Palladium encapsulated nanofibres for scavenging ethylene from sapota fruits

Scavenging ethylene is a useful intervention during the transportation and storage of tropical climacteric fruits like sapota. Sapota (Manilkara achras Mill.) is a delicious tropical fruit with a very high respiration rate and poor shelf life. To prolong its post-harvest shelf life, the use of palladium chloride in electrospun nanomats was evaluated at a concentration varying from 1 to 4% levels. Encapsulation of 1–2% PdCl(2) in nanomats increased the ethylene scavenging capacity (ESC) by 47–68%. Although, upon encapsulation, both PdCl(2) and potassium permanganate showed significantly the same ethylene scavenging activity, the efficacy of PdCl(2) was found better in presence of sapota fruits. The PdCl(2) nanomats were brighter (L* > 73) in colour compared to the potassium permanganate mat. The placement of nanomats (2 cm(2) × 9 cm(2)) in corrugated fibre board boxes in which the sapota was packed showed higher quality indices (firmness, TSS, ascorbic acid, and phenolics) along with lower PLW and respiration rate during the 8 days of storage period. Compared to control (8.35%), physiological loss in weight of 4.47% was recorded in fruits stored with ethylene scavenging nanomats. PdCl(2) encapsulated PVA nanomats can emerge as a promising option for the retention of quality in fruits during storage and transit.