Effect of Packaging Materials on The Shelf Life of Mandarin Citrus reticulate

Abstract

An investigation was conducted at International Horticulture Innovation and Training Centre (IHITC), Durgapura Horticulture Farm, Durgapura, Jaipur, Rajasthan during the academic year 2021-2022 to study the effect of various packaging materials on fruit quality and shelf life of Nagpur Mandarin of Ambia and Mrig Bahar respectively. The study was conducted from 10th February to 31st March 2022 of Mrig Bahar and 5th November to 24th December 2021 of Ambia Bahar. The packaging materials include wooden crate, plastic crate, corrugated fibre box, polythene and Net mesh bag were used for experimentation in both Bahar. Liquid paraffin wax (10%) was used as a coating material. newlinePhysiological weight loss (%) in Ambia and Mrig Bahar were on similarity with each other 8 days after storage in cold storage respective of controlled temperature and Relative Humidity (8±2°C and 90±5% R.H. i.e., Relative Humidity). Observations at 50 days after storage revealed that the fruits under treatment T18 (Corrugated box with 10% wax at cold storage) and T20 (HDPE with 10% wax at cold storage) expressed better value for fruit mass and fruit length. Packaging and post-harvest treatments significantly influenced certain other physical traits in Mandarins of both Bahar. In both the cases, the fruits under treatment T17 and T20 registered maximum value at 36th day after storage. In case of quality related traits, the fruits under treatment T20 recorded the maximum value for TSS and TA when compared with other packaging treatments including control at 50th day after storage in Ambia and Mrig Bahar. For various packaging treatments, the fruits under the treatments with wax coating in CFB and Polythene bag in cold newlinestorage with wax coating retained maximum where the quality of fruits was maintained on 50th day of storage. newlineWith regard to remaining quality related traits, the fruits under T18, 19 and 20 expressed the maximum value for TSS: acid ratio, TSS, Ascorbic acid content at 50th day after storage. The major benefits of cold storage and packagin