Effect of Essential Oil of Some Medicinal Plants and Polyethylene Packaging on Quality and Pomegranate Shelf Life (cv.

Fruit spoilage of pomegranate is one of the most important problems in postharvest stages and its exports. This decay is mainly due to the influence and spread of saprophytic or parasitic fungi into the pomegranate fruits. In this purpose effects of essential oil from medicinal plants include; caraway (Carum carvi) and peppermint (Mentha piperetta)، and packaging (whit or no polyethylene bags) were investigated on shelf life، quality، decay percentage، chilling index and biochemical traits. The pomegranate fruits were kept in 5±1ºC and 85-90 percent humidity. The results showed that the highest amount of chilling index and weight loss was in without polyethylene bag treatment by 3. 45 and 17. 03، respectively. On the other hand the most percent of fungal infection was observed in polyethylene alone treatment by 29. 41%. Whereas، essential oils (1000 ppm) of caraway and peppermint was able to control postharvest fungal infection caused by LDPE packaging، completely. The usage of caraway essential oil on pomegranate fruits increased phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity، significantly.