Aloe (Aloe Barbadensis Mill.) Gel as an Agent in Delaying the Post-Harvest Deterioration of Eggplant (Solanum Melongena), Tomato (Lycopersicum Esculentum), and Bell Pepper (Capsicum Annum)

Abstract

Solanaceous crops such as eggplant, tomato, and bell pepper are highly valuable crops in the Philippines for its versatility in Filipino food cuisines. However, these crops after harvest are prone to deterioration due to faster ripening and microbial contamination leading to short life duration during transport and storage. To address this challenge, introduction of botanical coatings to delay post-harvest deterioration of these crops is promising eco-friendly solution. Aloe (Aloe barbadensis Mill.) plant which is widely planted for its gel has been reported to contain biologically active compounds that are highly valuable for medicinal, cosmetic, and industrial uses. In the Philippines, aloe vera is valued as an ornamental plant with strong domestic demand and emerging export opportunities. It has also been studied as a potential edible coating to improve the post-harvest life of fruits, and has extensively applied for fresh produce preservation. However, studies about its effects on the post-harvest life of solanaceous crops in Philippine condition is limited. Thus, this study sought to investigate the effect of the different aloe gel (AG) concentrations as pre-treatment on the quality of eggplant, tomato, and bell pepper fruits during storage. Fruits were coated with AG and changes in the physical quality of the solanaceous fruits were measured during storage within 7, 12, and 21 days. The present study showed that coating with 20%-30% AG reduced the weight loss, and consequently, decreased loss of firmness, less shrinkage, lesser disease incidence and severity, thereby improving the visual quality of the fruits. Pre-treating the fruit with AG was done by mixing it with water to enhance the storage quality of the fruits. Results obtained from this study show that aloe gel coating can be useful in extending the postharvest storage life and maintaining the quality of solanaceous fruits during storage.