The Effects of Shriveling up Waste Watermelons in Different Solar Drying Systems on Withering and Relevant Microbial Parameters

Abstract

: This study aimed to examine the shriveling parameters and some aerobic microbial qualities of waste watermelons in a combined solar energy drying system (CDS) and an open sun drying system (OSDS). Results showed that the CDS was better than the OSDS in terms of the temperature, relative humidity, surface temperature, time, and speed of reaching the target humidity level of the air-shriveled watermelon slices. The number of mesophilic aerobic bacteria (log 10 cfu/g) increased in the shriveled (P>0.05) silages compared to fresh watermelon slices in the CDS and OSDS groups and decreased in silages (P<0.05). Compared to fresh watermelon