Development of A Suitable Household Storage Technique for Enhancing Shelf Life of Selected Tropical Vegetables

摘要

The efficiency of different packaging methods and storage conditions on enhancing the shelf life of selected solanaceous, leguminous, green leafy vegetables, lady's finger, ivy gourd and carrotwere explored. Of the different packaging and storage conditions tried vented LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) under low temperature storage conditions recorded least physiological loss in weight (PLW) and speed of decay for tomato (3.40% & 0.43%, respectively), cowpea (6.33%, and 0.79% respectively) and lady'sfinger (10.67% and 1.33% respectively). PLW and speed of decay were very low for brinjal (3.77% and 0.47% respectively), chilly (5.17% and 0.65%, respectively), french beans (6.10% and 0.76% respectively), ivy gourd (7.73% and 0.96 % respectively) and carrot (6.67%, and 0.83% respectively) when packaged in LDPE pouches without vents under low temperature storage. Curry leaves and coriander leaves wrapped with newspaper and packaged in vented LDPE pouches stored in low temperature conditions recorded least PLW (9.3 % and 18.2 % respectively) and speed of decay (1.16% and 2.27% respectively).