Postharvest quality characteristics of selections from the ITSC postharvest breeding program.
Bezuidenhout M., Human C. F., Kruger F. J.
Author Affiliation: Instituut vir Tropiese en Subtropiese Gewasse, Privaatsak X11208, Nelspruit 1200, South Africa.
: 159-160
Abstract : Six mango selections from the ITSC breeding programme at Nelspruit were evaluated for postharvest quality and storage potential at storage temperatures of 8°C and 11°C. These selections were 'Nelpetite', 'N6', 'Neldica', 'Chené', 'Joa' and selection '8/4'. 'Tommy Atkins' and 'Kensington' were used as control cultivars for the earlier selections and Heidi for the later selections. Selection 'N6' showed good potential with no significant postharvest quality problems. Chilling injury was a problem with 'Neldica' while vascular browning and anthracnose also occurred in fruit stored at 11°C. 'Chené' fruit stored at 8°C had some vascular browning and stem end rot but in general exhibited good postharvest qualities. 'Joa' also had good internal quality, with anthracnose infection being the most important ailment. Selection '8/4' did not do well as a high incidence of internal browning and anthracnose occurred. 'Nelpetite' had a very poor postharvest quality and is not suitable for exporting. Prominent lenticel damage occurred with all the selections, with 'Chené' and 'N6' showing the lowest incidence. The results should, however, not be assessed in isolation, but in context of the results obtained in the Phase II mango cultivar evaluation program.