The effect of mechanical impact on the postharvest quality of soursop fruits (Annona muricata L.)

M.K. Morales-Mora, I. Alia-Tejacal, A. Pérez-López, G.A. Pérez-Arias, E. Campos-Rojas, V. López-Martínez, P. Juárez-López
The soursop (Annona muricata L.) is a tropical fruit of palatable flavor. Though further expansion into both domestic (Mexico) and international markets seems promising, few studies address its susceptibility to mechanical damage. Then, objective of this work was to determine the physiological and chemical changes that occur in soursops after impact-stress, as well as their overall effect on quality. For this, two experiments were performed using physiologically-mature fruit. In one, the soursops were dropped two or three times from a height of 80 or 130 cm. In the other, they were dropped three times from either 80 or 130 cm. Quality parameters were then evaluated over the course of maturation at room temperature (20°C, 60% RH). Respiration rates increased with increasing height, while ethylene production rose 30-109% in fruits dropped twice from either 80 or 130 cm, as well as in those dropped three times from a height of 80 cm. In contrast, soursops dropped three times from a height of 130 cm experienced a smaller increase in ethylene production (70%). Control fruits were 8 times firmer than those subjected to impact-stress, while the latter had higher values of total soluble solids and titratable acidity. Hence, dropping A. muricata fruit from 80 and 130 cm heights leads to accelerated ripening and an increase in physiological activity, resulting in a faster loss of quality.
Morales-Mora, M.K., Alia-Tejacal, I., Pérez-López, A., Pérez-Arias, G.A., Campos-Rojas, E., López-Martínez, V. and Juárez-López, P. (2022). The effect of mechanical impact on the postharvest quality of soursop fruits (Annona muricata L.). Acta Hortic. 1340, 41-48
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1340.6
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1340.6
respiration, ethylene, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, firmness
English

Acta Horticulturae