National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS)
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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
Fresh produce has enormous potential to contribute in food and nutritional security. It also contributes with essential micronutrients in the daily diet. The indigenous fresh produce has a short shelf life and they get affected during storage and transportation due to microbial spoilage. Irradiation treatment could also be applied to mitigate this problem. Irradiation helps to eliminate various microorganisms, delay ripening, sprout inhibition and extension of shelf life of fresh produce. Cobalt-60 is the radioisotope used as a source of gamma radiations. Treatment of gamma radiation was carried out with doses of 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 kGy. Gamma radiation in a controlled amount between the range of 1.5-2.5 kGy penetrates the pre-packed Colocasia esculenta leaves to extend the shelf life. Gamma radiations at 1.5 and 2.5 kGy was effective in reducing microbial content, enhancing shelf. Storage studies show that Colocasia leaves treated with 1.5 kGy enhance the shelf life for 18-21 days without affecting nutritional quality and safety of food. This process is effective in reducing bacterial as well as fungal growth. Gamma radiations did not affect nutritional quality of Colocasia leaves by application of 1.5-2.5 kGy as major nutrients such as proteins, fats are not affected significantly. Minor nutrient such as vitamin C was affected by high dose. Also application of spent nuclear fuel in such processing unriddles the problems of nuclear waste disposal and management in some extent. Thus, such technology can augment processing of fresh produce and control post-harvest losses in developing countries like India.
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