INFLUENCE OF POSTHARVEST CHEMICAL TREATMENTS ON SHELF LIFE AND QUALITY OF 'BANESHAN' MANGO HARVESTED AT DIFFERENT MATURITY STAGES

An investigation was carried out on the effect of postharvest chemical treatments on shelf life and fruit quality of ‘Baneshan’ mango with a view on enhancing its export potential. Two different maturity stages (7-8°B TSS, M₁ and 8-9°B TSS, M₂) were considered for this purpose. Fruits were treated with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) at 1000 and 2000 ppb and with 1.0 mM spermine. Untreated fruits served as the control. After treatment, fruits were stored at 12.5±1°C. A proportion of packages were removed every 14 days (14th, 28th and 42nd day) and exposed to ambient temperatures for ripening. During ripening, samples were taken at four days interval and tested for physical and chemical changes (physiological loss in weight (PLW), firmness, visual colour score, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), acidity, reducing and total sugars). Results suggested that after 14 and 28 days of cold storage, PLW was lower, firmness was higher and colour attainment was better in 1-MCP-treated mangoes than the spermine-treated and control fruits. Other quality parameters like pH, TSS and total sugars were higher in 1000 ppb 1-MCP treated fruits followed by 1-MCP 2000 ppb than the rest of the treatments. Between the two maturity stages, TSS and total sugars were higher in M₂ treated with 1-MCP than the M₁ stage. It was concluded that 1-MCP delayed the ripening process and the shelf life was extended up to 28 days at 12.5±1°C and 4 days at ambient conditions.