• Title/Summary/Keyword: Postharvest losses

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Postharvest technologies for fruits and vegetables in South Asian countries: a review

  • Faqeerzada, Mohammad Akbar;Rahman, Anisur;Joshi, Rahul;Park, Eunsoo;Cho, Byoung-Kwan
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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    • v.45 no.3
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    • pp.325-353
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    • 2018
  • Agricultural systems in South Asian countries are dominated by smallholder farmers. Additionally, these farmers have limited access to pre- and post-harvest technologies due to their high initial cost. The lack of these technologies in postharvest handling is responsible for 20% to 44% of fruit and vegetable losses. These high losses are largely the result of a generally weak basic postharvest infrastructure for the preservation of products, which avoids damage from improper handling, transportation, packaging, and storage. High postharvest losses of products negatively affect food availability, food security, and nutrition, as the producer is able to sell less of the farm yield and the net availability of these food commodities for consumption is reduced. An underlying cause of these postharvest losses is the limited awareness and knowledge bases of stakeholders (researchers, farmers, governments, non-governmental organizations, and merchants) in the traditional supply chains in which these losses occur. The analysis presented in this paper explores the state of postharvest practice in South Asian countries and discusses options for low-cost postharvest technologies in the region that can support small-scale farmers and provide a viable pathway for supply to the market, joining with modern value chains and bringing about individual and regional reduction in postharvest losses of fruits and vegetables. The improvement of basic and simple low-cost technologies through precise research efforts has the potential to prevent such huge losses of products, and help meet the ever-increasing demand for food in South Asian countries.

Use of Ionizing Radiation as a Phytosanitary Treatment for Postharvest Disease Control

  • Jeong, Rae-Dong
    • Journal of Radiation Industry
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    • v.8 no.2
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    • pp.97-104
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    • 2014
  • Postharvest diseases cause considerable losses to harvested fruits and vegetables worldwide. Fresh produce suspected of harboring postharvest disease must be treated to control any pathogens present. Although there are various treatments to control postharvest losses by pathogens, the current community is eager to take safer and more eco-friendly alternatives to help with human health and reduce environmental risks. Ionizing irradiation is a promising phytosanitary treatment that has a significant potential to control postharvest diseases in use worldwide. Although almost 19000 metric tons of sweet potatoes and various fruits are irradiated each year in six countries to control postharvest disease, irradiation continues to be a debate, with slow acceptance by industries. Irradiation alone is not effective as a fungicide, and an over dose affects the physical properties of irradiated products. A combination of irradiation with other treatments such as heating, biocontrol agents, chlorination, and nano Ag particles is to enhance their effectiveness. Challenges to the use of phytosanitary irradiation are an avoidance of irradiated postharvest and cost of the irradiation facilities, and thus consumers still need to be educated on the principles and benefits of irradiation and prepare an optimum economy of scale for commercial use. In this review, we evaluated the current phytosanitary irradiation, and combination with various other treatments to minimize the postharvest losses.

Effect of pepper tree (Schinus molle) essential oil-loaded chitosan bio-nanocomposites on postharvest control of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and quality evaluations in avocado (Persea americana) cv. Hass

  • Chavez-Magdaleno, Mireya Esbeiddy;Gonzalez-Estrada, Ramses Ramon;Ramos-Guerrero, Anelsy;Plascencia-Jatomea, Maribel;Gutierrez-Martinez, Porfirio
    • Food Science and Biotechnology
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    • v.27 no.6
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    • pp.1871-1875
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    • 2018
  • Preventive and curative activity of postharvest treatments with chitosan nanoparticles (CS) and chitosan biocomposites loaded with pepper tree essential oil (CS-PEO) against anthracnose were evaluated on Avocado (Persea americana) cv. Hass artificially inoculated in rind wounds. After 10 days of storage significant preventive and curative activity against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was observed with the absence of internal damage by applying CS and CS-PEO. Quality parameters like water losses and firmness changes were assessed on fruit treated. CS and CS-PEO were effective to reduce water losses and firmness losses.

Current State of Postharvest Fruit and Vegetable Management in East Africa

  • Wakholi, Collins;Cho, Byoung-Kwan;Mo, Changyeun;Kim, Moon S.
    • Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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    • v.40 no.3
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    • pp.238-249
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    • 2015
  • Purpose: Fruit and vegetable production is a fast-growing sector in East Africa, and it bears considerable local and international market potential. In an effort to analyze the challenges within this sector and suggest possible solutions, this study reviews the postharvest handling technologies commonly used with fruits and vegetables in East Africa. Methods: During the course of this study, small-scale farmers were identified as the most prominent producers of fruit and vegetable crops in the region. Results: We found that many of these small-scale farmers employed relative simple and inexpensive techniques in handling their limited volumes of produce. Several factors could be addressed to reduce postharvest losses, including weak policies, inferior infrastructure, and poor market strategies. However, the lack of basic knowledge (including demographic, scientific, and economic knowledge) among the stakeholders (e.g., researchers, farmers, governments, nongovernment organizations, and merchants) on how to develop, implement, use, and sustain the recommended handling technologies is probably the most problematic. Conclusions: We recommend that high priority be placed on closing the knowledge gap, which could enhance the efforts of all the stakeholders to address and reduce postharvest losses.

Postharvest Procedures on Storage, Management and Utilization of Sweetpotato (고구마의 수확 후 관리현황과 개선방안)

  • Ahn Young-Sup;Jeong BC;Lee JS;Chung MN;Kim HS
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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    • 2004.10a
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    • pp.36-41
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    • 2004
  • Postharvest handling of sweetpotatoes is inevitable procedure for the maintenance, storage, management and utilization of high fresh quality of storage roots. It ranges in degree from simple lifting of roots, carrying them from field to storage house and immediate consumption after cooking, to sophisticated methods of curing, and storage under controlled conditions followed by processing into a high quality food products. Postharvest saleability, quality and nutritional value of roots and the presence or absence in roots of bitter, toxic furanoterpenoid phytoalexins or mycotoxins depends greatly on the degree and types of treatment to which produce is subjected. Climatic and soil conditions before harvest and contamination or attack by microorganisms or insect pests in the field may initiate or enhance subsequent postharvest deterioration. Careless postharvest handling can lead to both quantitative and qualitative losses which may be extremely high in some circumstances. Research has concentrated on the improvement of preharvest conditions to increase yield and lower decrease rates. However, such efforts are wasted unless they go hand in hand with others designed to reduce the high degree of loss associated with careless postharvest handling.

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Postharvest Handling and Marketing Management for Making High Salability of Sweetpotatoes (상품성 제고를 위한 고구마 수확 후 관리 및 출하기술)

  • Jeong, Byeong-Choon
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Postharvest Science and Technology of Agricultural Products Conference
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    • 2001.06a
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    • pp.51-64
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    • 2001
  • The qualities including taste of sweetpotato stored during the winter which can display in the spring market in Korea are affected by availability of storage for the roots. In order to make high storage availability of sweetpotato, the postharvest handlings should be done thoroughly from the moment of harvest until shipping them to the market. A lot of procedures that must be handled carefully for improving postharvest management are as follows; digging, trimming, gathering, putting in storage containers, carrying them from field to house, curing, storing, washing, drying, selecting marketable roots, packing and shipping to the market, etc.. Sweetpotatoes have a high moisture content, and a relatively thin and delicate skin, and are sensitive to chilling, so careless postharvest handling can lead to both quantitative and qualitative losses which may be extremely high in some circumstances. From now on research has concentrated on the improvement of postharvest conditions to increase yield and lower disease rates. Storage, which makes sweetpotatoes available through out the year, benefits both the producer and the consumer. Seven very important points must be needed in order to get the best quality marketable roots in the storing of sweetpotatos : $\circled1$The storage house must be clean and sanitary, $\circled2$The crop must be harvested before the first frost to avoid low-temperature injury, $\circled3$Particular care must be taken to avoid cutting, bruising, or other injuries of the sweetpotatoes during digging, picking up, grading, placing in containers, and moving to the storage house, $\circled4$Select sound, disease-free roots for storage $\circled5$Sweetpotatoes should be stored in properly stacked containers $\circled6$Cure immediately after harvest, preferably at 32∼33$^{\circ}C$ and 90 to 95 percent relative humidity for 4 to 7 days, After curing the temperature should be reduced to 13$^{\circ}C$ to 16$^{\circ}C$ by ventilating the storage with outside air. $\circled7$Store at 12$^{\circ}C$ to 14$^{\circ}C$ and a relative humidity of 80 to 85 percent. Storage houses should be located on suitable sites and should be tightly constructed and insulated so that temperature and humidity will be uniform. Sweetpotatoes are usually not washed and graded, and lately sometimes washed, graded, waxed, before being shipped to market. Consumer packaging of sweetpotatoes in paper boxes(10-15kg) or film bags is done mainly to aid marketing. The shelf life of washed roots in consumer packs in only 1 to 2 weeks. Weight loss of roots during marketing is much less in perforated film bags than in mesh and paper bags. Perforation of 0.8 to 1kg polyethylene bags with about six 6mm holes is essential ; to lower the internal relative humidity and avoid excessive sprouting, rooting, and dampness. Development and use of better postharvest handling with good storage facilities or marketing methods can minimize sweetpotate losses and has an effect of indirectly increasing productivity and farmer’s income.

A Review of Technologies to Prolong the Shelf Life of Fresh Tropical Fruits in Southeast Asia

  • Kusumaningrum, Dewi;Lee, Seung-Hyun;Lee, Wang-Hee;Mo, Changyeun;Cho, Byoung-Kwan
    • Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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    • v.40 no.4
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    • pp.345-358
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    • 2015
  • Southeast Asia, a typical tropical region, plays an important role in exporting a variety of fruits worldwide. The market for fresh fruits has been growing consistently, and this is a chance for Southeast Asian countries to increase their national income. However, export of tropical fruits has limitations such as a short shelf life and difficulty in maintaining the quality because of tropical climate conditions and undeveloped postharvest technologies in Southeast Asia. An important objective for developing postharvest technologies is to extend the shelf life of fresh fruits without deterioration in fruit quality. Therefore, it is essential to determine factors that affect the shelf life of fruits. The shelf life of tropical fruits is significantly dependent on the inherent properties of the fruits, extrinsic conditions, postharvest treatment, and microbial contamination. Recently, Southeast Asian countries have supported agricultural research groups for developing new postharvest technologies and minimizing postharvest losses and maintaining export fruit quality so that the total sales of tropical fruit farms can increase. This review introduces how the primary factors for extending the shelf life of tropical fruits can be determined and discusses the development of postharvest technologies for tropical fruits in Southeast Asian countries.

The effect of storage temperature on antioxidant capacity and storability of paprika

  • Me-Hea Park;Hyang Lan Eum;Pue Hee Park;Dong Ryeol Baek;Siva Kumar Malka
    • Food Science and Preservation
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    • v.31 no.1
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    • pp.15-23
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    • 2024
  • Storage temperature profoundly influences the storability of paprika (Capsicum annuum L.). However, the impact of storage temperature on storability and its association with the antioxidant activity of paprika are poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated the storage attributes, activity, and gene expression levels of antioxidant enzymes in paprika stored at 4, 10, and 20℃ for 14 d and then at 20℃ for an additional 5 d (14+5 d; retail conditions). Storage at 10℃ effectively mitigated pitting, stalk browning, shriveling, and decay while significantly enhancing the marketability of paprika. The fruits stored at 4℃ were prone to pitting, whereas those stored at 20℃ were sensitive to stalk browning and decay. Moreover, paprika stored at 10℃ exhibited higher 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) activity and total phenolic content than those stored at 4 and 20℃, indicating improved antioxidant activity. Additionally, storage at 10℃ upregulated the expression levels of the antioxidant genes, catalase and peroxidase, suggesting the mechanism underlying the quality enhancement of paprika. Our findings suggest that paprika storage at 10℃ alleviates chilling injuries, preserves the quality and marketability, and enhances the antioxidant potential of paprika. These findings provide insights into how temperature influences the quality and minimizes post-harvest losses during the storage and distribution of paprika.

Effects of Ionizing Radiation on Postharvest Fungal Pathogens

  • Jeong, Rae-Dong;Shin, Eun-Jung;Chu, Eun-Hee;Park, Hae-Jun
    • The Plant Pathology Journal
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    • v.31 no.2
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    • pp.176-180
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    • 2015
  • Postharvest diseases cause losses in a wide variety of crops around the world. Irradiation, a useful nonchemical approach, has been used as an alternative treatment for fungicide to control plant fungal pathogens. For a preliminary study, ionizing radiations (gamma, X-ray, or e-beam irradiation) were evaluated for their antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium expansum, and Rhizopus stolonifer through mycelial growth, spore germination, and morphological analysis under various conditions. Different fungi exhibited different radiosensitivity. The inhibition of fungal growth showed in a dose-dependent manner. Three fungal pathogens have greater sensitivity to the e-beam treatment compared to gamma or X-ray irradiations. The inactivation of individual fungal-viability to different irradiations can be considered between 3-4 kGy for B. cinerea and 1-2 kGy for P. expansum and R. stolonifer based on the radiosensitive and radio-resistant species, respectively. These preliminary data will provide critical information to control postharvest diseases through radiation.

Isolation and Identification of Postharvest Spoilage Fungi from Mulberry Fruit in Korea

  • Kwon, O-Chul;Ju, Wan-Taek;Kim, Hyun-Bok;Sung, Gyoo-Byung;Kim, Yong-Soon
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.37 no.3
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    • pp.221-228
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    • 2018
  • BACKGROUND: Spoilage fungi can reduce the shelf life of fresh fruits and cause economic losses by lowering quality. Especially, mulberry fruits have high sensitivity to fungal attack due to their high water content (> 70%) and soft texture. In addition, the surface of these fruits is prone to damage during harvesting and postharvest handling. However, any study on postharvest spoilage fungi in mulberry fruit has not been reported in Korea. This study aimed to examine the spoilage fungi occurring in mulberry fruits during storage after harvest. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, we isolated postharvest spoilage fungi from mulberry fruits stored in refrigerator (fresh fruits) and deep-freezer (frozen fruits) and identified them. In the phylogenetic analysis based on comparisons of the ITS rDNA sequences, the 18 spoilage fungi isolated from mulberry fruits and the 25 reference sequences were largely divided into seven groups that were subsequently verified by high bootstrap analysis of 73 to 100. Alternaria spp. including A. alternate and A. tenuissima, were the most frequently isolated fungi among the spoilage isolates: its occurrence was the highest among the 18 isolates (38.9%). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study will be helpful for increasing the shelf life of mulberry fruits through the application of appropriate control measures against infection by spoilage fungi during storage.