ISHS Acta Horticulturae 291: III International Mango Symposium
POST-HARVEST HANDLING OF MANGOES |
| Author: | S.N. Ledger |
| Abstract:
Post-harvest handling has two basic elements - management of quality and preparation of the product to facilitate distribution. The paper discusses recent developments in quality management and product preparation, particularly in Australia, and highlights future directions for research and development. Quality management after harvest is aimed at managing the ripening process and preventing quality loss from disease development and physical injury. For the cultivar Kensington Pride, a marketing period of 28 days from harvest to retail can now be achieved commercially with controlled atmosphere sea freight containers. Disease severity increases with time and a dual fungicide treatment of benomyl and prochloraz is required for extended marketing periods. Common causes of physical injury are sapburn, heat damage from disease control treatments, and mechanical damage. The major weakness in existing post-harvest handling is the integration of all operations into the marketing system. The focus is on packing line and transport operations with little attention paid to wholesale and retail handling. Future research and development is needed into extending marketable life, sapburn, disease control, packing line automation, cooling, controlled atmosphere transport, ripening, disinfestation, and quality assurance. | |
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