JOURNAL OF LIAONING TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

EXPLORING NEEM, MORINGA, AND THEIR SYNTHESIZED SILVER NANOPARTICLE COATINGS FOR PROLONGED SHELF LIFE AND QUALITY RETENTION OF MUSA SAPIENTUM (BANANA) FRUITS

Tolulope S. Ewekeye, Olasunkanmi K. Awote, Sesi R. Oke, Adijat D. Idowu, Abdul-hakeem O. Sulaimon, Abayomi S. Ayesa, Abdulrazak O. Adebayo, Damilola O. Kolawole, Oyedamola A. Oke

Abstract

Musa sapientum (Banana) is a popular fruit worldwide because of its nutritional content. However, post-harvest loss remains a severe challenge in storing this perishable produce. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of Moringa oleifera (Moringa), Azadirachta indica (Neem) leaf extracts, and their synthesized silver nanoparticle coatings on post-harvest shelf life of bananas, and also to isolate and identify the fungi associated with post-harvest spoilage of banana using standard procedures. Thirty-five (35) fully grown green banana fruits were gathered, rinsed, and arranged according to their coatings or treatments. with synthesized silver nanoparticles, moringa, and neem: Control, neem aqueous leaf extract, moringa aqueous leaf extract, neem aqueous leaf extract, and moringa aqueous leaf extract synthesized silver nanoparticles in 1:9 and 6:4 (n=5 each), respectively. Standard procedures were used to assess the bananas' firmness, shelf life, and postharvest degradation percentage. Results showed that the banana fruits coated with A. indica were effective in extending the shelf life and maintaining banana physical qualities compared to the coatings with the synthesized silver nanoparticles and moringa aqueous leaf extract. Additionally, three fungi, namely Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Mucor sp. were identified and isolated as the causal organisms for the post-harvest spoilage of the banana fruit. In conclusion, matured banana fruits' postharvest quality and shelf-life can be retained by coatings with the aqueous neem and moringa extracts and their synthesized silver nanoparticles, although the days of retentions differ.

Keywords: Azadirachta indica; Moringa oleifera; Musa sapientum; post-harvest; preservatives silver nanoparticles; Spoilage.