Bio-organic pre- and post-harvest management increases fruit yield and shelf life of African eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum L.)

Abstract

Effects of pre- and post-harvest management practices were assessed on fruit yield and shelf life of African eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum L.). This study investigated five pre-harvest treatments (control-no input, chemical-NPK + pesticide, organic-poultry manure + Piper guineense, biological-beneficial microbes, and integrated-combination) and four post-harvest edible coatings (Piper, neem oil- Azadirachta indica, honey, and apple cider vinegar). Higher eggplant fruit yield occurred in organic treatment and the lowest in control (P < 0.05). Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) infestation and severity were higher in the control and chemical treatments compared to biological, integrated and organic (P < 0.05). Protein and vitamin A contents in eggplant fruits were higher in the integrated treatment compared to organic (P < 0.05). Pre-harvest biological treatment increased the shelf life of eggplant fruits by eight days, while post-harvest Piper coating increased shelf life by four days for fruits produced without pre-harvest treatment or with organic and chemical inputs.