Use ozone to preserve the fruit

Malaysian researchers have studied the use of ozone to preserve papaya and exotic fruits, avoiding damage during storage and transport.

Long-lasting fresh fruit preservation thanks to ozone

"Sadly, today's applications are too dependent on synthetic chemicals. They work well but affect human health , "said Professor Ali, who heads the research team at the Malaysia Post-Harvest Biotechnology Center (CEPB).

Postharvest diseases reduce the value and quality of agricultural products. Fungicides do not spoil agricultural products, but they pose many risks to human health and the environment.

Therefore, scientists try to harvest papayas ozone aeration for 96 hours, then stored at low temperatures for 14 days. Results showed that papaya treated with ozone had higher antioxidant capacity, more vitamin C, beta-carotene, lycopene than papaya untreated with ozone.

Ozone also slows down and reduces the incidence of anthracnose, a fungal spot disease on postharvest papaya by inhibiting growth of microalgae on fruit pods. Ozone is also capable of removing excess fungicides.

Subsequent studies have shown that ozone has similar antimicrobial effects on freshly cut fruits and vegetables , which are more likely to be contaminated during harvest.

The team is considering commercializing ozone treatment with some growers and exporters of vegetables and fruits, increasing profitability, safety for humans and the environment, possibly replacing synthetic fungicides. is being used today.