Effect of different osmotic pretreatments on moisture loss, weight loss, solid gain and dehydrated yield in osmotically dehydrated aonla

The present investigation entitled “Studies on osmotic dehydration of aonla (Emblica officinalis Garten.) using sugar as an osmotic agent” was carried out during the year 2014-15 at the Post Harvest Technology laboratory, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Dr. Y.S.R.H.U., Venkataramannagudem, West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. These studies were aimed to know the effect of syrup concentrations at 50, 60 and 70 °Brix with solution temperatures of 50, 60 and 70°C maintained initially and later the segments were kept in the solutions for about 24 h of osmosis. An increase in syrup concentrations from 50 to 70 °Brix and solution temperatures from 50 to 70°C for 24 h of osmosis increased the weight loss, solid gain and dehydrated yield of aonla segments. Among the treatments steeping of segments in 70 °Brix syrup at 70°C for 24 h recorded high moisture loss (23.77%), maximum weight loss (3.10%), superior solid gain (21.83%) and highest dehydrated yield (40.67%).