Palladium encapsulated nanofibres for scavenging ethylene from sapota fruits

Abstract

Scavenging ethylene is a useful intervention during the transportation and storage of tropical climacteric fruits like sapota. Sapota ( Manilkara achras Mill.) is a delicious tropical fruit with a very high respiration rate and poor shelf life. To prolong its post-harvest shelf life, the use of palladium chloride in electrospun nanomats was evaluated at a concentration varying from 1 to 4% levels. Encapsulation of 1–2% PdCl 2 in nanomats increased the ethylene scavenging capacity (ESC) by 47–68%. Although, upon encapsulation, both PdCl 2 and potassium permanganate showed significantly the same ethylene scavenging activity, the efficacy of PdCl 2 was found better in presence of sapota fruits. The PdCl 2 nanomats were brighter (L* > 73) in colour compared to the potassium permanganate mat. The placement of nanomats (2 cm 2 × 9 cm 2 ) in corrugated fibre board boxes in which the sapota was packed showed higher quality indices (firmness, TSS, ascorbic acid, and phenolics) along with lower PLW and respiration rate during the 8 days of storage period. Compared to control (8.35%), physiological loss in weight of 4.47% was recorded in fruits stored with ethylene scavenging nanomats. PdCl 2 encapsulated PVA nanomats can emerge as a promising option for the retention of quality in fruits during storage and transit.