OCCURRENCE OF CHILLING INJURY IN GOLDEN APPLE (Spondias dulcis, Sonn.) FRUITS

Abstract

The effects of modified atmosphere packaging, waxing, storage temperature (SC) and duration (3, 7, 11, 15, 19 and 23 days) on the keeping quality and chilling-tolerance of golden apple fruits were evaluated. The extreme susceptibility of golden apple fruits to chilling injury (CI) at 5C was evidenced by extensive pitting and fungal decay. Symptoms appeared after 11 days storage at 5C or after holding at 30C for 1 day after storage for 3 days at 5C. Waxing delayed the appearance of pitting in the above situations to 23 days and 15 days, respectively. Skin pitting developed in low density polyethylene (LDPE) packaged fruits after 19 days at SC and became more pronounced after holding at 30C for one day.Despite the symptoms observed, measurements of bioelectrical resistance and electrolyte leakage indicated that severe membrane damage had occurred by 7 days storage at 5C for all treatments. Therefore, bioelectrieal resistance and electrolyte leakage provided a measure of the onset of chilling injury prior to the appearance of CI symptoms. Changes in fresh weight losses, a reliable indicator of CI in some commodities, did not prove to be so in this case.

Postharvest Physiology and Storage of Golden Apple (Spondias cytherea sonnerat or Spondias dulcis forst): A Review

“…Atmosphere: Mohammed and Wickham [3] proposed that the altered atmosphere created by waxing and seal-packaging golden apple fruits markedly influenced chilling injury (CI) damage, percentage marketable and percentage decayed fruits during storage ( Table 2). They concluded that waxing was more effective than low density polyethylene (LDPE) bags in alleviating CI damage in golden apple fruits.…”

“…However, the miniature or dwarf golden apple fruit remains unexploited although it has great potential for domestic utilization as well as a foreign exchange earner in overseas markets. The advantages of the dwarf trees include: availability of fruits throughout the year compared to the large fruit type which is seasonal; trees are less cumbersome to harvest due to the significant height difference; early bearing; establishment of very high planting densities giving higher yields per unit area in contrast to the large type trees; the miniature fruits lend itself more easily to certain types of processing due to the softer seed and easy-peel nature of the pericarp [1,3,4].…”

“…Maturity indices and quality attributes: Golden apple fruits of both types, miniature or large, are required in the local, regional and extra regional markets when mature-green, unripe, firm, free from mould surface disease, absence of scarring (<15% infection) and no mechanical damage [1,3,19,20]. Fruit of both types are oval, round or pear-shaped and this variation in fruit shape can exist in a single cluster of fruit in both genetic lines.…”

“…Long-stalked fruits are borne in clusters of a dozen or more, with thin but tough skin, often russetted. While the fruit is still firm, the flesh is crisp, juicy and sub acid, and has a somewhat pineapple-like fragrance and flavor [2,3]. If allowed to soften, the aroma and flavor become musky and the flesh difficult to slice because of conspicuous and tough fibres or spines extending from the rough ridges of the 5-celled, woody core [2,4].…”

“…is more popular is borne on trees attaining a height of 9-25 m whilst the miniature or dwarf type is from trees about 1.5-3 m (Figure 1). Fruit shape vary from oval to round or pear-shaped for both types, and fruit size range from about 5-6 cm in diameter and 9-10 cm in length with an average weight of 200 g for the large type [3]. The miniature or dwarf type is about 4-5 cm in diameter and 5-6 cm in length and averages 65 g in weight [4][5][6].…”