Vol. 11, Issue 8 (2022)

Author(s):
P Nandavarman, M Balakrishnan, M Kavino and G Amuthaselvi

Abstract:
Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is a climacteric fruit crop, ripens quickly after harvest within a week during storage under atmospheric condition. Arka Kiran is a pink fleshed variety developed by Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru enriched with lycopene and vitamin-C content, but has poor shelf life. The study has been conducted to delay the ripening and to evaluate the shelf life of guava stored under atmospheric (32 ºC) and refrigerated condition (8 ºC) packed in corrugated fibre boxes. The biochemical and engineering properties of fruits were investigated at regular intervals of 3, 6, 9 and 12 days after harvest to determine their shelf life. The results revealed that an increasing trend of physiological loss in weight, total sugar, reducing sugar and TSS was observed. Ascorbic acid, titratable acidity and firmness showed a declining trend during storage irrespective of storage temperature. Fruits stored at ambient temperature (32 °C) ripened more quickly and had a shelf life of 3 days. Fruits stored at 8 ºC showed the extension of shelf life up to 18 days with minimal quality deterioration with pleasing colour, flavour and quality.