Effect of Irradiation on Vitamin C, Acidity and Moisture Content of Mango Fruits with Gamma Ray from Cobalt-60 Source
Idodo Maxwell *
Department of Physics, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Nigeria
Ali Haruna
Department of Physics, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Nigeria
Adamu Baba-Kutigi
Department of Physics, Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina, Nigeria
Eli Danladi
Department of Physics, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
In this study four varieties of mango fruits were irradiated with Gamma ray from Cobalt-60 source at different dose points of 50 Gy, 100 Gy, 300 Gy and 800 Gy in order to investigate the effect of irradiation on vitamin C, titreable acidity and moisture content. Studies indicate that the dose point of 0.05 KGy (sample A) and 0.10 KGy (sample B) gained an average vitamin C content of 6.88% and 6.27% respectively while the dose point of 0.30 KGy showed no loss or gained of vitamin C content and the dose point of 0.80 KGy (sample D) loss 56.25% of vitamin C as compared to reference point (un-irradiated or control sample). The values of titreable acidity which was high on day 2 decreases at day 10 and later increases at day 17. This is attributed to an increase in pulp acidity which occurred as the ripening process proceeds. Also a study reveals that irradiation has no effect on moisture content of mango fruit but can delay the rate of respiration thus the ripening and shelf life.
Keywords: Shelf life, gamma source, radiation dose, Irradiation, mango fruit