The Effects of Nanoemulsion Film Coatings Containing Essential Oils on the Storage Quality of Sugar Beets (Beta vulgaris L.)

Abstract

This study was carried out under controlled conditions in order to determine the effects of chitosan based nanoemulsion film coating formulations formed using different essential oils on storage quality of sugar beet root during the storage period. In the study, roots of Conviso Smart (KWS) sugar beet variety were coated with nanoemulsion film formulations formed with thyme (Thymus vulgaris), clove (Szygium aromaticum), ginger (Zingiber officinale) and tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oils at 250, 500 and 1000 ppm doses immediately after harvest and stored in plastic case under controlled conditions (+ 8-10 ^oC, 85-90% relative humidity) for 90 days. Weight loss in beet root was determined at 30-day intervals starting from the beginning of the storage period, and at the end of the storage period, firmness, dry matter ratio, brix value, polar sugar, reducing sugar, alpha amino nitrogen and glycine betaine contents and fungal infection developments in beet roots were determined. Film coating applications significantly affected postharvest weight and quality losses in sugar beet roots. Applications significantly reduced root weight losses in the storage period compared to the control. The highest dry matter ratio, Brix values ​​and firmness were obtained from film coating applications containing 1000 ppm cinnamon and thyme essential oil. While polar sugar ratio was higher in root which film coated compared to the control, alpha amino nitrogen, glycine betaine and reducing sugar contents showed significant decreases. White mold and green mold infections developing on root showed significant decreases especially with film coating applications applied at high doses. In the study, it was concluded that by coating sugar beet roots with nanoemulsion film formulations containing essential oils, weight and quality losses and fungal disease development during the storage period could be significantly reduced.