POSTHARVEST QUALITY AND ANTIOXIDANT CONTENT OF ORGANIC EGGPLANT (SOLANUM MELONGENA L.) IN MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING

Organic farming is increasingly adopted to add value to vegetable production and marketing.
This study was conducted to determine the effects of preharvest vermicompost application and postharvest modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on the quality, shelf life and total antioxidant activity of eggplant fruits.
Vermicompost was applied at 2.5 kg/plant at planting and compared with inorganic fertilizer application (farmer’s practice) and without fertilizer applied.
Harvested fruits were individually packed in 0.02 mm thick low density polyethylene (PE) bag or 0.05 mm thick polypropylene (PP) bag and stored at ambient; unpacked fruit served as control.
Fertilizer application using vermicompost or inorganic material reduced weight loss and shrivelling of the fruit.
Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) was very effective in delaying shrivelling, reducing weight loss, improving visual quality, and extending shelflife of fruits.
Fruit antioxidant activity was generally higher with vermicompost application than with chemical fertilizer application.
Fruit browning, respiration rate and decay incidence did not differ with treatment after seven days of ambient storage.

II Southeast Asia Symposium on Quality Management in Postharvest Systems

M.M. Benitez, R.J.S. Zapanta, E.D. Briones

organic agriculture, vermicompost, total antioxidant content

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2015.1088.42