SHELF-LIFE STUDY OF SOME PHYSICO-CHEMICAL INDICES OF GUM ARABIC COATED LARGE FRUITED RED BELL PEPPER (Capsicum annum L.)

The study investigated some changes in the physicochemical parameters of red bell paper (RBP) coated with Gum Arabic (GA) at different concentrations under an ambient storage condition. The treatments consisted of four (4) different concentrations (50000ppm, 100000ppm, 150000ppm and 200000ppm) by dissolving 5, 10, 15 and 20g GA in respective 100 milliliters of distilled water. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance and differences in means were examined using Tukey at 95% confidence level. Significant differences (P≤0.05) were observed in the firmness, colour, ascorbic acid, titratable acidity, pH, total soluble solids, decay and weight loss percentages of the coated red bell peppers relative to the control. RBP coated with 10x103ppm had more retention of the evaluated physicochemical indices during and after nine days storage period. Successive firmness and colour values throughout storage times for the 10,000-ppm coated samples suggested a better GA concentration for coating red bell pepper for days in a rather ambient storage condition.