Efficiency of using Save Fresh in the ginger short-term storage technology

In the structure of vegetable products imported to the Russian Federation, a fairly large share is occupied by the supply of ginger. According to the data of 2021 in the federal network X5 Riteil Group, the volume of its supply and sale amounted to 991.976 thousand tons. A significant problem in organizing the supply of this type of product is significant losses from a complex of fungal and bacterial diseases, infection with which can occur at the stages of its cultivation, storage in places of production and transportation. Treatment of rhizomes with Save Fresh, the active substance of which is sodium sorbate (E-201), was considered as a method aimed at reducing the loss of ginger from diseases. The drug, produced in aerosol form, is sprayed inside the vehicle and forms a protective layer on the surface of the rhizomes. Untreated samples served as controls. For phytopathological studies, before laying the experiment, rhizomes were selected that were visually healthy and with visible signs of damage by myromycetes. According to the results of identification, in untreated rhizomes with visible lesions, a pathocomplex was identified, which included bacterial rot and micromycetes - Acremonium, Pennicilium, Fusarium, Helminthosporium. In outwardly healthy rhizomes, according to the layout, approximately the same complex of pathogens was observed, and according to the results of flushing, bacteriosis and Alternaria in a weak form were observed. After treatment with the drug, there was no change in the composition of pathogens identified in the layout, but there were no micromycetes in the swabs and only bacterial rot was noted. After 16 days of storage at a temperature of 13 °C, healthy rhizomes were identified with bacterial rot and Fusarium. Under the influence of treatment with Save Fresh, there was a slight increase in the value of the natural weight loss during storage, as well as a more intensive decrease in the dry matter content during storage. At the same time, there was a tendency to increase the content of sugars and carotenoids in the rhizomes. Based on the experience, it can be concluded that the studied drug has an inhibitory effect on epiphytic pathogenic microflora, identified by the analysis of swabs.