Abstract:
An investigation was conducted for obtaining information on the reduction of
postharvest losses, pattern of physical, biochemical and mineral content changes, storability as
well as shelf life of postharvest mango. The trials included four different experiments involving
two factors where variety was a factor comprising of Langra and Khirshapat. These varieties
were treated with different postharvest treatments viz., control, paraffin coating, perforated
polyethylene cover, unperforated polyethylene cover, hot water (55 ± 1 )°C, low temperature in
refrigerator (4±1)°C (experiment 1); different doses of Maleic hydrazide solution namely,
control, 200,400 and 600 ppm (experiment 2); different doses of GA3 solution such as, control,
100, 200 and 400 ppm (experiment 3), and different doses of Bavistin DF solution viz., control,
250, 500 and 750 ppm (experiment 4 ).These experiments were laid out in Randomized
Complete Block Design with three replicates. Data obtained from various biochemical analyses
in terms of physicochemical properties and shelf life of postharvest mango, were recorded and
statistically analyzed for comparison among the mean values using DMRT and LSD.
The res1,.1lts of the experiments exhibited that only the single effect of varieties was
found to be significant in most of the parameters studied. Variety Langra performe<;I better in
accumulating higher quantity of edible portion, pulp to peel ratio, dry matter, ash, vitamin c,
tltratable acidity, TSS (after 3 rd day In case of experiment 2 and 4 as well as 6th day in case of
experiment 3), crude fiber, lipid, water soluble protein, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium,
iron and manganese content in all four experiments over Khirshapat. On the other hand,
Khirshapat showed better performance in achieving higher quantity of moisture, progressively
lost physiological weight, increased pulp pH, TSS (in terms of experiment 1, initial to 3rd dc;Jy for
experiment 2 and 4 as well as initial to 6th day for experiment 3), produced more quantity of
sugar (total, reducing and non reducing), calcium, copper and zinc content as well as extended
shelf life and delayed skin color changes than Langra at all the storage duration.
Different postharvest treatments subjected to the investigation demonstrated significant
variation in most of the physicochemical properties and shelf life of mango at different c;lays
after storage. The results explored that some physicochemical properties viz., edible portion,
pulp to peel ratio, physiological weight loss, moisture content, pulp pH, TSS, sugar (total,
reducing and non reducing), lipid, water soluble protein, phosphorus, potassium, calci1,.1m,
magnesium, iron and manganese content were rapidly increased as well as skin color, dry
matter, ash, vitamin C, titratable acidity, crude fiber, copper and zinc content along with shelf
life drastically decreased from untreated mangoes, but, low temperature in refrigerator caused
delaying of these changes except physiological weight loss. The unperforated polyethylene cover
was found to be the best method for reduction of physiological weight loss. Low temperature in
refrigerator was the best inhibitor of ethylene synthesis that delayed ripening and prolongation
of shelf life. In case of other experiments, Malle hydrazlde, GA3, and Bavlstln DF at the doses of
600, 400 and 750 ppm, respectively showed better results in delaying the changes in
physicochemical properties and extended shelf life.