SHELF LIFE OF SUB-TROPICAL SAND PEAR AS INFLUENCED BY PICKING DATES AND PACKING MATERIALS UNDER AMBIENT CONDITIONS

Patharnakh pear fruits harvested on July 15 and August 1 were stored under ambient conditions after wrapping them individually with high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, newspaper, tissue paper and paddy straw to study its shelf-life and quality attributes. Delay in harvesting to August 1 leads to increase in physiological loss in weight (PLW), spoilage losses, total and reducing sugars except starch, which showed decreasing trend. PLW and spoilage losses were found minimum in HDPE 20 µm wrapped fruits, which were considered of acceptable quality even after 45 days of storage. Acidity and starch level retention was observed higher in HDPE 20 µm wrapped fruits. Physiological loss in weight, spoilage losses, TSS, total and reducing sugar contents were increased with the advancement of storage interval, whereas, organoleptic rating, titratable acidity and starch contents decreased.