Studies on post harvest quality and physiology of coated ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk) fruit.

摘要

Effect of coating whey protein concentrate, carboxymethyl cellulose and peanut oil, bees wax on post-harvest shelf-life and quality attributes of ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk) fruit cv. 'Umran' was studied during storage at ambient (20+or-1 degrees C, 70+or-5% RH) and refrigerated (10+or-1 degrees C, 65+or-5% RH) storage conditions. Uncoated fruits packed in corrugated fiberboard (CFB) boxes lined with newspaper (control-I), uncoated fruits packed in sealed polyethylene bags with 0.5% perforations (control-II) and sealed polyethylene bags without perforations (control-III) were used for comparing the results. Increase in physiological loss in weight (PLW), decay loss and ripening during storage was observed. Fruit coated with 5% peanut oil retained better quality as compared to uncoated fruits kept in CFB box. This treatment recorded 10.4% and 5.3% PLW on the final day at ambient and refrigerated storage conditions, respectively. Control III recorded least PLW and maximum reduction in respiration and ethylene evolution but scored least on sensory scale due to incipient taste and off-flavour. The peanut oil coated fruit had 8 and 16 days of economic shelf-life at ambient and refrigerated conditions, respectively.