EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKING ON STORAGE QUALITY AND DECAY DEVELOPMENT OF 'HICAZNAR' POMEGRANATES (PUNICA GRANATUM L.)

Increasing pomegranate production in the world requires appropriate conditions to preserve quality during prolonged storage and transport. Modified atmosphere (MA) packaging provides long storage period, maintains fruit quality and reduces decay development for four months or more after harvest. There are different types of bags used for pomegranate with different quality. In this study, the effects of a preharvest spray program and different MA packaging materials were evaluated on the quality and decay development of ‘Hicaznar’ pomegranate. Four different MA packages were used on unsprayed and sprayed fruit. Fruit were packed into modified atmosphere packing and stored at 6°C for four months. Decay development and quality parameters were examined at two months intervals. One of the local made MA packing materials was found to be not able to maintain the fruit quality even at the second month of storage. However, the combination of preharvest spraying program and three different MA packages gave almost the same results in terms of pomegranate quality. The decay development was also very high on unsprayed fruit packed with local MA packaging material. The decay development on sprayed fruit was almost inhibited at preharvest stage and for two months in MA packaging.