CBC
reports that Jay Subramanian and his team of scientists at the
University of Guelph has developed a spray that can extend the shelf
life of fresh fruits by up to 50 per cent.
The
spray uses a nanotechnology-based application of hexanal, a natural
plant extract that prevents fruit spoilage.
"Before
[fruit] rot, they start to shrivel. The shrivelling
is the way fruit shows its age," said Subramanian, a professor
of plant agriculture at the Ontario Agriculture College.
The
hexanal inhibits the enzyme that breaks down cell walls, which causes
shriveling and rot, Subramanian explained.
"Once
the walls are protected, the cells are intact and so the whole
fruit stays intact," he said, meaning the fruit stays fresh
longer.
The
product is applied one and two weeks before the fruit is harvested.
Alternatively, fruit can be dipped into the solution after
harvest, then gently washed off.
The
result is fruit that lasts up to 50 per cent longer after harvest,
Subramanian said. Mangoes, he said, keep fresh for up to 23 days,
bananas for up to 40 days and peaches and nectarines – which
normally only keep fresh for a week – can see their shelf
life extended for another 10 days.
