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

Authors: Delphine Mapiemfu Lamare; Marie Michelle Mango Tsasse; Mercy Abwe Ngone; Solange Takwi Ndzeshala; Lawrence Monah Ndam; Silke Ruppel; Christopher Ngosong

Addresses: Department of Agronomic and Applied Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, South West Region, Cameroon ' Rhizobiology Group, Department of Agronomic and Applied Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, South West Region, Cameroon ' Plant Biotechnology Group, Department of Agronomic and Applied Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, South West Region, Cameroon ' Rhizobiology Group, Department of Agronomic and Applied Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, South West Region, Cameroon ' Agroecology Group, Department of Agronomic and Applied Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, South West Region, Cameroon ' Research Group on Beneficial Microorganisms and Plant Interactions, Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, 14979 Großbeeren, Germany ' Rhizobiology Group, Department of Agronomic and Applied Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, South West Region, Cameroon

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.

Keywords: edible coatings; eggplant; fruit quality; pest infestation; pre- and post-harvest.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPTI.2025.151709

International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation, 2025 Vol.10 No.1, pp.83 - 114

Received: 12 Nov 2024
Accepted: 04 Aug 2025
Published online: 16 Feb 2026 *

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