PENGARUH SUHU PENYIMPANAN DAN EDIBLE COATING KITOSAN UNTUK MEMPERTAHANKAN MUTU PASCAPANEN JAHE MERAH (Zingiber officinale var. rubrum)

Abstract

Jahe merah (Zingiber officinale var. rubrum) mudah mengalami penurunan mutu selama penyimpanan, sehingga diperlukan teknologi penanganan yang tepat. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis pengaruh suhu penyimpanan dan edible coating kitosan terhadap mutu fisik, kesehatan rimpang, serta rendemen minyak atsiri jahe merah. Penelitian menggunakan RKLT petak terbagi dengan suhu penyimpanan sebagai petak utama, yaitu suhu ruang dan suhu dingin (±10 °C), serta konsentrasi kitosan 0%, 2%, dan 3% sebagai anak petak. Pengamatan dilakukan selama 60 hari terhadap susut bobot, kadar air, warna, penyakit, kekerasan rimpang, dan rendemen minyak atsiri. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa kitosan lebih dominan memengaruhi mutu jahe merah dibandingkan suhu. Kitosan 2–3% mampu mempertahankan kadar air dan warna, sedangkan kitosan 3% paling efektif menekan penyakit dan memperlambat pengerasan. Kombinasi suhu dingin dan kitosan 3% menghasilkan insidensi penyakit terendah serta rendemen minyak atsiri tertinggi, yaitu 3,45%.

Red ginger (Zingiber officinale var. rubrum) is prone to quality deterioration during storage, making proper handling techniques essential. This study aimed to analyze the effects of storage temperature and a chitosan-based edible coating on the physical quality, rhizome health, and essential oil yield of red ginger. The study used a split-plot randomized complete block design with storage temperature as the main plot—namely, room temperature and cold temperature (±10 °C) and chitosan concentrations of 0%, 2%, and 3% as subplots. Observations were conducted over 60 days to assess weight loss, moisture content, color, disease, rhizome hardness, and essential oil yield. The results showed that chitosan had a more significant effect on the quality of red ginger than temperature. Chitosan at 2–3% is effective at maintaining moisture content and color, while 3% chitosan is most effective at suppressing disease and slowing down hardening. The combination of low temperature and 3% chitosan results in the lowest incidence of disease and the highest essential oil yield, at 3.45%.