Quality Analysis of Chili Treated with Aqueous Ozone Treatment and Improved Transportation and Handling Technology

Abstract

The objective of this research is to study the reduction of chili postharvest losses (PHL) after implementation of aqueous ozone treatment, perforated packaging and refrigerated transportation in inter-city distribution. The completely randomized design method was used in the research, with five levels of combination treatments of chili: (i) aqueous ozone treatment; refrigerated transportation; (ii) no ozone treatment; refrigerated transportation; (iii) aqueous ozone treatment; non-refrigerated transportation; (iv) no ozone treatment; non-refrigerated transportation; and (v) existing handling practice as a control treatment. The study was conducted on a large scale in order to imitate the practice of local traders when distributing chili to other cities, with three repetitions. Each repetition used 850 kg of chili, which was transported from Magelang District, Central Java to Bogor, West Java (541.5 km), a journey of approximately 15-17 hours. Temperature and relative humidity in the vehicles were monitored and recorded. Quality analysis included decayed/damaged chili and chili with inappropriate harvest age, grouped into four types, namely physical/mechanical, physiological, microbiological, and green chili; color and texture. The quantity parameter was determined by measuring weight loss. It was concluded that the implementation of aqueous ozone treatment and improved transportation handling technology using refrigerated vehicles could reduce the postharvest losses of chili by 60.61%. Quantity loss was reduced from 2.16% to 1.82% and quality loss from 6.70% to 1.68%. Moreover, the color and texture (hardness) of the chili was maintained, showing a preserved freshness, which is an important parameter in chili marketing.

Keywords

• aqueous ozone treatment
• chili
• postharvest losses
• quality analysis
• refrigerated transportation