Baruah, P. C.Bhuyan, Namita2016-12-072016-12-072015http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/89439A laboratory experiment was carried out in the Quality Control and PHT Laboratory, Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat during 2012-2014, to study the effect of packaging materials, storage conditions and different altitudes on quality and storability of Khasi mandarin. The fruits were harvested at physiologically mature, i.e. colour break stage from three different altitude viz., relatively high altitude, medium altitude and low altitude. Healthy fruits were treated with 100 ppm sodium hypo chloride solution for 2 minutes. After drying the fruits in shade, fruits were uni-packed in different perforated packaging films viz., low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyolefin films. The film-packed fruits were then stored under ambient (22-27°C and 70-75% RH), A.A.U developed semi-underground evaporative cool chamber (17-24°C and 89-90% RH) and cold storage conditions (6°C and 68-72% RH). The various physico-chemical and sensory attributes of fruits were recorded at weekly intervals during the entire storage period. Among the packaging materials, fruits packed in perforated HDPE films retained the highest sensory and nutritional quality (ascorbic acid, total carotenoid and pectin content) with slow and steadier change in the respiration rate, ethylene evaluation, PME activity, moisture content, titrable acidity and weight loss as compared to control (unpacked fruits). In all the packaged fruits under different storage conditions, the value of CCI (Citrus colour index) increased with progress of storage period. Fruit packed in perforated HDPE films under cold storage registered lower CCI value (1.66) compare to other packaging materials and storage conditions. Highest value was recorded in unpacked fruits (3.01) under cold storage condition. Higher amount of juice per cent was found in low altitude fruits but acidity and vitamin C was lower as compared to high altitude fruits. From the sensory quality study, it was observed that higher and medium altitude fruits packaged with perforated HDPE films scored the highest values on colour, texture, flavour and overall acceptability under all the storage conditions during the entire storage period. The lowest acceptability and sensory quality was registered in lower altitude fruits without packaging films. Individual Khasi mandarin fruit packed with perforated HDPE films can be successfully stored for 32 days under ambient condition, 40 days under evaporative cool chamber and 59 days under cold storage condition with highly acceptable sensory quality. The control (unpacked) fruits, on the other hand, maintained postharvest shelf life of 15, 28 and 37 days under ambient condition, evaporative cool chamber and cold storage condition, respectively. These results indicate that use of perforated HDPE films can prolong the shelf life by maintaining quality attributes and external appearance of Khasi mandarin fruits and hence extend their marketing period.enThesis