Effects of Packaging Materials on Shelf Life and Post-harvest Quality of Bell Peppers (Capsicum annum cv Indra) under Ambient Conditions

Even though capsicum is considered non-climacteric fruit, it still progresses through a normal ripening process and undergoes high respiration and transpiration rate after harvest. The physiological weight loss, shortened shelf life, and quality deterioration during storage have become a serious predicament to many capsicum stakeholders. The study was conducted to determine the best packaging material to expand shelf life and improve the quality of capsicum. The fresh bright green color capsicum of cultivar Indra was harvested and packed in different packaging materials, namely polypropylene- PP (25µ and 50µ), low-density polyethylene- LDPE (25µ and 50µ), cardboard box, jute sack, and open tray. The experiment was carried out in a Completely Randomized Design in three replications. Physical, biochemical, and subjective parameters of capsicum were assessed in every five days. The packaging materials significantly checked weight loss and maintained quality attributes like total soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, firmness, and ascorbic acid content during storage. The capsicum packed in PP 50µ films remained marketable for 34.64 days and showed minimum percentage weight loss throughout the storage followed by LDPE 50µ for 32.67 days. In contrast, control fruits became unmarketable after 17.33 days exhibiting maximum percentage weight loss all over. Plus, capsicum packed in PP 50µ film offered better pH and ascorbic acid content while those in LDPE 50µ film retained better TSS, TA, and firmness.