Efficacy of ultraviolet-C irradiation to suppress fruit decay and retain the postharvest quality of dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus)

• Main Authors: Lee, Chuen Ng, Sink, Jack Tan, Tufail Ahmad Fauziah,
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2022
• Online Access: http://journalarticle.ukm.my/19516/1/11%2B-%2BULTRAVIOLET-C%2BIRRADIATION%2BON%2BDRAGON%2BFRUIT%2BDECAY%2BAND%2BPOST-HARVEST%2BQUALITY.pdf; http://journalarticle.ukm.my/19516/; https://jms.mabjournal.com/index.php/mab/issue/view/44

Dragon fruit (Hylocereus sp.) is a non-climacteric fruit with a short shelf-life and is easily susceptible to diseases. Chemical pesticides are commonly used to control disease in dragon fruit. However, the efficacy of Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation at low concentrations as effective germicidal to control fruit decay and prolong the shelf-life on dragon fruit is still unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of UV-C irradiation at lower rates (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 kJ m-2) to control the postharvest decay and maintain the quality of dragon fruit. Results revealed that the quality of dragon fruit is dose-dependent. UV-C irradiated dragon fruits at 0.75 and 1.0 kJ m-2 were significantly reduced in fruit body decay, delayed bract yellowing, and prolonged shelf-life. These dosages synergistically slowed down the depletion of total soluble solids and fruit firmness during storage. Also, dragon fruit treated with 1.0 kJ m-2 UV-C exhibited the lowest pH value after the 6th day in storage. UV-C irradiation at this dosage indicated no significant adverse effects in titratable acidity and total water loss. These results indicated that UV-C irradiation at 1.0 kJ m-2 was effective to reduce post-harvest decay and hence prolong the post-harvest quality of dragon fruit storage under ambient conditions.