SONAL SHUKLA AND DASHRATH BHATI*
Department of Horticulture, School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior, Gwalior-474 001 (Madhya Pradesh), India
*(e-mail: bhati.dashrath.1@gmail.com; Mobile: 97847 39334)
(Received: February 10, 2025; Accepted: April 4, 2025)
ABSTRACT
India is the second largest producer of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). The post-harvest losses of bell peppers led to a reduction in the quality and appearance, thereby resulting in a reduction in marketability and economic losses. The present study was planned to assess the impact of hydrophobic coatings on the quality parameters of bell peppers. Unconventional oils viz., neem, mint and tulsi oils were utilized for coating along with chlorophyll content extracted from carrot leaves. All the selected oils were used in different concentrations i.e. 10, 25 and 50% along with 5% and without carrot leaf extract (CLE). All the treatments were assessed for physical, chemical and sensory attributes of bell peppers during a 16-day storage period. It was found that neem oil 50% (T3N50) had the highest firmness (2.87 kg/cm2), less weight loss and the least per cent decay (31.04%) at the 16th day of storage. This treatment had the highest total soluble solids (3.45 Bo), ascorbic acid (101.00 mg/100 g), chlorophyll a (3.94 mg/g), chlorophyll b (1.03 mg/g) and total chlorophyll content (5.38 mg/g) as compared with control. Therefore, neem oil 50% can be used as a coating of bell pepper.
Key words: Oil-based coating, organoleptic parameters, capsicum, shelf-life