Maturity studies in Dashehari and Langra cultivars of mango (Mangifera indica L.).
Mann S. S., Singh R. N., Pandey R. M.
Author Affiliation: Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
Haryana Journal of Horticultural Sciences 3 : 97-105
Abstract : Data are tabulated on the physico-chemical properties of Dashehari and Langra mangoes harvested at weekly intervals for 8 weeks. The respiration pattern of the fruit followed a typical climacteric curve at or before full maturity. The chlorophyll content of the peel declined gradually and then rapidly as the fruit reached maturity; the rapidity of decline was more marked in Dashehari than in Langra fruit. Satisfactory palatability was obtained when the TSS was above 8%, starch above 5.85% and acidity below 1% in Dashehari, with corresponding figures of 9%, above 8.5% and below 1.35%, respectively, in Langra. Changes in pulp pH, total phenolics, ascorbic acid and reducing sugars were not sufficiently marked to be useful for maturity prediction, but large and rapid increases in carotenoid contents (to over 4000 mu g/100 g in Dashehari and 3000 mu g/100 g in Langra) in the last 3 weeks of picking were regarded as a good index of maturity.