Abstract:
The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of postharvest storage practices on shelf
life of African eggplant fruits based on decay and water losses. A laboratory experiment was
laid out in a split plot arrangement following a complete randomized block design with three
replications. Three African eggplant cultivars (Tengeru white, Manyire green and AB2) and four
post-harvest storage practices (perforated polyethylene bags, woven polypropene bags, closed
paper boxes and on-bench storage) were used as main plot and sub-plot factors, respectively. Data
were subjected to analysis of variance and means separation was conducted based on Student-
Newman Keuls at P<0.05 using MSTAT-C statistical software. Results indicated that fruits stored
in perforated polyethylene bags had significantly (p=0.001) the lowest water loss and longest
shelf life though they suffered the highest incidence of decays. The decay and shelf life varied with
African eggplant cultivars where cv. AB2 had significantly (P=0.001) the lowest decay incidence
and longest shelf compared with cv. Tengeru white and Manyire green. Further studies are required
to evaluate the effect of fruit disinfection prior to storage in perforated polyethylene bags on the
shelf life of eggplant fruits.
