EFFECT OF POSTHARVEST TREATMENTS ON STORAGE LIFE OF PEACH [PRUNUS PERSICA (L.) BATSCH]
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Date
2004
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Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu
Abstract
Peach has a limited postharvest life because of its high moisture content and metabolic activities that take place in the fruit during its postharvest phase. Loss of moisture, shrivelling, fungal and bacterial diseases, pest infestation and physiological disorders are some major postharvest problems of peach. Under ordinary conditions of storage the life of the fruit does not exceed beyond 3-5 days. Storage of the fruit under refrigerated conditions could extend its postharvest life but fruit suffers from chilling injury when stored at Jow temperatures for prolonged periods. With the aforesaid background under consideration the present investigation was undertaken with the objectives of increasing the postharvest life of the fruit and lowering down the postharvest storage disorders. The study was undertaken by conducting three different experiments. In the first experiment, perforation coefficient of packaging material was standardized. On the basis of observations of various quality parameters, it was found that a perforation coefficient of 251 mm holes/m<sup>2</sup> was suitable for storage of fruit. In
the second experiment perforation coefficient standardized in the earlier experiment was used for packaging of the fruit, and the fruit was stored under refrigerated conditions with and without packaging. In order to overcome chilling injury fruit was subjected to intermittent warming after specific time intervals. The results of the study revealed that an intermittent warming treatment after 5 or 10 days was required to overcome chilling injury if the fruit is to be stored for more than 2 weeks. However, there is no need of intermittent warming if the fruit is to be marketed within 2 weeks. In the third experiment, the fruit was subjected to various types of heat treatments by using hot water and moist hot air. It was found that heat treatment had no remarkable beneficial effects in prolonging the postharvest life of the fruit. The present
investigation can be helpful in designing the packaging of fruit for its refrigerated storage. The changes in various quality parameters of the fruit, like physical, chemical and sensory characteristics, were studied during its storage.
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