The effect of post-harvest storage on the weight of Golden Delicious apples

Apples, like other fruits, are exposed to stress during their growth and development in the field, also during harvest and the postharvest environment (processing, storage, and transportation). The refrigeration system allows for bulk handling of food products from harvest to market, ensuring that food products are maintained in their freshness and integrity for an extended period through careful management of storage temperature and humidity. This study investigated the effects of storage on the weight loss of apples (Golden Delicious fruits harvested at maturity), under refrigerated conditions at a temperature of 5±0.5°C and relative humidity of 82% and under ambient storage at a temperature of 25 ±0.5 °C and relative humidity of 60 %, over 3 months. The findings revealed that the two groups of apples experienced weight reduction at different levels. Apples placed at cold storage presented a loss of weight between 3.31g and 4.49g; however, apples stored at ambient temperature showed a significant loss of weight between 21.9g and 31.76g.

Maintaining antioxidants in tomato fruit using chitosan and vanillin coating during ambient storage

A high intake of antioxidants in a daily diet could reduce the risk of several diseases, including certain cancers and heart disease. Tomato is one of the rich sources of antioxidant compounds. However, it has a relatively short postharvest life due to several factors such as postharvest diseases, accelerated ripening and senescence that hasten the losses in quantity and quality. Chitosan and vanillin could be an alternative to disease control, maintain the quality and prolong the shelf life of fruit. This research aimed to evaluate the potential of chitosan and vanillin coating on tomato antioxidant properties during storage at 26±2°C and 60±5% relative humidity. Chitosan and vanillin in aqueous solutions of 0.5% chitosan + 10 mM vanillin, 1% chitosan + 10 mM vanillin, 1.5% chitosan + 10 mM vanillin, 0.5% chitosan + 15 mM vanillin 1% chitosan + 15 mM vanillin and 1.5% chitosan + 15 mM vanillin, respectively, were used as edible coating on tomato fruit. The analysis was evaluated at a 5-day interval. The results revealed that 1.5% chitosan + 15 mM vanillin have significantly retained tomato's antioxidant properties and prolonged shelf life up to 25 days without any adverse effects on fruit quality. Thus, combining 1.5% chitosan and 15 mM vanillin is highly recommended as a tomato coating to maintain their quality, particularly in the absence of a refrigeration facility during marketing.

​Effect of Seed Treatments and Storage Period on Seed Health Parameters of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) under Ambient Storage Conditions

Background: Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is an important leguminous crop utilized as vegetable and pulse, being an important source of proteins. Pea seeds harbour various mycoflora both in field and during storage, which plays important role in reducing seed viability, germination and vigour inflicting considerable losses in yield and quality. There is scarcely any recommendation available to maintain seed quality during storage of pea seeds, hence present study was carried out. Methods: Seeds of pea (cvs. Azad P. 1 and Arkel) were treated with Captan and Carbendazim 50%WP fungicides @ 2.0 g/Kg seed and stored under ambient conditions. The samples were drawn at three months interval to assess the effect of storage on seed quality parameters. The vigour index I, per cent germination and speed of germination of these seed samples were determined using ISTA rules. The detection of associated mycoflora in pea (Pisum sativum L.) seed samples was carried out by standard blotter method as recommended by International Seed Testing Association. Result: Total fourteen fungal species were found associated with different pea seed samples. Out of these, maximum incidence of Alternaria alternata (21.36%) followed by Aspergillus flavus (15.53%), A. fumigatus (14.56%), A. niger (11.60%) and Rhizopus stolonifer (9.71%), were recorded on untreated seed of pea cv. Azad P. 1, after 18 months of storage. The germination, speed of germination and vigour index of stored seed reduced with increase in storage period, whereas fungal incidence increased with the increasing storage period. Among the tested cultivars, germination in pea (cv. Arkel) remained above IMSCS even after 18 months of storage under ambient storage conditions. The maximum percent germination (99.0) was found in pea cv. Azad P. 1 seeds treated with Captan at 3 months of storage, whereas minimum percent germination (49.5) was found in untreated seed of pea cv. Azad P. 1 after 18 months of storage. The maximum speed of germination (23.88) was found in Captan treated seed of pea cv. Arkel at 0 month of storage and minimum speed of germination (3.52) was found in untreated seed of pea cv. Azad P. 1 at 18 months of storage. The maximum vigour index I (2339) was found in pea cv. Azad P. 1 (Captan treated seed) at 3 months of storage and minimum vigour index I (431) was found in untreated seed of pea cv. Azad P. 1 after 18 months of storage.

Studies on Seed Longevity of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) and Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under Ambient Storage Condition

Background: Pulses are very crucial to meet the requirements of dietary proteins in the human diet especially for the predominantly vegetarian population in India. Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) are important pulses grown in India. The seeds of these crops are highly vulnerable to various microorganisms, both in the field and during storage, which play an important role in reducing the seed viability, germination and vigour causing considerable loss in yield and quality. There is no suitable recommendation available to maintain seed quality during storage of pulses, hence present study was undertaken. Methods: Seeds of pigeonpea and chickpea were treated with Captan and Carbendazim 50% WP fungicides @ 2.0 g/Kg of seed and stored under ambient condition. The samples were drawn at three months interval to assess the effect of storage on seed quality parameters. The vigour index I, seed germination and speed of germination of these seed samples were determined using ISTA rules. The detection of seed mycoflora in pigeonpea and chickpea seed samples was carried out by the blotter test as recommended by the International Seed Testing Association. Result: Total sixteen fungal species were recorded on stored seeds. Maximum incidence of Aspergillus fumigatus (19.83%), A. flavus (14.88%), A. niger (12.40%), Alternaria alternata (11.57%), Fusarium oxysporum (8.26%), Rhizopus stolonifer (7.44%) and Penicillium notatum (5.79%) were recorded on untreated seed of pigeonpea cv. P. 2001 after 18 months of storage. The per cent germination, speed of germination and vigour index of the stored seeds decreased with the increase in the storage period whereas the total number of fungi increased with the storage period, irrespective of treatments. Among the tested cultivars, germination in pigeonpea (cv. P. 991) remained above IMSCS ( greater than 75%) upto 18 months of storage under ambient storage condition. However, the germination of pigeonpea cv. P. 2001 seed could be maintained above IMSCS ( greater than 75%) up to 12 months only. In chickpea (local cultivar) seed, the germination remained above IMSCS ( greater than 85%) up to 9 months only under ambient storage, however seed treatment with either Captan or Carbendazim could prolong the longevity upto 12 months of storage.