Photosensitization mediated retention of nutritional quality of banana during its postharvest storage

ABSTRACT

This study has been undertaken with an objective of evaluating the efficacy of a physical elicitor, photosensitisation, and its combining effects with ozone in defence mechanism and retention of postharvest quality of banana (Musa acuminata Cavendish). The results revealed that the fruit treated with photosensitisation (T1) showed the tendency of slow ripening with retention of nutritional quality characteristics like total phenolic contents and pH throughout the storage period. Polyphenol oxidase activity exerted by the fruit treated with T1 was significantly lower than that of control. The antioxidant enzymes like peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, lipoxygenase and catalase were found to get increased in fruit treated with T1. The polygalacturonase activity expressed by the fruit treated with T1 was lowest than that of any other treatment. The fruit treated with T1 were remained marketable and consumer acceptable till 15 d of storage period with retention of its nutritional quality, while fruit kept in control set were acceptable till 9 d of storage. From the above findings, it may be concluded that the treatment of photosensitisation could trigger the defence mechanism against microbes and activates the antioxidant enzymes which leads to maintain nutritional quality of banana after harvest.

KEYWORDS:

• Antioxidant enzymes
• Banana
• Defence mechanism
• Photosensitisation
• Quality
• Shelf life

Acknowledgments

Authors are thankful to the Head, Department of Biosciences, Sardar Patel University for providing necessary facilities to carry out this work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The authors have no funding to report.