Influence of Post Harvest Calcium Chloride Application, Ethylene Absorbent and Modified Atmosphere on Quality Characteristics and Shelf Life of Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) Fruit During Storage

Abstract

The effect of different concentrations of CaCl₂ (1, 2 and 3%) with the combination of oxidizing agent like Potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) on storage life of apricot fruit packaged in sealed Polyethylene bags was investigated at ambient temperature (Relative humidity 60-63% and temperature 28-30^oC) during storage. The quality characteristics such as weight loss, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid and sensory parameters like color, texture, taste, flavour and overall acceptability were studied at an interval of 2 days (0, 2^nd, 4^th, 6^th, 8^th and 10^th day) for a total period of 10 days during storage. All of the 9 treatments had shown a highly significant effect (p<0.05) on storage life and quality parameters of fruits. However, the treatment T₄ (KMnO₄ + 3% CaCl₂ + Polyethylene bags) was most effective in the retention of higher contents of vitamin C (11.47 mg/100 g), total soluble solids (12.58%), titratable acidity (0.72%) and sensory parameters like colour (4.97), texture (6.23), taste (6.52), flavour (6.38) and the higher overall acceptability score (6.72) with minimum weight loss (3.66%) in T₄. Compared to control fruit showed maximum weight loss (9.5%), lower vitamin C (9.55 mg/100 g), titratable acidity (0.67%), total soluble solids (10.58%) and lower quality score like colour (3.92), texture (4.83), taste (4.79), flavour (4.43) and the lower score (4.6) of overall acceptability during storage whereas the Treatment T₃ (3% CaCl₂+Polyethylene bags) was found better to all other treatments during storage. The treated apricot fruit have increased storage life up to 10 days as compared to control which was un acceptable after 6^th day of the storage.