Indian Journal of Horticulture
Year : 2006, Volume : 63, Issue : 1
First page : ( 31) Last page : ( 35)
Print ISSN : 0972-8538.

Influence of active cushioning materials in packaging on shelf-life of litchi fruits

Ramesh C., Pal R.K.*

Division of Post Harvest Technology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012

*Corresponding author's E-mail: rkpal@iari.res.in

Received:  October,  2004; Revised:  December,  2005; Accepted:  January,  2006.

Abstract

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn) fruit deteriorates rapidly once harvested, resulting in browning of the pericarp surface within a short period of 24–48 h. A study was conducted to find the effects of active cushioning materials on shelf-life of litchi fruits cv. Shahi during marketing. Fruits with and without stalks were packed in wooden or CFB boxes with two types of active cushioning materials (sisoo and litchi leaves) separately. The fruits packed in CFB boxes stored well upto five days after transport compared to those packed in wooden boxes. Fruits without stalk packed in CFB boxes with sisoo leaves as cushioning material showed superior qualities like minimum loss in weight, browning and spoilage. It also showed high retention of anthocyanin, low rate of respiration and ethylene evolution.

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Key words

Litchi, pericarp browning, active cushioning, respiration, ethylene evolution.

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