Effect of modified atmosphere packaging and cold storage on storage period and quality of 'Tommy Atkins' mango fruits.
El-Rayes D. A., Ahmed D. M.
Author Affiliation: College of Agric., Hort. Dept., Menofiya Univ., Egypt.
Assiut Journal of Agricultural Sciences 32 : 251-262
Abstract : Mature green mango fruits (Mangifera indica) cv. Tommy Atkins, were wrapped in a commercial PVC (polyvinyl chloride) film X-tend wrapping sheets and stored at three different temperature degrees (8, 10, or 13°C) and 85-90% RH. Fruits' physical and chemical characteristics (weight loss %, fruit decay %, firmness, soluble solid content, total acidity, vitamin C content, and total phenols) were assessed at the beginning of the experiment and at one week intervals up to four weeks. Wrapped mango fruits showed significantly lower percentage of fruit weight loss, decay and soluble solid contents and higher vitamin C content, total acidity and total phenol contents, during the storage period as compared with the control. The firmness of the wrapped fruits remained higher than those unwrapped ones. Both the holding temperature and the wrapping film had a significant influence on fruit storage period. Fruits held in low temperature (8°C) showed better storage ability and firmness than those held in higher temperature (10 or 13°C). The lower the temperature the vitamin C contents, total acidity and total phenol contents. At the end of the storage period, wrapped mango fruits held at 8°C showed better quality than all other treatments. The use of modified atmosphere, therefore, had a beneficial effect on retarding ripening of mango fruits. This study indicated that Tommy Atkins mango fruits could be stored under modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) conditions in cold storage to retard the ripening process and achieve the longest possible storage period with the most proper fruit quality, which ultimately improves marketability.