Postharvest Biology and Technology
Mawela Aluthgedara Ralala Madhushika Pushpamali Jayathilaka; Jayalathpurage Imakli Sasanka Jayalath; Wickrema Arachchige Harindra Champa; Thushanthi Perera
Abstract
Purpose: Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a globally choicest fruit crop facing substantial pre- and post-harvest challenges, resulting in significant postharvest losses worldwide. These losses impact food security, economic growth, and the sustainability of the mango supply chain. This systematic review ...
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Purpose: Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a globally choicest fruit crop facing substantial pre- and post-harvest challenges, resulting in significant postharvest losses worldwide. These losses impact food security, economic growth, and the sustainability of the mango supply chain. This systematic review explores existing literature on causes and mitigation strategies of postharvest losses of mango supply chain providing a comprehensive overview of the sector. Findings: Mango faces significant postharvest losses due to damage caused by faulty handling practices, diseases and pest infestations. Key challenges include inadequate packaging, poor storage, and inefficient transport facilities alongside insufficient knowledge dissemination mechanisms, disorganized marketing systems, and limited government interventions leading to exacerbate losses. Providing improved mango varieties, investing in infrastructure, strengthening stakeholder collaboration, enhancing knowledge dissemination and establishing mango-based value-added industries are critical for the sustainability of the sector. Adopting standardized harvest maturity indices, consumer friendly methods for pest and disease prevention, and applying edible coatings to maintain fruit quality play a pivotal role for supply of quality mangoes to fresh and processed markets. The findings emphasize immediate necessity for collaboration between government, non-government, and private sector companies to make available funds for research and startups in mango sector. Limitations: This review is limited by the availability of region-specific data and variations in postharvest loss assessment methodologies. Directions for future research: Future research should focus on the development of non-destructive techniques to determine correct harvest maturity stage of mango precisely, advanced technologies to monitor and manage the losses, such as digital tracking systems, smart packaging solutions, and eco-friendly preservation techniques.
Postharvest Biology and Technology
Ahad Sheikh Yousefi; Orang Khademi; Ayatollah Rezaei
Abstract
Purpose: Highly perishable tomatoes face rapid deterioration at postharvest. This study investigated the effect of methylcellulose (MC) edible coating and citrus essential oil (EO) on disease control and postharvest quality preservation of tomatoes. Research Method: The experimental factors included ...
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Purpose: Highly perishable tomatoes face rapid deterioration at postharvest. This study investigated the effect of methylcellulose (MC) edible coating and citrus essential oil (EO) on disease control and postharvest quality preservation of tomatoes. Research Method: The experimental factors included MC at three levels (0, 0.5, and 1% (w/v)), citrus EO (control, orange, and sour orange EO, at concentration of (1 g/L), and studying time (ST) (7, 14, and 21 days). The treated fruits were stored at 10°C with RH over 80±5% and evaluated for disease severity and other fruit quality attributes during storage. Findings: The results showed that both MC and EO treatments effectively controlled tomato fruit disease and maintained its marketability throughout the experiment, with the combination of these treatments yielding better results. The applied treatments, especially 1% MC, reduced weight loss compared to control. The results indicated increase in coloring of samples during the experiment. The firmness of the fruit tissue decreased over time, and the EO treatment proved to be more effective than MC in preserving fruit firmness. Applying MC and EO treatments, either alone or in combination, preserved total soluble solids compared to the control samples. Research limitations: No limitations were encountered. Originality/Value: Based on the results of this experiment, incorporating EO into MC edible coating showed promise in extending the shelf life of tomatoes by controlling weight loss, rate of metabolism, and disease severity. This approach offers a sustainable and effective alternative to traditional chemical treatments while providing consumers with a healthier and more flavorful product.
Postharvest Biology and Technology
Nida Firdous
Abstract
Purpose: Tomato, being a climacteric and soft textured fruit, faces many challenges in postharvest life, and many factors influence its quality during storage. It faces price fluctuation in Pakistan due to postharvest losses. This review focuses on intensive research in recent years regarding edible ...
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Purpose: Tomato, being a climacteric and soft textured fruit, faces many challenges in postharvest life, and many factors influence its quality during storage. It faces price fluctuation in Pakistan due to postharvest losses. This review focuses on intensive research in recent years regarding edible coatings and films to minimize crop losses, and to maintain tomatoes quality by giving structural integrity. Findings: Tomato is a highly demanded vegetable due to its extensive uses, but its postharvest losses are 33-46% in developing countries. The application of edible coating is one of many methods used to extend the shelf life of tomatoes. The edible coating acts as semipermeable barriers to gases and water vapors. It is not a new concept and dates back to the 12th century. Edible coatings are made from lipids, carbohydrates, or protein-based materials, with additional additives like emulsifiers, plasticizers, release agents, and lubricants. The use of edible coating with different formulations is an effective method for extending the shelf life of fresh produce and tomatoes. Limitations: Edible coating formulations should be wet and uniformly spread on fruit surfaces, as proper adhesion, cohesion, and durability matter. Significantly less eco-friendly coatings are available compared to chemically synthesized layers. Directions for future research: These days, many new materials are evolving as coating solutions based on their film-forming properties, and these materials can replace synthetic plastic-based films. Composite and multi-layer coatings should be developed and micro encapsulation techniques should be adopted for better results.
Postharvest Biology and Technology
Nida Firdous
Abstract
Purpose: International agencies have advocated that monitoring food security and world food resources are necessary to meet the needs of growing populations and to minimize postharvest losses. This paper focuses on the biochemical and physiological bases of changes that causes post-harvest losses and ...
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Purpose: International agencies have advocated that monitoring food security and world food resources are necessary to meet the needs of growing populations and to minimize postharvest losses. This paper focuses on the biochemical and physiological bases of changes that causes post-harvest losses and ways to mitigate them. By controlling these metabolic changes, some degree of preservation is possible. Findings: Postharvest losses are 30-50% in developing countries due to energy crisis and lack of proper handling procedures and refrigeration; in contrast to less than 15% in developed countries. Highly perishable commodities like fruits and vegetables are living entities which are characterized by life evolving activities like respiration, transpiration, ripening and metabolic changes. Various compositional changes, such as chlorophyll degradation, softening, and ascorbic acid losses can result in short shelf life. Total 63 species of vegetables are grown in Pakistan but onions, potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, green chilies, coriander, spinach, pumpkin and okra are mostly grown and consumed. Limitations: In Pakistan due to energy crisis and economic constraints no cold food chains/transport is available as a result of which fresh produce endured post-harvest losses. There is a need to use production technologies supplemented with postharvest techniques to mitigate postharvest losses.Directions for Future Research: Many new technologically viable preservation techniques like modified atmosphere packaging and controlled atmosphere storage should come into existence due to increased health consciousness, increased purchasing power and an increase in percentage of postharvest losses (25-80% fresh produce) which could be applied with such economic constraints.
Postharvest Biology and Technology
Zahra Ardakani; Simona D’Amico
Abstract
Purpose: Food is a basic need for human life. Ensuring food security requires guaranteeing adequate food availability, accessibility, and utilization along with the sustainability of the food system. Food availability can be improved by decreasing food losses. The goal of this study is to document the ...
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Purpose: Food is a basic need for human life. Ensuring food security requires guaranteeing adequate food availability, accessibility, and utilization along with the sustainability of the food system. Food availability can be improved by decreasing food losses. The goal of this study is to document the causes and quantify the amount of losses in Iran’s rice supply chain. Research method: A cross-sectional survey method was used to collect data through interviews with some actors of the rice production chain operating in Mazandaran province, Qaemshahr, in 2015, to approximate percentage weight losses at the different stages in the supply chain. Main findings: The rice losses are estimated to be about one-third of the production that could feed 18 million people per year. On the other hand, the rice losses imply an economic loss of 1,403 million U.S. dollars, annually, and losing some scare resources, such as water, in Iran. Limitations: It is not easy to apply the ways to collect the useful and more accurate data in order to find the most important reasons of food losses for each stage and process of the food supply chains. Originality/Value: It was found that it is necessary to invest in the marketing systems, renew the supply chain and improve knowledge of the actors of the rice chain -from producing to consuming- in Iran’s rice system to reduce the physical and economical estimated losses of rice.
