Improvement in quality and storage of 'Alphonso' mangoes by cold adaptation.
Thomas P., Oke M. S.
Author Affiliation: Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay 400 085, India.
Scientia Horticulturae 19 : 257-262
Abstract : Pre-climacteric, hard-green Alphonso mangoes stored immediately after harvest at 10 deg C for 30 days developed chilling injury, manifested by skin pitting and a reduction in carotenoids, aroma and flavour in the ripened fruits. Pre-climacteric fruits, adapted to 10 deg (by exposure first to 20 and 15 deg for 1 and 2 days, respectively), withstood storage at 10 deg for longer and developed better flesh colour and organoleptic qualities on ripening. Mangoes stored and ripened at room temperature (27-32 deg ) showed severe skin bronzing within 3-4 days when exposed to 7 or 10 deg , either directly or after cold adaptation. However, pre-climacteric fruits previously cold adapted and stored at 10 deg and subsequently ripened at 27-32 deg did not show chilling injury when placed in temperatures as low as 4-7 deg for up to 3 weeks, thus extending the shelf-life.