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Storage of Eggplants (solanum Melongena L.) by Making Intracellular Water Structured by Using Xenon Gas

M. A. Rahman
Principal Scientific Officer
Farm Machinery and Postharvest Technology Division, BRRI, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh.

M. G. K. Bhuiyan
Senior Scientific Officer
Farm Machinery and Postharvest Technology Division, BRRI, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh.

AKM Saiful Islam
Senior Scientific Officer
Farm Machinery and Postharvest Technology Division, BRRI, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh.

G. Mowla
Principal Scientific Officer
Training Division, BRRI, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh.

M. S. Islam
Chief Scientific Officer
Farm Machinery and Postharvest Technology Division, BRRI, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Storage life of eggplant fruits were studied by applying Xenon gas. Structured water was formed due to Xe gas in eggplants, which ultimately helped to extend the storage life. Fruits were treated with three different levels of the Xe solubilities for three days at 10°C and 15°C. After 3 days, Xe was depressurized, and storage was continued for 11 days in atmospheric air at lOoe and 15°C. The respiratory activity was lower in the Xe treated samples compared with the control. However, no significant difference was found among the Xe treatments. The effect of temperature on the suppression of respiratory activity was found greater than the Xe solubility. Overall, Xe helped in maintaining the quality of eggplant fruits because weight loss, calyx deterioration, color changes and browning of flesh were suppressed and Xe extended the storage life of eggplant fruits up to two weeks.

Keywords: Eggplants, Xenon gas, Structured water, Morphological, Physiological features

Location: Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur

Start Date: 01-07-1997

End Date: 30-08-1997

Program Area: Postharvest and Agro-processing

Commodity: Brinjal

Objectives:

To examine the effect of the formation of structured water in Xe treatments under three levels of solubility on the storage life of eggplant fruits by observing changes in their morphological and physiological features.

Methodology:

Xenon was the most soluble gas among the nonpolar gases and hence it was selected for the present study. Eggplant fruit, Japanese cv. Senrio, a purple color was harvested in July and August 1997 from farmers' fields, in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Immediately after harvesting, the fruits were kept in a thermal insulated bag and within 1-2 hr, the samples were transported to the Laboratory of Bioprocess Engineering, University of Tokyo, and preserved in the controlled room temperature for 1 to 2 d at 15°C. Disease-free and uniform colored eggplants were selected for the experiment. The initial mass, moisture content, color and total soluble solids of the samples were recorded. Then, the samples were placed inside the acrylic resin container having inside diameter of 100x10^-3m and height of 110x10^-3m. The experiments were set up for 10 and 15. In each experiment, four containers were used where one container was treated as control i.e. without applying any pressure. Three levels of xenon solubility i.e. S_I (3.71x10^-4 mol Xe/ mol H₂O) and S₂ (2.65x10^-4mol Xe/ mol H₂O) and S₃ were used in other three containers. The final data for the same initial measuring items were recorded. Two temperatures and three levels of Xe solubility were evaluated on the physicochemical parameters of eggplant fruits. Statistical analysis was carried out using analysis of variance and randomized complete block design was used. The observations were tested by the Duncan's new multiple range (DMR) Test at P<0.05.

Source of Information: Journal of Agricultural Engineering, Dec. 2008, Vol.35/AE, pp:21-28, ISSN:0379-4318.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Three different constant levels of Xe solubility were applied to the eggplant fruits to investigate the suppression of metabolic activities. The study provided the following information: (1) Regardless the application of Xe, the respiratory activity was found to be low at lower temperature. However, the respiratory activity can also be suppressed at high temperature if proper solubility is used. (2) The Xe treated eggplants showed less changes in peel color than the control. (3) Weight losses were less in the Xe treated eggplant fruits than the control. No adverse effect on the quality of eggplant fruits was observed in Xe treatments during 14 days of storage. From the study it may be concluded that, Xe can be used for the storage of fresh fruits and vegetables. However, further detailed investigations, especially enzymatic investigations on a varied spectrum of fresh products may be needed to give credence an these findings before practical applications clarifying the mechanism of suppressing metabolic activity.

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