Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(6): 2812-2817 2812 Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.706.329 Effect of Gamma Radiations on Colocasia Leaves in Enhancing Shelf Life Lilesh H. Pustode* and D.T. Bornare Department of Agricultural Engineering, Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction Leafy vegetables have enormous potential to provide food and nutritional security and important constituents of the diet including minor nutrients such as minerals and vitamins to the people. With increasing public awareness and heath consciousness the rate consumption of leafy vegetables tremendously increased day by day in recent years. (Kamat et al., 2005). Colocasia leaves (Colocasia esculenta leaves) also called as eddoe, alu or arvi, is a tropical tuber crop belongs to an Aroid family (Aracaceae) and it is in the genus Colocasia. It is indigenous crop, very popular for its underground stem, and it is widely produced throughout the world for its leaves and corns. Colocasia leaves contain protein, carotenoids and certain minerals which are needed for vision, immunity, bone health and International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 06 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Fresh produce has enormous potential to contribute in food and nutritional security. It also contributes with essential micronutrients in the daily diet. The indigenous fresh produce has a short shelf life and they get affected during storage and transportation due to microbial spoilage. Irradiation treatment could also be applied to mitigate this problem. Irradiation helps to eliminate various microorganisms, delay ripening, sprout inhibition and extension of shelf life of fresh produce. Cobalt-60 is the radioisotope used as a source of gamma radiations. Treatment of gamma radiation was carried out with doses of 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 kGy. Gamma radiation in a controlled amount between the range of 1.5-2.5 kGy penetrates the pre-packed Colocasia esculenta leaves to extend the shelf life. Gamma radiations at 1.5 and 2.5 kGy was effective in reducing microbial content, enhancing shelf. Storage studies show that Colocasia leaves treated with 1.5 kGy enhance the shelf life for 18-21 days without affecting nutritional quality and safety of food. This process is effective in reducing bacterial as well as fungal growth. Gamma radiations did not affect nutritional quality of Colocasia leaves by application of 1.5-2.5 kGy as major nutrients such as proteins, fats are not affected significantly. Minor nutrient such as vitamin C was affected by high dose. Also application of spent nuclear fuel in such processing unriddles the problems of nuclear waste disposal and management in some extent. Thus, such technology can augment processing of fresh produce and control post-harvest losses in developing countries like India. Keywords Cobalt-60, Colocasia leaves, Gamma Radiations, Irradiation, Post harvest losses, Shelf life Accepted: 20 May 2018 Available Online: 10 June 2018 Article Info