Journal of Food Processing & Technology

Abstract

Plant Extracts in Post-Harvest Disease Management of Fruits and Vegetables-A Review

Anjum Malik A, Naseer Ahmed, Babita, Harmeet Chauhan and Prerna Gupta

Purpose of research: This review focus of the utilization of plant extracts in the post harvest management of fruits and vegetables and this also emphasize the need for future research.
Findings: Plant products are an important source of agrochemicals used for the control various post harvest loses which include diseases as well as insect pests. The widely studied plants in this context are the neem tree (Azadirachta indica), chinaberry (Melia azadrach) and marigold (Tagetes spp). They are being used to manufacture natural or bio insecticides, which are environmental friendly and do not have any toxic effects on plants and soil. More ever they possess fungicidal and insecticidal properties. Various extracts such as neem leaf extract, castor oil and neem oil on citrus fruits and reported that, among these extracts neem was best in retaining most of biochemical characteristics such as TSS (16.01°B), acidity (0.38%), pectin (0.98%) and ascorbic acid content (20.56 mg/100 ml juice).
Directions for future research: Each of these categories requires further research. The industries would benefit from this article on the utilization of plant extract post harvest management of fruits and vegetables. There are several areas which require further exploration. One of these is the development of technologies for the extraction of plant extract and its awareness about the safety of its utilization without any effect on human health.