Bioefficacy of Composite Medicinal Plant Extracts and Gum Arabic on Improving Postharvest Quality in Dragon Fruit

Abstract

Several natural preservative techniques including plant extracts are used to minimize postharvest losses caused by pathogens. Our recent findings elucidated that the application of crude extracts of ginger, turmeric, and “dukung anak” (Phyllanthus niruri Linn.) alone causes phytotoxicity and adversely affects the postharvest quality of dragon fruit, especially at high concentrations. This study investigated the effect of a composite coating of 10% gum arabic (GA) and crude extracts of ginger, turmeric, and “dukung anak” separately at 5, 10, and 15 g L-1 on postharvest quality of dragon fruit stored at 11 ± 2 ° C , 80% RH for 28 days. After 28 days of cold storage, anthracnose was significantly reduced in fruit coated with 10% GA plus 10 or 15 g L-1 of any of the crude extracts and resolved the problem of phytotoxicity while maintaining the postharvest quality of fruit for 28 days. The reduction of anthracnose was pronounced at 10% GA+10 g L-1 of turmeric extract (38.6%) which was not significantly different at 10% GA+10 g L-1 of ginger extract compared to control (41.3%). Composite coating of 10% GA+10 g L-1 of turmeric extract maintained the postharvest quality of dragon fruit as was evident with a reduction in weight loss (2.53%), delayed degradation of titratable acids (0.15%), and maintained fruit firmness (28.72 N) and the overall acceptability of the fruit after 28 days. We conclude that incorporation of 10% GA with turmeric extract at a high concentration can serve as a potential biofungicide in postharvest management of fresh produced by reducing phytotoxicity while improving the overall acceptability of fruit.

The improvement of the quality and shelf life of sweet orange cv. Red blood at ambient temperature through the application of ginger (Zingiber officinale) extracts

“…Interaction between treatments and storage duration on the citrus fruits showed the highest juice weight (51.73 %) was recorded in citrus fruits treated with 20% ginger extraction while the lowest juice weight (42.23 %) was recorded in fruits stored for 12 days. Our result matched (Bordoh et al, 2022) concluded that Ginger extract treatments effectively create a barrier against moisture loss, delaying dryness and fruit shrivelling , leading to fruits that maintain a substantial amount of juice.…”

Advances in the Understanding of Postharvest Physiological Changes and the Storage and Preservation of Pitaya

“…The purpose of this paper is to summarize the types of postharvest diseases affecting pitaya, their symptoms, the pathogens responsible for them, and the techniques used to prevent and control them (Table 2). Colletotrichum pathogen 10% GA plus 15 g•L − 1 ginger or turmeric extract [66] Colletotrichum pathogen Conventional chitosan (CC) and submicron chitosan dispersions (SCD)…”

“…Crude extracts of ginger, turmeric rhizomes, and certain medicinal herbs were found to cause deformation, contraction, and solubilization of anthracnose mycelium at appropriate concentrations; these extracts also inhibited mycelial growth and conidial germination. In addition, the addition of 10% gum arabic (GA) to ginger or turmeric extracts at high concentrations was found to be effective in deterring anthracnose on pitaya [66,84]. Microbial growth, fruit decay, water loss, and anthracnose incidence were inhibited by a 1.0% solution of submicron chitosan dispersion (SCD) with a droplet size of 600 nm and low-molecular-weight chitosan (LMWC) [67,68].…”