TY - JOUR AU - Aloo, Maurine AU - Opiyo, Arnold Mathew AU - Saidi, Mwanarusi PY - 2022/04/01 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Maintaining Postharvest Quality and Extending Shelf Life of Bell Pepper (Capsicum annum L. cv. California Wonder) using Cactus (Opuntia stricta L.) Mucilage Coating JF - Egerton University International Conference JA - euc VL - IS - SE - Transformative Agri-food Systems DO - UR - https://conferences.egerton.ac.ke/index.php/euc/article/view/176 SP - AB - <p>Bell pepper (<em>Capsicum annum</em> L.) experiences significant loss during postharvest. This study aimed at providing an alternative postharvest handling technology for bell pepper. The factor studied was cactus (<em>Opuntia stricta</em> L.) mucilage coating at four levels: 0% (distilled water), 1, 2 and 3%. Weight loss and total soluble solids content were determined at an interval of 3 days whereas iron and ascorbic acid content were determined at an interval of 4 days. Shelf life elapsed when fruit lost 25% of their initial weight or showed symptoms of rotting. Cactus mucilage coating reduced weight loss by up to 21.64%, maintained total soluble solids by up to 14.93%%, iron by up to 6.46%, ascorbic acid by up to 19.46% and extended shelf life by up to 6 days. Cactus mucilage coating at 1% was the best treatment and therefore can be used by bell pepper growers, retailers and consumers to maintain postharvest quality of bell pepper.</p> ER -