Postharvest evaluation of Lulo (Solanum quitoense) characteristics covered with banana leaf

Nathalia M. Forero; Sebastián Gutiérrez; Rafael L. Sandoval; Jesús H. Camacho; Miguel A. Meneses

Postharvest evaluation of Lulo (Solanum quitoense) characteristics covered with banana leaf

2014

Nathalia M. Forero | Sebastián Gutiérrez | Rafael L. Sandoval | Jesús H. Camacho | Miguel A. Meneses

In Colombia, production of lulo (Solanum quitoense) is close to 65,000 t yr-1, which lost about 45% in the post-harvest stage (Horticulture Association of Colombia 2006). Therefore, one of the challenges proposed in the National Fruit Plan 2006 is to improve post-harvest techniques currently employed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the banana leaf as non conventional packaging for postharvest handling of lulo. For this, the evolution of weight, pH, titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), respiratory rate (RR) and color changes were observed in four treatments which consisted in product storage at room temperature and 7.5°C and with and without banana leaf as packaging. The study considers a random design, an ANOVA and comparison of means were made. The storage of lulo with banana leaves reduces the product weight losses at room temperature from 11.8% to 8.3%, and for refrigerated product from 6.4% to 4.6%. It was found that time affects the values of TA and TSS, and it was determined that the color change from green to orange is later in the product packed with banana leaf.

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