Effect of High Electric Fields on Some Fruits and Vegetables

Abstract

To investigate the effect of electric fields on the postharvest life of some fruits and vegetables, they were exposed to an alternating current high electric field (HEF) for short periods. The high electric field (430 kV/m) treatment on pears, plums and bananas in the preclimacteric period suppressed the respiration rate during the climacteric period. Similarly, a little effect on the respiration rate was also observed in the apples treated by HEF in a postclimacteric period. Physicochemical properties (i. e., °Brix, pH, hardness and Hunter 'Lab' values) of the bananas 17 days after the HEF treatment indicated that HEF treatment retarded ripening (1.5-2 days) as compared to the control. It was found that the exposure of HEF (0. 5-3. 0 hr) on green sweet peppers elongated its freshness/greenness Respira-and also reduced the percentage of fresh weight loss as compared to the control.