Page 57 - D:\Video IPSyoFS22\

Effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza and storage temperature on postharvest quality of
Clinacathus nutans lindau, grown on bris soil

1
1 Syed Ahmad Putra Sharifah Nur Intansabitah, Wan Sembok Wan Zaliha *

1 Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu,
21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.

* Corresponding author: wzaliha@umt.edu.my

Abstract:
In Malaysia, the herbal industry has become a new source of wealth due to its therapeutic potential in
preventing various chronic diseases such as cancers, AIDS and possesses analgesic, anti-inflammatory
activities, and anti-viral activities. Currently, destructive harvesting has resulted in reduction and even
extinction of the local herbs. In addition, the lack of postharvest management and technology in
handling local herbs also contributes to significant losses in herbal industry. To maintain a sustained
supply of raw materials to various industries such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, the
postharvest biology of Clinacanthus nutans Lindau needs to be investigated by applying beneficial soil
microbe such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to enhance herbs growth performances and further
stored the harvested herbs at optimum low temperature storage. Thus, this study aimed at evaluating
the effects of AM and storage temperature on the postharvest quality of Clinacathus nutans Lindau
grown on BRIS soil. The treatments were i) Control (without AM) and harvested herbs were further
stored at room temperature (25°C), ii) Without AM, stored at 5°C, iii) Without AM, stored at 10°C, iv)
With AM, (25°C), v) With AM, (5°C), vi) With AM, (10°C), with three replicates. Parameters evaluated
such as colour, relative water content, fresh weight of plant including roots, and physical quality analysis
were conducted after harvest. The storage analysis was done for 14 days after harvesting the whole
herb, including the roots. Starting on day 3 of storage, herbs without AM at 25°C started to lose its leaf
turgidity and wilt as compared to those with AM fungi at the same storage temperature. In conclusion,
AM fungi aid in maintaining the turgidity of herbs by increasing the soil's water-holding capacity,
thereby enhancing water uptake of the herbs without impairing postharvest quality during cold storage.

Keywords: Arbuscular mycorrhiza, Storage, Clinacanthus nutans, Herbs, Postharvest quality