Evaluation of novel Prosopis juliflora water soluble leaf ethanolic extract as preservation coating material of cucumber

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is an economically important vegetable worldwide. Cucumbers have short shelf life with sensitivity to chilling injuries and fungal and bacterial postharvest diseases. Prosopis juliflora water-soluble leaf ethanolic (PJ-WS-LE) extract has a strong antimicrobial activity against many spoiling agents with time-stability and no phytotoxicity on fruits. The present study explores PJ-WS-LE extract efficacy as a coating material to preserve cucumber. 8 mg/ml of PJ-WS-LE extract increased cucumber shelf life at 22°C by 77%. At week 2, cucumber coated with PJ-WS-LE extract alone showed less than 10 CFU/g of mold as well as 76.9% and 85.8% reduction of total yeast and aerobic bacterial counts, respectively. PJ-WS-LE extract treated samples maintained the slightest change in total soluble solids and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity. Embedding PJ-WS-LE extract in 0.5% chitosan did not improve the quality maintaining results. In vivo overall results highlight the potentials of PJ-WS-LE extract as a possible coating replacement of chemical fungicides.

Novelty impact statement