Enhancing Postharvest Preservation of Valencia Late Oranges with Chitosan and Silicon Oxide Treatments

Introduction: Postharvest fruit losses due to fungal infections and weight loss are a significant concern in the citrus industry. The latest research investigates how chitosan and silicon oxide treatments can enhance the shelf life of Valencia Late oranges. Read on to discover the findings of this study, and visit Plant Science Journal for more groundbreaking research in plant science.

Effectiveness of Chitosan and Silicon Oxide in Postharvest Treatment Research conducted at Valencia Polytechnic University evaluated the impact of preharvest silicon oxide and postharvest chitosan applications on Valencia Late oranges. The study tested different concentrations of these treatments to measure their effectiveness in preventing fungal infections and weight loss over a nine-week storage period.

Key Findings:

• Fungal Infection Prevention:
  • Silicon oxide treatments (0.2% and 1%) significantly reduced natural infections caused by Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum.
  • The highest concentration of chitosan (1%) was the most effective in preventing postharvest fungal infections.
  • Both treatments outperformed conventional fungicide applications.
• Weight Loss Impact:
  • Despite their effectiveness in preventing fungal infections, neither silicon oxide nor chitosan significantly reduced fruit weight loss over the nine-week storage period.

Broader Implications for Postharvest Treatments

The American Society for Horticultural Science emphasizes the importance of developing sustainable, chemical-free preservation methods for postharvest fruit storage. The findings of this study highlight the potential of silicon-based and biopolymer treatments as viable alternatives to synthetic fungicides in citrus preservation.

Practical Applications for Growers

For citrus growers and postharvest handlers, integrating silicon oxide as a preharvest spray and chitosan as a postharvest dip could provide an eco-friendly, effective alternative to conventional fungicides. Further research is needed to optimize concentrations for reducing fruit weight loss while maintaining high disease resistance.

Read the Full Study

For a detailed analysis, access the full research study at https://doi.org/10.29328/journal.jpsp.1001063.

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