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% PdCl₂ in nanomats increased the ethylene scavenging capacity (ESC) by 47-68%. Although, upon encapsulation, both PdCl₂ and potassium permanganate showed significantly the same ethylene scavenging activity, the efficacy of PdCl₂ was found better in presence of sapota fruits. The PdCl₂ nanomats were brighter (L* > 73) in colour compared to the potassium permanganate mat. The placement of nanomats (2 cm² × 9 cm²) 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. PdCl₂ encapsulated PVA nanomats can emerge as a promising option for the retention of quality in fruits during storage and transit.