Effect of postharvest treatments and type of packaging on spinach beet under ambient conditions

The present experiment was conducted in postharvest laboratory of Department of Horticulture & Postharvest Technology, Institute of Agriculture to find out the ideal chemical treatment and packaging to increase the postharvest storage life of spinach beet under ambient storage condition. After harvesting the spinach beet plants were treated with different chemicals (0.3% ascorbic acid, 0.3% citric acid, 0.5% common salt, 0.5% sugar, 0.005% benzoic acid and distill water) and packed in various packing materials (perforated LDPE packing, news paper packaging and without packing). The treatments consisted of chemical treatments and packing. The experiment was laid out in completely Randomized Design (CRD) in factorial manner. Results from the experiment reviled that highest number of days (6.5) to 50% colour change, 50% rotting and lowest respiration rate (52.28 mL.kg?1. hr?1) was observed in T3P3 (0.005% benzoic acid +LDPE packing). Lowest physiological loss in weight (78.80g/100g), ethylene production (8.41 nl.g-1 .hr-1), highest dry matter content (22.96g/100g), which led to increase in shelf life up to 5 days in T1P3 (0.3% ascorbic acid + LDPE packing).Picture -?Mean values of ethylene (nl.g-1 .hr-1 ), respiration rate (ml.kg?1 .hr?1 ) and temperature (0C) of different treatments SourceEffect of Post-harvest Treatments and Packaging on Spinach Beet?(Beta vulgaris var bengalensis Hort.) under Ambient ConditionB.V.G. Prasad, S. Chakravorty, P. Ganagadhara Rao and P. DebInt.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(11): 711-720https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.711.085