Wasim Aljuhni(1)* , Radwan Alkhatib (2) and Mohammed Massri (2)
(1). Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Baath University, Homs, Syria.
.(2) Higher Institute for Applied Sciences and Technology, Damascus
(*Corresponding author:Wasim Aljuhni : E-Mail Wasim.aljuhni@gmail.com,T: 0951324670)
Received : 1/07/2024 Accepted :15/11/2024
Abstract:
This study was conducted at the Biotechnology Center of Al-Baath University during 2022. The study aimed to investigate the impact of polysaccharide coating solutions enriched with nano zinc oxide and lemongrass oil on the marketing qualities and storage capabilities of ‘Golden Delicious’ apples stored at ambient temperature. Polysaccharide coating solutions were prepared from sodium alginate (ALG) and pectin (PEC), and were enriched with lemongrass essential oil (LG) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs). Golden Delicious apple fruits were treated with prepared coating solutions, and fruits without any treatment were used as a control. The fruits were stored at a laboratory temperature (18 ± 3 °C) for 8 weeks. Changes in fruit characteristics during storage were studied. The indicators studied included weight loss, percentage of dissolved solids, Firmness, titratable acidity, vitamin C, total phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity. The results exhibited that treating apple fruits with polysaccharide emulsions containing lemongrass oil and ZNo-NPs were significantly (P<0.05) reduced undesirable changes in quality indicators during storage. Treating apple fruits with the double composite layer (layer by layer) consisting of (ALG+LGEO+ZnO-NPs) and (PEC+LGEO+ZnO-NPs) was significantly (P<0.05) superior to the other treatments in maintaining quality indicators during storage. The results of the study indicate the possibility of using polysaccharide emulsions enriched with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNo-NPs) and lemongrass essential oil to improve the marketing specifications and increase the storage capacity of stored apple fruits.
Keywords: Golden Delicious, polysaccharides, lemongrass essential oil, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNo-NPs), Storage capacity.
Full Paper in Arabic: pdf