Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

Application of gamma radiation in order to improve postharvest life and preserve quality of onion cultivars during prolonged storage

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

S. Miladi Lari 1
M. Ahmadi 2
A. Kashi 3
A. Mousavi 4
Y. Mostofi 3

1 Department of Horticultural Sciences and Agronomy, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, P.O.Box: 313-31485, Tehran - Iran

2 Department of Plant Protection, Nuclear Agriculture Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, P.O.Box: 31485-498, Karaj - Iran

3 Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Tehran, P.O.Box: 4111, Karaj - Iran

4 4. Department of Plant Molecular Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran - Iran

https://doi.org/10.24200/nst.2024.1605
Abstract
A factorial experiment was conducted to determine the effects of different doses of gamma irradiation on postharvest life and quality of bulbs of four Iranian onion cultivars (White-Ghom, White-Neyshabour, Red-Ridge-Lump, Red-Ray-Corrugated) during 120 days storage at 10-15 °C and 70% relative humidity. Interactive effects of cultivar and irradiation dose significantly affected sprouting, weight loss, firmness, soluble solids content (TSS), and contents of reducing sugars and pyruvic acid (PA) of the bulbs after 120 days of storage. Sprouting of the bulbs ranged between 10-100%. The untreated bulbs showed the highest sprouting and weight loss. Gamma irradiation (30-150 Gy) significantly restricted the sprouting percentage and decreased bulb weight loss. Firmness of the irradiated bulbs (90-150 Gy) was higher than the control bulbs. Weight loss of the bulbs was positively correlated with sprouting and negatively correlated with bulb firmness. The irradiation treatments increased the TSS (30-150 Gy) and a reduction in the sugar content of the bulbs (60-150 Gy). The untreated bulbs had the lowest PA content at the end of the experiment. Exposure to 90-150 Gy irradiation doses resulted in the highest PA content in the bulbs. In summary, the application of 90 to 120 Gy of gamma radiation for improving post-harvest shelf life and quality of onions can be considered as a general guideline.

Highlights

  1. Harder M.N.C, Arthur V. The Effects of Gamma Radiation in Nectar of Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa). In: Feriz Adrovic, Gamma Radiation, Publisher: In Tech, Rijeka, Croatia, Brazil. 2012.

 

  1. Mahindru S.N. Food Preservation and irradiation. New Delhi. 2005.

 

  1. Arvanitoyannis I.S, Stratakos A.C, Tsarouhas P. Irradiation applications in vegetables and fruits: a review. Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutri. 2009;49(5):427-462.

 

  1. Kobayashi A.R, Itagaki R, Tokitomo Y, Kubota K. Changes in character of irradiated onion during storage. J. Jap. Soc. Food Sci. Tech. 1994;41:682-686.

 

  1. Handayani M, Permawati H. Gamma irradiation technology to preservation of foodstuffs as an effort to maintain quality and acquaint the significant role of nuclear assessing the feasibility of using the heat demand-outdoor. Ene. Procedia. 2017;127:302-309.

 

  1. Mennit A.M. The biopathological effects of ionizing treatments on onions. Frotticoltura. 1979;41:49-51.

 

  1. Curizo O.A, Croci C.A. Extending onion storage life by gamma irradiation. J. Food Process. 1983;7:19-23.

 

  1. Brewster J.L. Onions and other vegetable alliums. 2nd edn. CAB Int, Wallingford. 2008.

 

  1. Tripathi P.C, Sankar V, Mahajan V.M, Lawande K.E. Response of gamma irradiation on post-harvest losses in some onion varieties. Ind. J. Hort. 2011;68:556-560.

 

  1. Kallai S, Ravi R, Kudachikar V.B. Assessment of bulb pungency level in Indian onion cultivars under influence of low doses of ionizing radiation and short-term storage. Int. J. Sci. Eng. Res. 2015;10:38-49.

 

  1. Sharma P, Sharma S.R, Dhall P.K, Mittal T.C. Effect of γ-radiation on post-harvest storage life and quality of onion bulb under ambient condition. J. Food Sci. Tech. 2020;57(7):2534-2544.

 

  1. Metwally A.K. Storage ability of onion (allium cepa L.) Giza 6 cv. As affected by water regime and harvest stage under assist conditions. J. Plant Prod. 2010;1(4):645-657.

 

  1. Krivorotova T, Sereikaite J. Determination of fructan exohydrolase activity in the crude extracts of plants. J. Biotech. 2014;17(6):329-333.

 

  1. Anthon G.E, Barrett D.M. Modified method for the determination of pyruvic acid with dinitro phenyl hydrazine in the assessment of onion pungency. J. Sci. Food Agri. 2003;83(12):1210-1213.

 

  1. Sharma K, Rok Lee Y, Park S.W, Nile S.H. Importance of growth hormones and temperatures for physiological regulation of dormancy and sprouting in onions. Food Rev. Int. 2015. doi:10.1080/87559129.2015.1058820.

 

  1. Benkeblia N, Varoquaux P, Shiomi N, Sakai H. Storage technology of onion bulbs cv. Rouge Amposta: effect of irradiation, maleic hydrazide and carbamate isopropyl, N-phenyl (CIP) on respiration rate and carbohydrates. Int. J. Food Sci. Tech. 2002;37:169-175.

 

  1. Anbukkarasi V, Paramaguru P, Pugalendhi L, Ragupathi N, Jeyakumar P. Studies on pre and post-harvest treatments for extending shelf life in onion–A review. Agri. Rev. 2013;34(4):256-268.

 

  1. Croci C.A, Banek S.A, Curzio O.A. Effect of gamma-irradiation and extended storage on chemical quality in onion (Allium eepa L). Food Chem. 1995;54:151-154.

 

  1. Croci C.A, Arguello J.A, Orioli G.A. Biochemical changes in garlic (Allium sativum L.) during storage following γ-irradiation. Int. J. Radia. Bio. 1994;65(2):263-266.

 

  1. Thamizharasi V, Narasimham P. Water vapor losses from different regions of onion(Allium cepa L.) bulb during storage. J. Food Sci. Tech. 1988;25:45-50.

 

  1. Thamizharasi V, Narasimham P. Water vapor sorption and transmission by onion (Allium cepa L.) scale under different temperature and humidity conditions. Sci. Hort. 1991;46:185-194.

 

  1. Sajjabut S, Pewlong W, Eamsiri J, Chookaew S, Khemthong K. Effects of gamma irradiation on chemical and sensory qualities of riceberry. Creativity, Inn. Smart Cult. Better Soc. 2017;37-45.

 

  1. Farghaly D.S, El Sharkawy A.Z, El-Alfawy N.A, Rizk S.A, Bader N.F. Effect of gamma irradiation on some biological aspects of Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), with ultra-structural studies on Midgut. Cur. Sci. Int. 2014;3(4):403-413.

 

  1. Benkeblia N, Onodera S, Shiomi N. Effect of gamma irradiation and temperature on fructans (fructo-oligosaccharides) of stored onion bulbs (Allium cepa L.). Food Chem. 2004;87:377-382.

 

  1. Petropoulos S.A, Ntatsi G, Ferreira I. Long-term storage of onion and the factors that affect its quality: A critical review. Food Rev. Int. 2017;33(1):62-83.

 

  1. Dhumal K, Datir S, Pandey R. Assessment of bulb pungency level in different Indian cultivars of onion (Allium cepa L.). Food Chem. 2007;100(4):1328-1330.

Keywords

Allium cepa L
Food irradiation
Pyruvic acid
Reducing sugars
Soluble solids content
  1. Harder M.N.C, Arthur V. The Effects of Gamma Radiation in Nectar of Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa). In: Feriz Adrovic, Gamma Radiation, Publisher: In Tech, Rijeka, Croatia, Brazil. 2012.

 

  1. Mahindru S.N. Food Preservation and irradiation. New Delhi. 2005.

 

  1. Arvanitoyannis I.S, Stratakos A.C, Tsarouhas P. Irradiation applications in vegetables and fruits: a review. Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutri. 2009;49(5):427-462.

 

  1. Kobayashi A.R, Itagaki R, Tokitomo Y, Kubota K. Changes in character of irradiated onion during storage. J. Jap. Soc. Food Sci. Tech. 1994;41:682-686.

 

  1. Handayani M, Permawati H. Gamma irradiation technology to preservation of foodstuffs as an effort to maintain quality and acquaint the significant role of nuclear assessing the feasibility of using the heat demand-outdoor. Ene. Procedia. 2017;127:302-309.

 

  1. Mennit A.M. The biopathological effects of ionizing treatments on onions. Frotticoltura. 1979;41:49-51.

 

  1. Curizo O.A, Croci C.A. Extending onion storage life by gamma irradiation. J. Food Process. 1983;7:19-23.

 

  1. Brewster J.L. Onions and other vegetable alliums. 2nd edn. CAB Int, Wallingford. 2008.

 

  1. Tripathi P.C, Sankar V, Mahajan V.M, Lawande K.E. Response of gamma irradiation on post-harvest losses in some onion varieties. Ind. J. Hort. 2011;68:556-560.

 

  1. Kallai S, Ravi R, Kudachikar V.B. Assessment of bulb pungency level in Indian onion cultivars under influence of low doses of ionizing radiation and short-term storage. Int. J. Sci. Eng. Res. 2015;10:38-49.

 

  1. Sharma P, Sharma S.R, Dhall P.K, Mittal T.C. Effect of γ-radiation on post-harvest storage life and quality of onion bulb under ambient condition. J. Food Sci. Tech. 2020;57(7):2534-2544.

 

  1. Metwally A.K. Storage ability of onion (allium cepa L.) Giza 6 cv. As affected by water regime and harvest stage under assist conditions. J. Plant Prod. 2010;1(4):645-657.

 

  1. Krivorotova T, Sereikaite J. Determination of fructan exohydrolase activity in the crude extracts of plants. J. Biotech. 2014;17(6):329-333.

 

  1. Anthon G.E, Barrett D.M. Modified method for the determination of pyruvic acid with dinitro phenyl hydrazine in the assessment of onion pungency. J. Sci. Food Agri. 2003;83(12):1210-1213.

 

  1. Sharma K, Rok Lee Y, Park S.W, Nile S.H. Importance of growth hormones and temperatures for physiological regulation of dormancy and sprouting in onions. Food Rev. Int. 2015. doi:10.1080/87559129.2015.1058820.

 

  1. Benkeblia N, Varoquaux P, Shiomi N, Sakai H. Storage technology of onion bulbs cv. Rouge Amposta: effect of irradiation, maleic hydrazide and carbamate isopropyl, N-phenyl (CIP) on respiration rate and carbohydrates. Int. J. Food Sci. Tech. 2002;37:169-175.

 

  1. Anbukkarasi V, Paramaguru P, Pugalendhi L, Ragupathi N, Jeyakumar P. Studies on pre and post-harvest treatments for extending shelf life in onion–A review. Agri. Rev. 2013;34(4):256-268.

 

  1. Croci C.A, Banek S.A, Curzio O.A. Effect of gamma-irradiation and extended storage on chemical quality in onion (Allium eepa L). Food Chem. 1995;54:151-154.

 

  1. Croci C.A, Arguello J.A, Orioli G.A. Biochemical changes in garlic (Allium sativum L.) during storage following γ-irradiation. Int. J. Radia. Bio. 1994;65(2):263-266.

 

  1. Thamizharasi V, Narasimham P. Water vapor losses from different regions of onion(Allium cepa L.) bulb during storage. J. Food Sci. Tech. 1988;25:45-50.

 

  1. Thamizharasi V, Narasimham P. Water vapor sorption and transmission by onion (Allium cepa L.) scale under different temperature and humidity conditions. Sci. Hort. 1991;46:185-194.

 

  1. Sajjabut S, Pewlong W, Eamsiri J, Chookaew S, Khemthong K. Effects of gamma irradiation on chemical and sensory qualities of riceberry. Creativity, Inn. Smart Cult. Better Soc. 2017;37-45.

 

  1. Farghaly D.S, El Sharkawy A.Z, El-Alfawy N.A, Rizk S.A, Bader N.F. Effect of gamma irradiation on some biological aspects of Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), with ultra-structural studies on Midgut. Cur. Sci. Int. 2014;3(4):403-413.

 

  1. Benkeblia N, Onodera S, Shiomi N. Effect of gamma irradiation and temperature on fructans (fructo-oligosaccharides) of stored onion bulbs (Allium cepa L.). Food Chem. 2004;87:377-382.

 

  1. Petropoulos S.A, Ntatsi G, Ferreira I. Long-term storage of onion and the factors that affect its quality: A critical review. Food Rev. Int. 2017;33(1):62-83.

 

  1. Dhumal K, Datir S, Pandey R. Assessment of bulb pungency level in different Indian cultivars of onion (Allium cepa L.). Food Chem. 2007;100(4):1328-1330.
Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
Volume 45, Issue 3 - Serial Number 109
October 2024
Pages 112-121

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