Studies on the Physicochemical Properties and Shelf Life of Postharvest Mangifera indica during Storage Environments

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.