Postharvest rot and efficacy of different plant leaves on the preservation of Okra

Abstract

This study assessed the preservative efficacy of some plant species in order to enhance the shelf of Okra pods. Okra is a multiuse crop appreciated for its tender and delicious pods subjected to rapid deterioration due to its high moisture contents. Freshly harvest ‘Star of David Okra’ variety were wrapped in Colocasia esculenta (Cocoyam), Musa sapientum (Plantain), Carica papaya (Pawpaw), Persea americana (Avocado) and Vernonia amygdalina (Bitter leaf) leaves respectively for comparism against storage rot for a period of 28 days. At seven (7) days intervals, soft, rotten and wilted Okra pods were pick out, counted, and the leaves replaced with fresh ones. The Okra pods were visually observed and the results obtained from the observation showed that C. esculenta had 58%, M. sapientum 42%, P. americana 34%, V. amygdalina 22%, C. papaya 20%, Control 14% survival rate by the end of the 28 days treatment. Some organisms accountable for Okra pod deterioration were isolated and finally identified as: Geotrichum candidum, Aspergillus niger and Mucor irregularis organisms. As time duration stretches and due to lack of good refrigeration facility, food spoilage is eminent nevertheless these findings showed that Colocasia esculenta leaves enhanced the shelf life of Okra pods and reduced storage rot creating an alternative storage method that can be used when there is power outage.