Effect of enhanced freshness formulation (EFF) on the shelf life of bitter gourd

The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of a nano emulsion carrying hexanal, an Enhanced freshness formulation (EFF), as a pre-harvest spray and post-harvest dip technology to minimize the post-harvest losses and to extend the shelf life of bitter gourd. Bitter gourd fruits were exposed to the pre-harvest spray of 1% and 2% EFF solution one day prior to harvest. the bitter gourd were harvested at harvestable maturity stage and was treated with EFF (1.0 and 2.0 percent for 1 min) and stored under ambient (28 °C ± 2 °C, RH 60 ± 10%) condition and evaluated for physical and biochemical parameters. the EFF at 2% concentration has recorded lower physiological loss in weight (23.95 per cent) on 6^th day of storage, higher firmness (3.0 N/mm) with increased shelf life (8 days) under ambient storage condition. the treated fruits had low total soluble solids (10.10°Brix) and acidity (0.26) indicating improved fruit quality during storage, in addition to an extended shelf life (8 days). overall, the results clearly indicated that the ripening process of the EFF treated bitter gourd fruits were delayed and had an extended shelf life. Pre harvest spray and post-harvest dips using hexanal formulation is a potential technology that could be adopted in pack house for domestic and export markets.