ISHS Acta Horticulturae 275: International Symposium on the Culture of Subtropical and Tropical Fruits and Crops
EFFECT OF POST-HARVEST TREATMENT AND PACKAGING ON THE KEEPING QUALITY OF FRESH GUAVA FRUIT |
| Authors: | J.C. Combrink, Selma L. de Kock, Coreen J. van Eeden |
| Abstract:
Freshly harvested guava (Psidium guajava L.) fruit were treated with a fungicide and skin coating (mixed sucrose esters of fatty acids) and stored at 4.5°C for different periods. Similar fruit were packed into different types of perforated and non-perforated polyethylene bags and stored at 4.5°C, 10°C and 20°C for different periods. The maximum storage life of guavas was 2 weeks at 4.5°C and the application of a skin coating had no effect on keeping quality. Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Mucor piriformis, Phomopsis psidii and Penicillium expansum were isolated from decayed fruit. Non-perforated polyethylene bags maintained fruit quality better than perforated bags. Poly-ethylene bags impregnated with a natural mineral compound absorbed free moisture in the packs and created a modified atmosphere which increased shelf-life. Despite a modified atmosphere in non-perforated regular bags, impregnated bags had a greater beneficial effect on keeping quality than regular bags. | |
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