U.K. Acharya

Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Singhdurbar Plaza, Kathmandu

Email: umeshach@gmail.com
 

Abstract

Mango is third important fruit crops of Nepal in terms of import (13353 MT/ year) of fruit commodities. It is harvested at mature but green stage in Indian and Nepalese orchard and transported to distance market in Nepal. In the collection point, the fruit is stored ripen with application of ethephon and transported to selling point (wholesale/ retailer's shop). Post- harvest loss of over-ripe produce is up to 30% if not transported from the store ripen mango in appropriate time. An experiment was executed to find out a robust portable tool to allow quantitative assessment of incoming consignments. Batches of 60 fruits (cultivar B-74 and
KP) were collected from commercial farm and ripen with spray of ethephon (0.2%) and stored at 20⁰C for a period of 6-8 days. Each day five fruit were sampled and ripening indices (dry matter, TSS, firmness, chlorophyll content and skin color) were examined. Firmness was measured with firmness tester (destructive) and Aweta meter (non-destructive- sound velocity method) while TSS measured using Bench-top refractrometer and chlorophyll content assessed using DA meter. The skin color in term of L*, a*and b* were measured using Chromameter (CR-400). Ripening stage of B-74 mango could not be tracked with conventional destructive parameters like dry matter and TSS due to little change during ripening course.Non-destructive firmness test (Aweta) and skin chlorophyll measurement (DA meter) could be used as best indicator of ripeness quality check at selling point. Skin colour in term of CIE a* and b* could be another alternative; however, red blush on skin could make this indices unsuitable in coloured skin varieties.

Keywords: colour, firmness, fruit, ripening index, total soluble solids