Abstract:
Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers is a popular leafy vegetable. However, postharvest life
of fresh leaves at ambient condition is about 2 days, leading to high postharvest
losses. Therefore, it is important to extend the postharvest life to increase the usable
life where, modified atmospheric packaging (MAP) is being used effectively to
extend the postharvest life of perishables. Hence, this experiment was conducted to
evaluate the effect of MAP on postharvest life of S. grandiflora leaves at ambient
condition. Four treatments were used; Sealed non perforated polyethylene bags of
gauge 150 (T1), Perforated polyethylene bags of gauge 150 (T2), Sealed
polyethylene bags of gauge 300(T3), perforated polyethylene bags of gauge 300
(T4) and control without a package (CR). Physicochemical parameters (leaf color
values of L*, a* and b*, total color difference, chlorophyll content, physiological
weight loss and visual quality rating) were measured daily. There were significant
differences (p<0.05) among the treatments for tested quality parameters. Visual
quality rating revealed that, T1 treatment showed highest postharvest life, which
was 6 days while T3 and control samples showed lowest postharvest life of 2 days.
Lowest total color difference was observed in T1 (2.12±0.79) emphasizing the
highest color retention while highest total color difference was observed in control
samples (21.87±2.47) showing lowest color retention. Highest physiological weight
loss was observed in control sample (56.86±1.07) while lowest in T3 samples
(0.84±0.13) at the end of their postharvest life. Experimental results revealed that
the postharvest life of T1, T2, T3, T4 and control samples as 6, 4, 2, 4 and 2 days
respectively. In conclusion, sealed non perforated polyethylene bags of gauge 150
could be used effectively to increase postharvest life of S. grandiflora leaves in fresh
form.
