EFFECT OF TRIDAX PROCUMBENS LEAF EXTRACT INCORPORATED PVA FILM ON POSTHARVEST QUALITY OF VITIS VINIFERA

Vitis vinifera (Grape) encounters several difficulties during their shelf life, including weight loss, browning and softening. Packaging is one of the effective solutions to preserve fruits from postharvest loss. Tridax procumbens (T. procumbens) leaves are rich in bioactive compounds and possess good antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. This study evaluates the efficiency of T. procumbens leaf extract film as a coating on V. vinifera (V. vinifera) to increase postharvest storage life at 20-25℃. Different concentrations of T. procumbens leaf extract incorporating PVA film were successfully developed, coated on V. vinifera and stored for 21 days. Throughout the storage period, at 7 day intervals, rate of weight loss and changes in the content of titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, total phenolic, reducing sugar and DPPH scavenging activity were assessed. During storage, the T. procumbens leaf extract film-coated V. vinifera effectively inhibited the weight loss rate and slowed down the loss of titratable acidity, ascorbic acid content, total phenolic content and DPPH activity in contrast to that of non-coated V. vinifera. Therefore, the application of T. procumbens leaf extract film proved to be effective in delaying the postharvest deterioration of V. vinifera during storage.