RELATIONSHIP OF ANTIOXIDANTS WITH QUALITATIVE CHANGES IN LOCAL CULTIVARS OF LOQUAT (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) FRUIT DURING STORAGE

Abstract

In order to study the effectiveness of Calcium chloride treatments on postharvest quality and storage behavior of “Surkh” cultivar of loquat, fruit was dipped in three concentrations (1%, 2% and 3%) of Calcium chloride for two minutes and stored in soft board cartons at 4 ̊C in a cold store for 10 weeks period. The fruit was harvested at mature ripe stage, clipped, sorted and washed before applying the treatments. Changes in weight loss, firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), browning index (BI), ascorbic acid, titratable acidity (TA) and relative electrical conductivity (REC) were studied. One percent CaCl2 did not affect quality parameters of the fruit compared to control treatment, whereas, 2% and 3% CaCl2 retained maximum firmness, TSS, ascorbic acid content reduced browning index (BI) , relative electrical conductivity (REC) and weight loss up to 4-5 weeks.