QUALITY VARIATION AND STORAGE OF SALA FRUITS CV.NERNWONG

Salacca sp. are indigeous fruit trees of Southeast Asia. The main species grown in Thailand are Rakam (S. wallichiana Mart.) and Sala (S. rumphii Wall).Leeangkurasathei (1989) reported that the optimal period for harvesting of Sala is 37-39 weeks after pollination. Under ambient conditions shelf life of Sala is about 8-10 days. Mahendra et al., (1997) reported that keeping Sala (S. zalacca) fruit at low temperature extended their shelf life to more than 15 days. However, at 3-10°C, medium to severe chilling injury developed. In Thailand , there has been no report on post-harvest handling of Sala. The objects of this study were to examine fruit quality variation, optimal storage temperature at different maturities, respiration and ethylene production patterns and the use of ethylene for separating Sala fruits from their bunches.