Optimum postharvest storage conditions increase the postharvest quality and shelf life of horticultural crops. The effects of forced-air precooling (FAP) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on shelf life, physicochemical quality, and health-promoting properties of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Nagano) harvested at 90 and 50% coloring stages in May and July respectively, stored at 11 °C, 95% relative humidity were assessed. Fruits were subjected to four treatments: FAP + 30 μm polyethylene liner (FOLO); FAP-only (FOLX); 30 μm polyethylene liner-only (FXLO); and control (FXLX). The quality attributes, viz. weight loss, firmness, color, soluble solids content (SSC), soluble sugars, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), 2,2-dephenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) were evaluated. The investigated parameters differed significantly (p < 0.05) among treatments except for soluble sugars. FOLO maintained sensory quality (weight loss, firmness, and color), physicochemical (SSC and soluble sugars), and health-promoting properties compared to other treatments during storage. The 50% coloring fruits had a huge variation between treatments than 90% coloring. The results revealed more TPC and antioxidant capacity in the 50% than in the 90% coloring fruits. The study highlights the need to consider the ideal fruit coloring stage at harvest under the effect of FAP and MAP treatments in preserving bell pepper’s postharvest quality and shelf life.

Disease arises during the storage of potatoes as a result of pathogens introduced during growing and harvest of the tubers. In this study, the causative fungi of domestic potato dry rot disease were identified, and their pathogenicity was confirmed. A total of 76 species were isolated from 93 potato necropods collected from samples inoculated with dry rot disease. These 76 isolates were identified as Fusarium boothii, F. circinatum, F. citricola, F. foetens, F. iranicum, F. longifundum, F. oxysporum, F. pseudoanthophilum, F. solani, Botryotinia ranunculi, Clonostachys rosea, and Humicola nigrescens. The average size of the inoculation site was ≥ 4.6 mm in F. oxysporum and F. solani, which were pathogenic to dry rot in potatoes but were not pathogenic compared to other strains up to 5 weeks in a 15 to 20 °C and 99% RH environment. The pathogenicity of F. foetens and F. pseudoanthophilum was related to a strong relationship by forming a single system with F. oxysporum. However, except for F. oxysporum and F. solani, these strains have not yet been reported to be associated with dry rot disease. Additionally, the length of the cross-section and longitudinal section of the potato damage symptom inoculated with C. rosea increased the most among all strains. This suggests that C. rosea is the dominant species involved in domestic potato dry rot disease. By contrast, there are no reports of the involvement of B. ranunculi and H. nigrescens in dry rot disease. Therefore, these strains can be seen as parasitic using potato sclerosis as nutrients in in vivo experiments through wounds and are not directly related to dry rot disease.

Optimum postharvest storage conditions increase the shelf life and postharvest quality of horticultural crops. The effects of forced-air precooling (FAP) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on shelf life, physicochemical quality, and health-promoting properties of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Nagano) harvested at 90% and 50% coloring stages in May and July respectively, stored at 11℃, 95% relative humidity were assessed. Fruits were treated with FAP + 30 μm polyethylene liner (FOLO), FAP (FOLX), 30 μm polyethylene liner (FXLO), and control (FXLX). The quality attributes, viz. weight loss, firmness, color, SSC, soluble sugars, TPC, TFC, DPPH, and ABTS were evaluated. FOLO maintained sensory quality (weight loss, firmness, and color), physicochemical (soluble solids content and soluble sugars), and health-promoting properties compared to other treatments during storage. The investigated parameters differed significantly (p < 0.05) among treatments except soluble sugars. The 50% coloring fruits had a huge variation between treatments than 90% coloring. The results revealed more TPC and antioxidant capacity in 50% than in 90% coloring fruits. The study highlights the need to consider the ideal fruit coloring stage at harvest under the effect of FAP and MAP treatments in preserving bell pepper's postharvest quality and shelf life.