Efficacy of peppermint oil-incorporated tragacanth gum coating on postharvest quality and antioxidant enzyme activity in banana fruits

Purpose: This study investigated the effectiveness of tragacanth gum (TG) coatings integrated with peppermint oil (PO) in controlling pathogenic fungi in banana fruits. Research Method: The research specifically evaluated the in-vitro and in-vivo responses of these coating agents on fungal pathogens and assessed their impact on peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activities in banana fruits. Findings: The study revealed that tragacanth gum integrated with peppermint oil (TGPO) effectively inhibited the growth of Colletotrichum musae and Aspergillus fumigatus in bananas. TGPO-treated fruits exhibited significantly lower disease incidence (۳۲.۶۷±۱.۰۰ % for C. musae and ۲۸±۱.۰۰ % for A. fumigatus) and severity compared to the controls after ۱۴ days. The treatment also maintained higher catalase and peroxidase enzymatic activities, indicating enhanced disease resistance. Furthermore, TGPO-treated bananas retained better quality parameters during the ۱۵-day storage period, including optimal pH levels, lower total soluble solids, reduced water activity, greater firmness, and decreased electrical conductivity. Research limitations: No limitations were identified during the course of carrying out this study. Originality/Value: The originality and value of this work lie in being the first study to investigate TGPO as a natural preservative coating for bananas. While previous research has examined various edible coatings and essential oils separately, this study uniquely demonstrates how integrating tragacanth gum and peppermint oil creates an effective, eco-friendly solution for extending banana shelf life by controlling fungal pathogens (particularly C. musae and A. fumigatus) while maintaining fruit quality. This novel approach addresses growing consumer demand for natural food preservation methods while potentially reducing post-harvest losses in the banana industry.

کلیدواژه ها:

Aspergillus fumigatus ، Colletotricum musae ، edible coating ، Peroxidase ، Musa sapientum