Effective chitosan-antioxidant treatments for extending cassava shelf-life evaluated using silver nanosensor

Cassava is a highly resilient and versatile root crop that plays a crucial role in food security across many tropical regions. However, its short postharvest shelf-life results in significant losses, highlighting the need for effective strategies to extend its longevity. This study introduces a novel approach to monitoring and mitigating cassava deterioration by utilizing silver nanoparticle sensors to track hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) production, a key indicator of oxidative stress. Four economically viable cassava root cultivars were evaluated for their tolerance to postharvest physiological deterioration (PPD) and quality retention after treatment with various chitosan-antioxidant formulations. The results indicated that the chitosan-quercetin formulation (CS-Q) was the most effective, achieving the lowest average H₂O₂ reduction of 67.7 % compared to untreated samples, followed by chitosan-beta-carotene (CS-BC) at 62.4 %, chitosan-ascorbic acid (CS-AA) at 38.3 %, and chitosan (CS) at 34.8 %. These reductions in H₂O₂ suggest that chitosan-antioxidant treatments can effectively delay PPD and extend cassava's shelf life for up to six months, depending on the cultivar, seasonal factors, and specific antioxidant composition. The successful implementation of this innovation offers a promising solution to delay PPD and enhance the efficiency of the cassava supply chain. Furthermore, this study contributes to the advancement of electrochemical techniques for assessing PPD and demonstrates the potential of chitosan-based materials in improving the postharvest preservation of cassava and potentially other crops.