Fruit preservation through nano technology
Dr. Wilson, a post-harvest specialist, said researchers at ITI are developing eco-friendly, bio degradable cushioning material by processing agricultural waste material from banana plantations as part of their project for ‘Enhancing the preservation of fruits using nano technology’.
The specific crops the ITI project is working on are mango, papaya and banana. Research experiments are in progress for the commercialization of an edible bio wax for extending storage and the shelf life of fruits such as mango and papaya.
“Pre-harvest treatment to induce uniform flowering in fruit crops such as pineapple, and mango are also available, along with procedures for management of fertilizer application and pruning systems to improve yields and facilitate harvest operations by enabling uniform development of the crop and spray treatments that delay maturity and extend the harvest season of the crop,” she said.
“Maturity indices indicate the stage of development of the fruit or vegetable (egg, ripeness, colour and size) and enable the farmer to harvest the fruit at the most advantageous time for selling his produce at the best price.
It also allows for transportation to distant markets without produce getting over-ripe or damaged,” said Dr. Wilson. Other post harvest technologies that should be used, include tagging of fruits at the time of flowering to know the age of fruits and help with harvesting according to market destinations and needs, safe methods to control pests and disease, such as bagging fruits against insect and pest attack and the use of pheromone traps against fruit flies etc., and the use of edible waxes for maintaining the quality and freshness of produce.
Dr. Wilson said that steps taken to prevent post-harvest loss will make a significant contribution to national food security, making more produce available to consumers.
source: sundayobserver.lk
