查看文章

Apricot is a highly perishable fruit of immense nutritional and health promoting potentials. However, short storage life of the fruit hampers its distant marketing. The present investigation was undertaken to assess some affordable postharvest techniques to extend shelf life of apricot. Local apricot variety cv. Habi was treated with various concentrations of calcium chloride (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4%) packed in corrugated cartons along with potassium permanganate dipped sponge cubes as ethylene scavengers. Postharvest quality traits as fruit firmness, weight loss, TSS, sugars, sensory characteristics and microbial load were recorded at 2 day intervals during ambient storage. Minimum losses in firmness and fruit weight, while maximum retention of total sugars and sensory attributes were obtained for 3 and 2% CaCl^ sub 2^ treated samples. The results of microbial study demonstrated lower microbial loads for 4% CaCl^ sub …