Determining appropriate postharvest handling method to minimize fungal infection and aflatoxin contamination in nutmeg (Myristica fragrans)
2018
Dharmaputra, O. S. | Ambarwati, S. | Retnowati, I. | Nurfadila, N.
Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) or fragnant nutmeg is an important commodity that has been used in the food and pharmaceutical industries, hence its quality should be monitored. The objectives of this study were (1) to investigate the effect of postharvest handling of nutmeg, i.e. origin, drying and storage on the quality of nutmeg, in terms of fungal infection (including Aspergillus flavus) and total aflatoxin content, (2) to recommend proper (appropriate) postharvest handling method (Good Handling Practice) of nutmeg to ensure its good quality during storage. Nutmeg fruits were obtained using two methods, i.e. harvesting nutmeg by picking ripe fruits from the tree and collecting those which had fallen on the ground. Drying of nutmeg was conducted using sun-drying on tarpaulin which was put on the ground or smoke-drying until its moisture content was reduced by 10%. Nutmeg was stored for two and four months under warehouse conditions. The results showed that appropriate postharvest handling method of nutmegs could ensure their good quality in terms of the percentage of damaged kernels, fungal infection and aflatoxin contamination, i.e. nutmeg should be harvested directly from the tree, dried using smoke-drying and stored with its shell. Nutmeg obtained by picking should not be mixed with fallen fruits which have been in contact with the soil. The highest A. flavus infection and aflatoxin contamination were found in nutmeg that had been fallen on the ground.
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