4kx0-2026-03-17_12_58_16-official-bougainvillea-research-project-1.pdf
4kx0-2026-03-17_12_58_16-official-bougainvillea-research-project-1.pdf
Development of an Antioxidant-Enriched Edible Coating Utilizing Paperflower (Bougainvillea Glabra) Bract Extract for the Post-Harvest Preservation of Lacatan Banana (Musa Acuminata)
A Quantitative Research Paper for Research Project and Practical Research
A Quantitative Research Paper for Research Project and Practical Research
ABSTRACT
The rapid post-harvest deterioration of climacteric fruits like Lacatan bananas contributes to significant agricultural losses, which are traditionally mitigated by non-biodegradable plastic packaging. This study aimed to develop an eco-friendly, antioxidant-enriched edible coating, a "Bio-Composite Crown Seal", utilizing Bougainvillea glabra bract extract, pectin, and beeswax to extend the shelf life of bananas. Employing a quantitative experimental research design, the study evaluated four treatment groups: a negative control (untreated), a positive control (commercial cling wrap), and two bio-composite emulsions containing ten percent and twenty percent Bougainvillea extract. The treatments were applied exclusively to the banana crowns using the dip-and-drip method.
Over a seven-day accelerated observation period at ambient conditions, physiological weight loss and visual decay index (browning progression) were monitored. Results indicated that bananas treated with the twenty percent extract formulation exhibited the lowest physiological weight loss at twenty point six two percent, outperforming the cling wrap (twenty-four point zero one percent), the ten percent extract (thirty-six point six two percent), and the untreated group (forty-eight point seven zero percent). Furthermore, the twenty percent Bougainvillea coating effectively slowed the spread of dark spots and delayed senescence, performing comparably to the commercial plastic wrap.
These findings suggest that the twenty percent Bougainvillea-pectin-beeswax composite holds substantial promise as a sustainable, low-cost, and natural alternative to synthetic packaging for minimizing moisture loss and delaying enzymatic browning in bananas. Further studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to statistically validate these descriptive findings.
Development of an Antioxidant-Enriched Edible Coating Utilizing Paperflower (Bougainvillea Glabra) Bract Extract for the Post-Harvest Preservation of Lacatan Banana (Musa Acuminata)
The global agricultural sector faces a massive challenge in the form of post-harvest loss, where a significant percentage of fruit production spoils before reaching the consumer. In tropical countries like the Philippines, the Lakatan banana is a vital economic crop; however, its climacteric nature makes it highly perishable. Bananas undergo rapid physiological changes after harvest, including a sudden spike in respiration and ethylene production, making them highly susceptible to rapid moisture loss and fungal decay. To mitigate these losses, the agricultural industry currently relies heavily on synthetic preservation methods, predominantly the use of Low-Density Polyethylene plastic packaging. While plastic films effectively create a physical barrier that reduces transpiration, they are non-biodegradable and contribute significantly to global environmental pollution. Furthermore, plastics can create a high-humidity microenvironment that promotes the growth of mesophilic bacteria and molds, a phenomenon known as "green damp", unless concurrently treated with synthetic fungicides. Consequently, there is an urgent demand for sustainable, bio-based alternatives that can mimic the hydrophobic, protective functions of plastic without the ecological cost.
To create an effective, resource-efficient alternative to plastic wrapping, preservation efforts must address the most vulnerable region of the banana bunch: the crown. The severed tissue connecting the hand to the stalk serves as the primary entry point for vascular pathogens causing Crown Rot disease, and it acts as a major exit point for moisture loss. Research suggests that targeting this specific area with a protective coating can be as effective as coating the entire fruit. However, while hydrocolloid coatings like pectin are excellent for structural adhesion, they are naturally hydrophilic and poor at blocking moisture. Incorporating a lipid based coating, such as beeswax, is essential to establish a hydrophobic barrier capable of minimizing physiological weight loss.
Beyond physical barriers, an active biological component is required to suppress decay. This study proposes the utilization of Bougainvillea glabra bracts, an often-discarded agricultural waste product. Belonging to the order Caryophyllales, Bougainvillea produces betalains, nitrogen, containing pigments that possess potent antioxidant and antimicrobial capabilities, making them highly effective at delaying enzymatic browning and pathogenic invasion.
Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop a "Bio-Composite Crown Seal" by integrating the bioactive extract of Bougainvillea glabra into a Beeswax-Pectin emulsion. To rigorously evaluate the efficacy of this biodegradable coating, this research employs an accelerated decay model. By applying the formulated bio-coating to Lakatan bananas already at their peak climacteric phase (Ripening index D), the study aims to test the emulsion's ability to halt rapid weight loss, browning, and senescence over a critical seven-day observation period, ultimately offering a scientifically grounded, eco-friendly alternative to commercial plastic packaging.