Strawberry (Fragraria x ananassa Duch) cv. Tochiotome is nutrient rich. However, it has a short shelf life, especially at room temperature. Coating is one of the methods used to prolong fruit shelf life. Coating materials, such as nano chitosan (NC) and Aloe vera (AV) gel, are edible and safe to consume. The objective was to analyze the interaction between AV gel and NC concentrations and determine the optimal concentration to improve the quality of strawberries at room temperature. This experiment used a factorial randomized block design with treatments of NC (0, 0.5, and 1%) and AV gel (0, 25, and 50%). The results showed an interaction between AV gel and NC concentrations for all variables. The optimum concentrations to improve the fruit quality of strawberries cv. Tochiotome were 25% AV gel with 1% NC, which increased the value by more than twofold compared with the control (no AV gel and NC) until four days after storage. The fruit quality characteristics were fruit hardness (6.57 N), weight loss (1.23%), titratable acidity (0.74 mL), total phenolic (1.79 µg GAE/FW), total flavonoid (29.85 mg QE/g), vitamin C concentration (43.83 mg/100 g), and shelf life (4.66 days). More than 1% NC may enhance quality. In conclusion, AV and NC are a potential treatment for improving the postharvest quality of strawberry.

The detection of nutritional compounds is usually performed through laboratory analysis, which requires extensive planning, time, cost, and effort. Alternatively, visible/near-infrared (Vis/NIR) spectroscopy can be used to determine the presence of nutritional compounds in real-time. This study aimed to investigate the potential application of the Vis/NIR spectroscopy in the quantitative detection of nutritional compounds in green ‘Ratuni UNPAD’ cayenne pepper. Prior to the model development, 80 samples were prepared for the calibration set, while another 40 samples were provided for the prediction set. Subsequently, the parameters used to calculate the model accuracy included the coefficient of correlation in calibration set (R_cal), coefficient of correlation in prediction set (R_pred), root mean square error of calibration set (RMSEC), root mean square error of prediction set (RMSEP) and the ratio of prediction to deviation (RPD). The experimental results involving the total carotenoids showed good model indicators with R_cal, R_pred, RMSEC, RMSEP, and RPD at 0.94, 0.89, 1.29, 1.75, and 2.21, respectively. Additionally, the analysis of the water content indicated R_cal, R_pred, RMSEC, RMSEP, and RPD values of 0.86, 0.85, 0.59, 0.61, and 1.90, respectively, while that of capsaicin had R_cal, R_pred, RMSEC, RMSEP, and RPD values of 0.89, 0.90, 117.82, 115.62, and 2.29, respectively. The results showed that Vis/NIR spectroscopy can be used to detect the nutritional compounds in green ‘Ratuni UNPAD’ cayenne pepper based on total carotenoids, water content, and capsaicin parameters.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivation faces significant challenges: highland cultivation leads to soil erosion and fertility degradation, while medium-land cultivation is constrained by suboptimal temperature and humidity conditions. Processing potatoes into starch improves shelf life and economic value, however, native potato starch has limited food applications due to heat sensitivity, high viscosity, and its propensity for retrogradation and syneresis. This study investigated the effects of cultivation altitude and modification methods on the physicochemical and functional properties of potato starch from ‘Medians’ cultivar, comparing samples from medium-land (765 m above sea level) and highland (1312 m above sea level) locations. Starch modifications included Heat Moisture Treatment (HMT), crosslinking with Monosodium Phosphate (MSP), and a combined treatment (CLM-HMT). A factorial randomized complete block design was employed to analyze physicochemical characteristics, functional properties, and pasting behavior, with statistical significance determined using two-way ANOVA and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (p < 0.05). Results revealed significant effects of cultivation altitude, modification method, and their interaction on starch properties. Highland-grown modified starch exhibited superior characteristics in color properties and thermal stability. Modification methods improved starch thermal stability and minimized retrogradation, with the combined CLM-HMT treatment yielding optimal results. This study provides valuable insights into optimizing potato starch production and modification techniques, contributing to sustainable agriculture and broadening its applications in the food industry.

Potato cultivation on the surface of the media faces obstacles in the form of high temperatures which cause the biosynthesis of gibberellins to increase and disrupt the tuberization process of potatoes. The use of hormonal engineering that can be done to increase the quantity and quality of G0 potato seeds is the use of retardant or anti-gibberellin Prohexadione-Ca with the right concentration and time of application. The experiment was carried out from June 2021 to February 2022 at Screen House, Ciparanje Jatinangor Experimental Garden, and Hortiklutura Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Padjadjaran University. This experiment factorial randomized block design consisting of two factors., concentration of Prohexadione-Ca which includes three levels (50, 100, and 150 ppm) application time of Prohexadione-Ca (30, 40, and 50 days after planting). The experimental results showed that there was an independent effect between the dose and time of application of Prohexadione-Ca on the physiological components, yield, and quality of results. The dose of Prohexadione-Ca 50 ppm independently gave the best effect on the chlorophyll content index and stomatal conductance. The time of application of Prohexadione-Ca 40 days after planting independently gave the best effect on the number of potatoes per plant, potato weight per plant, and shoot length.

Climate change, with global temperatures rising by 1.09°C from 1850–1900 to 2011–2020, threatens potato production, a critical staple crop, by exceeding the optimal temperature range of 15–20°C. This review synthesizes over 45 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025 from Google Scholar and ScienceDirect to evaluate the physiological, morphological, and tuber quality responses of potatoes to high temperatures and to identify adaptive cultivation strategies for sustainable production. High temperatures reduce photosynthetic efficiency through chlorophyll degradation and stomatal closure, increase respiration, and divert photosynthates to vegetative growth, leading to 18–32% yield losses globally by the 2050s. Heat-tolerant varieties, such as Atlantic (11.47 tons/ha), Merbabu-17 (11.04 tons/ha), and Granola (3.61 tons/ha), maintain productivity in medium-altitude lands. Plant growth regulators (PGRs), including BAP, melatonin, and paclobutrazol, enhance tuber yield by regulating hormonal balance and antioxidant activity. Drip irrigation and mulching (e.g., straw, wheat, plastic films) improve water use efficiency and buffer soil temperature. These integrated strategies of heat-tolerant varieties, PGRs, irrigation, and mulching offer practical solutions to mitigate heat stress and ensure sustainable potato production under changing climate conditions.

Various intensifications of potato cultivation, such as the provision of paclobutrazol and nitrogen (N) fertilizer, are thought to impact the quality of the seeds produced. This study aims to evaluate the effects of different N fertilizer doses and paclobutrazol concentrations applied in the preharvest period on the sprouting performance of G0 potato tuber seeds after storage. Nine treatment combinations, each repeated three times, were tested, using 50%, 100%, and 150% of the recommended N dose and paclobutrazol concentrations of 50, 100, and 150 part per million (ppm), applied at 30 and 45 days after planting, respectively. The interaction effect between N fertilizer and paclobutrazol concentration was not significantly affected on all observed variables. Preharvest application of 100% N fertilizer produced the largest seedlings, indicated by the highest shoot length at 56 and 74 days after storage. Preharvest application of 150 ppm paclobutrazol produced the highest shoot length, shoot emergence rate, and seedling dry weight than other treatments. The present study implied the importance of preharvest N and paclobutrazol for improving the sprouting performance of G0 potato seed tuber.