Comparison of pesticide-free and conventional production systems on postharvest quality and nutritional parameters of peppers in different storage conditions

- Pesticide-free and conventional production systems were tested for peppers.
- Palliflex™ storage system reduced weight loss and severity of decay in peppers.
- The pesticide-free production system had higher total phenolics and ascorbic acid.
- The lowest decay incidence was in the conventional production system.

The peppers were grown using either pesticide-free or conventional production systems and stored at 8 °C in one of four storage methods, i.e. regular atmosphere (control), cling film (CF), modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) or a proprietary controlled atmosphere (CA) storage system (Palliflex™, PL) of 2 kPa O2 + 3 kPa CO2. Internal atmospheres created by the MAP were periodically assessed during storage, and O2 and CO2 levels in both pecticide-free and conventionally-grown peppers were suitably maintained within recommended limits, 3-5 kPa O2 + 2-8 kPa CO2. Weight loss of peppers stored in PL was lower (<4% at 45 d) than for other treatments in both production systems. After 45 d of storage, peppers stored in PL and control had higher total soluble solids content compared with the CF and MAP treatments in the conventional production system. Titratable acidity and total phenolics content first increased then decreased in all treatments. The contents of ascorbic acid in both pesticide-free and conventionally-grown peppers declined, and β-carotene content increased progressively with storage time. In terms of the production systems, the lowest weight loss and total soluble solids contents were in the pesticide-free production system. Furthermore, the pesticide-free production system had higher titratable acidity, total phenolics and ascorbic acid contents, compared with the conventional production system. The lowest decay incidence was in the conventional production system. In conclusion, the pesticide-free production system could be an alternative production system for pepper growing and PL storage could be used to maintain postharvest quality attributes of peppers up to 45 d both in pesticide-free and conventionally-grown peppers.