Influence of harvesting method on postharvest loss, shelf-life and quality of mango (Mangifera indica) fruits

Abstract

Postharvest losses in mango fruits affect its availability and per capita consumption to consumers. Among the factors causing postharvest losses, improper harvesting method is major one, which affects postharvest quality and shelf life of mango fruits. Hence, an attempt was made to observe the response of mango towards harvesting method. For this study, four commercial cultivars of mango (Amrapali, Chausa, Dushehariand, and Langra) grown at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi were selected. Fruits were harvested manually and mechanically at full maturity, de-saped, pre-cooled and stored in corrugated fibre board boxes (CFB) at ambient conditions for 10 days. Observations on various postharvest loss parameters were recorded, right from harvesting, till the end of shelf-life. Results revealed that significant differences occurred among cultivars and storage days in both manual and mechanically harvested fruits. Further, mechanical harvesting was found efficient not only in controlling quantitative loss but also maintained postharvest quality and increased shelf-life significantly. Interestingly, cultivar Amrapali and Dushehari were recorded as more responsive towards mechanical harvesting as they exhibited for less postharvest losses and maintained better quality than Langra and Chausa. Thus, mechanical harvesting and knowledge of cultivar response towards mechanical harvesting will help growers in reducing postharvest losses and increasing shelf-life and quality of mango fruits.