, compared to empiric fertigation management, ameliorates the sustainability of open, free-drain, soilless cultivation of strawberry, leading to better resource use without compromising crop performance and fruit quality.

Shelf-life and post-harvest quality of tomato (Lycopesicon esculentum Mill.) varieties to different packaging materials at Mersa, North Wollo, Ethiopia

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) has a short shelf life at ambient conditions and is a highly perishable crop. Extreme post-harvest losses occur as a result of the wrong packaging materials. However, by employing the right packing materials, tomato varietals can have longer shelf lives. Globally rising fresh tomato demand has forced the development of essential mechanisms, including packaging materials, to improve shelf life. The current study was initiated to evaluate the quality and shelf-life of tomato varieties in response to packaging materials at Mersa, North Wollo, Ethiopia, during 2021 cropping season. Three replications of a completely randomized design were used to test three tomato varieties (Roma VF, Oval red and Woyno) and seven packing materials [closed carton (CC), open carton (OC), closed wooden box (CWB), open wooden box (OWB), perforated polyethylene bag (PPB), non-perforated polyethylene bag (NPPB) and control (C)] at room temperature (20-22°C). According to the findings, there is a significant (P<0.05) interaction effect between packaging materials and varieties on a number of parameters, including physiological weight loss, decay percentage, disease incidence, total soluble solids (TSS), tomato fruit PH, juice color score, overall acceptability, marketability percentage, and shelf life. Non-perforated polyethylene plastic experienced the highest physiological weight losses of 79.88% and 79.63% after 18 days of storage. Roma VF variety showed the greatest weight loss. In addition, PPB showed the lowest decay percentage (20%) and maximum marketability (20%) during the 18th day of storage. At the end of storage, NPPB with Roma VF and Woyno varieties had a substantially (100%) larger decay loss of tomato fruits. NPPB has been linked to the highest disease incidence (20%). Roma VF and Oval red recorded the highest pH tomato fruit’s color and overall acceptability score on PPB. It can, thus, be concluded that packaging of tomato fruits in PPB can extend shelf-life with better-quality of the produce. However, to develop plausible recommendation, the study should be repeated in multi-location with more packaging methods and varieties over seasons.

Effect of Moringa Leaf Extract on Growth and Yield of Tomato

This study delves into the effects of Moringa oleifera leaf extract (0%, 3%, 6%, and 9% V/V) on tomato plant growth. Employing a randomized design, the 6% concentration emerges as a key player, significantly boosting performance. Results include heightened leaf count, increased height, larger and heavier fruits, improved firmness, volume, and elevated chlorophyll content. Intriguingly, the 9% concentration indicates a potential for increased branches, suggesting enhanced fruit production. Fruit pH remains consistently unaffected across treatments. Integrating moringa leaf extract, particularly at 6% and 9%, not only enhances tomato plant productivity and fruit quality but also lays the ground work for sustainable cultivation practices. This research contributes valuable insights for optimizing growth conditions, there by offering a pathway to improving overall crop yield and agricultural sustainability.

Characterization and evaluation of flour's physico-chemical, functional, and nutritional quality attributes from edible and non-edible parts of papaya

Papaya fruits different edible and non-edible portions are valued for the abundance of numerous nutrients and therapeutic benefits. The study was aimed to examine the physico-chemical properties, bioactive compounds (total phenolics and total flavonoids), antioxidant activity and microstructure analysis of the peel, pulp and seed flour of both ripe and unripe papaya. The results demonstrated the different portions of both ripe and unripe papaya fruit flour differed significantly with respect to almost all quality attributes within them. The physico-chemical variations have been evaluated through evaluation of the pH, moisture content, TSS, and ascorbic acid content of the papaya fruits during both ripening stages. Statistically significant variations (p < 0.05) were observed between two distinct stages of ripening. The concentration of ascorbic acid in the fruit revealed a notable increase as it matured, while the pH, moisture, and TSS all exhibited a substantial decrease (p < 0.05) during the immature stage. The unripe peel showed the most significant level of bulk density, tapped density, swelling capacity, crude fiber, and TFC whereas the unripe seed showed the highest value of ash, crude fat, and TPC. For the rest of the value, ripe pulp and seed flour showed a significantly higher value than others. The total phenolic content in seed flour and the total flavonoid content of peel flour were 196.9 ± 0.03 and 164.9 ± 0.08 mgQE/100 g, respectively, at unripe conditions. An immense amount of antioxidant activity was found in ripe (20.48 ± 0.54%) and unripe (16.05 ± 0.32%) peels flour. The flour granules' diverse morphological forms and particle sizes were identified by SEM analysis. The versatility of papaya and its various components provides opportunities for applications in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and agricultural industries. The papaya fruit flour of different portions have unique functional, nutritional, and morphological characteristics that may contribute to the development of gluten free flour based value added baked products.

Effects of Storage Containers on Postharvest Properties of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

This study investigated the effect of three storage containers on postharvest properties of tomato fruits under ambient temperature, 30 ± 3°C and relative humidity, 70 ± 3%. In Nigeria, the main issues with tomato preservation are loss of quality and shortened shelf life. Postharvest storage containers are important for maintaining the quality of tomato fruits in marketing chains and consumption. Raffia baskets, plastic bowls and Ziploc bags were used to store tomato fruits for seven days. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with four replications. Data was taken on weight loss, dry matter, moisture content, pH, total ash content and colour. Results revealed that the storage containers had significant (p&lt;0.05) effect on dry matter, moisture content and weight loss of the tomato fruits. Tomato fruits stored in raffia basket, plastic bowl and Ziploc bag gave moisture content of 92.13%, 93.07% and 92.97% at seven days of storage, respectively. There was no significant difference (p˃0.05) in the effects of the three storage containers on total ash content and pH of the tomato fruits. For efficient storage without excessive deterioration, plastic bowls were considered the best storage container for improved shelf-life of tomato fruits.

Physicochemical and Physiological Properties of Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] Fruits Coated with Polysaccharide-Based Edible Coatings

Okra is highly perishable due to its high respiration rate and high-water content, thus reducing its marketability. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different polysaccharide-based edible coatings on the physicochemical and physiological properties of okra fruits. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with nine treatments and three replications. Four edible coatings were assessed at two different concentrations. The treatments comprised T0: uncoated (control), T1: 1% sodium alginate (AL), T2: 2% sodium alginate, T3: 1% pectin, T4: 2% pectin, T5: 1% carboxymethyl cellulose, T6: 2% carboxymethyl cellulose, T7: 1% cornstarch and T8: 2% cornstarch. Okra fruits were stored in refrigerated conditions with the temperature ranging from 9 to 11 °C and relative humidity of 76 to 85%. Samples were collected on days 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 for analysis of weight loss, firmness, shriveling, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), vitamin C, respiration rate, ethylene production and microbial growth. The results indicated that the use of polysaccharide-based edible coatings significantly influenced moisture and dry matter content, weight loss, firmness, shriveling, pH, TSS, TA, vitamin C, respiration and microbial count of okra fruits. The various coatings, including alginate, pectin, carboxymethyl cellulose and cornstarch, significantly preserved the quality of okra compared with the control treatment. Among the four coatings used, 2% alginate (w/v) demonstrated the most effective preservation of the fruit quality of okra.

PRELIMINARY RESULTS ON FRUIT QUALITY OF THE APPLE CULTIVATED IN ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM

Known being the increasing demand for ecological fruits, both at national level and on international markets, the apple cultivated in the ecological system in Romania can bring economic and social benefits. The orientation towards apple cultivars with genetic resistance to diseases will be gradually imposed, especially in the case of apple, being the main factor in obtaining ecological productions. The value of the ecological apples, as dessert fruits, depends directly on the following physico-chemical characteristics: size (weight and caliber), content of fruit in soluble solids and acids (specially malic acid), firmness and the color of the epidermis. This work aims to quantify the quality elements of the fruits at the maturity of harvesting for 12 apple cultivars, of different origin (6 with Romanian origin and 6 foreign cultivars), located in a field trial of RIFG Pitești, Romania, managed in ecological system. The preliminary results registered at the level of 2022 show that the fruits size varied from 144.26 g ('Rubinola' cv.) to 306.8 g ('Orion' cv.), and the fruit caliber 71.62 mm ('Crimson Crisp' cv.) to 92.13 mm ('Orion' cv.). The cultivars 'Rumina', 'Topaz' and 'Orion' were noted for the high content of soluble solids (over 14%). 'Rubinola' cv. was noted by the high pH of fruits (4.02) and high acid content (0.88% malic acid).

Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Dragon Fruit Hylocereus polyrhizus (Weber) Britton and Rose from Different Locations of Nepal

The objective of the study were to identify the variation in the physico chemical characteristics of dragon fruit species Hylocereus polyrhizus randomly collected from the four districts of Nepal namely., Chitwan, Sunsari, Morang and Sankhuwasabha. Physico - chemical observations were recorded immediately after harvest. Data were collected for fruit pulp, diameter, size, moisture content, dry matter content, pH, soluble solids, reducing sugar, ascorbic acid, titratable acidity and total carbohydrate. The results revealed that the fruit samples collected from Sunsari recorded the highest moisture content (86.81%) which was at par with samples from Sankhuwasabha (86.44%). Dry matter content ranged from 13-15 % among the fruits collected from all the four locations. Average fruit pH was found slightly acidic within the location variation with the highest pH value recorded in the samples collected from Chitwan (5.47). TSS value ranged from 11.7 to 14.70˚ Brix across the different sites. The fruits collected from Sunsari and Morang districts had a significantly trace amount of titratable acidity with an average of 0.57% while the rest of the fruits collected from other locations ranged from 0.6 – 0.7%. Ascorbic acid was found rich in the samples collected from the Sankhuwasabha district (7.80 mg-100g.). Reducing sugar was recorded maximum in fruits collected from Morang district (9.64 mg-100g). The highest carbohydrate content was recorded in the samples collected from Sunsari district (11.36 mg-100g). From the present investigation it can be concluded that the physico- chemical characteristics of Hylocereus polyrhizus showed differences in the results among the samples collected from the four different location.

Biocontrol potential of lipopeptides produced by the novel Bacillus altitudinis strain TM22A against postharvest Alternaria rot of tomato

Bacillus genus exhibits antagonistic potential against a broad range of pathogenic fungi. This study presents the antifungal potential of lipopeptides (LPs) produced by a novel strain Bacillus altitudinis TM22A to suppress the infection of Alternaria rot on tomato. We investigated the antifungal effect of ten Bacillus species against Alternaria alternata, where four Bacillus strains TM22A, MCM61, S2, and CPCF54 exhibited antifungal activity. The LPs extracted from TM22A, MCM61, S2, and CPCF54 restricted mycelial growth and conidial germination of A. alternata in vitro with the highest inhibition produced by TM22A. Liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis revealed the presence of surfactin, fengycin, iturin, bacillibactin, and bacilysin in strain TM22A at 1036.69, 1435.76, 1085.58, 883.26, and 271.13 m/z respectively. In an In planta assay LPs from TM22A caused the lowest lesion diameter and disease incidence on tomato fruit. Furthermore, the activity of defense enzymes viz, catalase (CAT), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) was enhanced in Bacillus LPs treated tomato fruit with the more pronounced impact by TM22A. Postharvest quality analysis revealed little impact on ascorbic acid, fruit pH, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), weight loss, and fruit firmness compared to healthy control. This is the first comprehensive study to reveal the antifungal effect of Bacillus-derived LPs against postharvest Alternaria rot of tomato and its role in defense elicitation to protect the fruit from pathogen invasion.

Evaluate the Effect of Different Packaging Materials on the Shelf Life and Quality of Banana Fruit

The experiment was carried out to determine the impact of shelf life on banana cv. grand naine under various packing materials during storage for the current study in the Department of Horticulture lab at ITMU from October to December 2022. In this experiment, low-density polybags and black newspaper bags were employed as packing materials. paper bag, cardboard gunny bag high-density polybag white paddy straw with banana leaves Banana samples were taken at intervals of four days after each treatment to test a range of biological and physical traits, including pH, physiological weight, and peel colour. As these values were given for the analyses of variance and ANNOVA, the treatment group showed the greatest physiological weight reduction as compared to the control group; however, the Treatment T6 high-density white polybag showed the lowest physiological weight loss and the most appealing colour. is recorded in the treatment T6 high-density white polybag, whereas the peel's least yellow hue is observed throughout treatment to regulate the highest total soluble solid brix value was recorded in Treatment T1 low-density black polybag, and the minimum values recorded for these parameters are found in Treatment T0 control, while the maximum ph value was recorded in Treatment T7 banana leaf and the minimum ph value was noted in Treatment T0 control. According to the observational data, the banana fruit's pH rose as it ripened, further from the present experimental findings. The best packaging material suitable for the enhancement of shelf life and maintenance of visual appearance and quality for bananas is low-density black polythene Treatment T1.

Enhancing the shelf life of Thomson Novel oranges through nutritional and coating treatments

The post-harvest management of oranges is critical in Iran, given their importance as an agricultural commodity and a significant source of income for farmers. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of nutritional treatments and storage coatings on the yield and quality of Thomson Novel oranges in post-harvest conditions. A two-year factorial experiment was conducted in Sari, Mazandaran, Iran, to evaluate the effects of four nutritional treatments and nine storage coatings on the quality parameters of Thomson Novel oranges during post-harvest storage. The quality traits were monitored at 45-day intervals over the course of the study. Based on the results of ANOVA, both the individual effects of nutritional treatments and storage coatings were found to be statistically significant for all measured parameters, including fruit texture firmness, fruit peel thickness, vitamin C, titratable acidity, fruit sugar, fruit pH, and fresh weight. However, the interaction effects of nutritional treatments and storage coatings were only significant for fresh weight. The study found that the foliar application of potassium had a positive effect on post-harvest orange quality, while nylon and Xeda wax were the most effective storage coatings for improving various fruit quality parameters. These findings highlight the importance of using appropriate nutritional treatments and storage coatings to enhance the quality and prolong the shelf life of oranges during storage.