Effect of Paper and Aluminum Bagging on Fruit Quality of Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.)

Abstract

Bagging regulates the fruit microenvironment and improves the quality and market value of fruits. It is a safe and ecofriendly technique to protect fruits from insect/pest infestation and multiple biotic and abiotic stresses. In the current study, the influence of fruit bagging was evaluated on the development and quality of loquat fruits. Fruits from a healthy loquat orchard (Cv. Zaozhong No.6), located in Fujian, China, were enveloped in paper (T1), aluminum (T2), and aluminum–polyethylene bags (T3), while unbagged fruits were maintained as control (T0). In general, fruit bagging improved fruit quality in terms of fruit physiological and biochemical attributes and protected fruits from physical damage. In particular, aluminum–polyethylene bagging enhanced fruit weight, length, and width by 1.37-, 1.18-, and 1.13-fold, respectively. Loquat fruits bagged with paper bags exhibited the maximum soluble sugar and lowest titratable acid content. Fruits treated with paper and aluminum–ethylene bags showed twofold higher sugar–acid ratio as compared to control. Aluminum–polyethylene bagging caused 66.67%, 55.56%, and 33.33% reductions in skin burn, fruit rotting, and black spot of loquat. The fruits bagged in aluminum and aluminum–polyethylene did not show insect or bird damage, while unbagged fruits had 14.70% and 17.65% insect and bird damage, respectively. Overall, the results suggest that paper, aluminum, and aluminum–polyethylene bagging improved fruit health by 75%, 131%, and 144%, respectively, as compared to control. To delineate bagging type-dependent effects, principal component analysis was performed. Paper bagging was positively correlated with fruit firmness, rotting, soluble sugars, sugar–acid ratio, and proline content. Aluminum bagging was highly associated with improvements in titratable acids, cystine, and methionine. Aluminum–polyethylene bags were correlated with fruit weight, size, peel thickness, edible rate, and certain amino acids.

Xanthan gum-based edible coating effectively preserve postharvest quality of ‘Gola’ guava fruits by regulating physiological and biochemical processes

“…The phenolic content was quantified using the method of Singleton and Rossi [ 25 ], and the findings are expressed as mg·kg −1 . Total flavonoids were assessed according to the detailed protocol of Zhi et al [ 26 ] and are expressed as g·kg −1 . Total antioxidant concentrations were measured according to the methods of Krings and Berger [ 27 ], and the results are expressed as mmol Trolox·100 g −1 .…”

Production, Use and Recycling of Fruit Cultivating Bags in China

“…With the wide use of fruit bagging, its advantages have been fully reflected. At present, fruit bagging technology has been applied for the production of Chinese apples [49], pears [50], peaches [10], grapes [11], pomegranates [51], loquats [52], mangos [53], lemons [54], citruses [55], cherries [56], longans [57], kiwifruits [58], bananas [59], dragon fruits [60] and litchis [61]. Figure 5 shows the main advantages of bagging operation.…”

“…Paper bags are the main type of fruit bagging in China. The material is wood pulp paper, which can be divided into double-layer and single-layer according to its application objects [18,52]. As shown in Figure 7e, the single-layer paper bag can be made white, yellow, pink, green, blue or yellow on the outside and black on the inside, according to the needs of different varieties of fruits.…”

Study of the Effects of Spraying Non-Bagging Film Agent on the Contents of Mineral Elements and Flavonoid Metabolites in Apples

“…With good effects on water retention, freshness preservation, and weight increase, this bagging material can improve the appearance of fruits and their market value at the same time. However, such a cultivation method has changed the growth and development environments of apples, thus leading to problems affecting fruit quality, such as reduced contents of phenolic compounds, diminished flavor quality, and some other problems [5][6][7]. In recent years, there has been growing interest in examining the potential of non-bagging patterns due to the decline of fruit inner quality and the increase in labor force cost and ecological pollution.…”