Influence of Packaging Material and Rates of Potassium Permanganate on Post Harvest Ripening of African Eggplant (Solanum Macrocarpon)
Inyang P
Department of Agriculture, Alex Ekweme Federal University, and Department of Crop Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0561-3792
Bassey EM
Department of Crop Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.
Afangide A
Department of Crop Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1318-9802
Ankrumah E
Department of Agriculture, Alex Ekweme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Nigeria.
Anosike FC
Department of Agriculture, Alex Ekweme Federal University, and Department of Crop Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.
Akpaninyang F
Department of Crop Science, Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa, Nigeria.
Ndifon EM
Department of Agriculture, Alex Ekweme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Nigeria.
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6027-4714
DOI: https://doi.org/10.20448/aesr.v9i1.3865
Keywords: Packaging material, Potassium permanganate, Postharvest, Garden egg, Intensity rate, Polythene, Shrinkage, Jute bag.
Abstract
Climacteric fruits (banana, apple, pear, avocado, garden egg and mango) are actually eaten when ripen; but garden egg is not palatable when ripens and decreases demand. Influence of packaging material and rates of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) on postharvest ripening of garden egg was evaluated to access the interactive effect of KMnO4 and packaging material in delaying ripening. Two packaging materials; polythene and jute bags, KMnO4 at 0g, 3g, 6g and 9g were used. The experiment was a 2 x 4 factorial laid in completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Eight treatment combinations were randomly distributed. Fruits were stored for seven days and were observed every 2 days. Result revealed that packaging material influenced postharvest ripening of garden egg with polythene bag reducing the intensity of ripening and significantly reduced shrinkage. Similarly, KMnO4 at (3g and 9g) significantly delayed ripening intensity at 4 and 6 days of storage.