Role of modified atmospheric packaging in enhancing the shelf life and physical qualities of Pitaya fruit (Hylocereus spp.)

Abstract

The present study was conducted at Laboratory, Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat which explains the influence of different modified atmospheric packaging films on the physical properties of dragon fruit under ambient and refrigerated condition. The experiment was laid out with 6 treatments in Completely Randomized Block Design with 4 replications. The treatments were T0 (without packaging), T1 (LDPE films), T2 (HDPE films), T3 (PVC films), T4 (Polypropylene films), T5 (Polyolefin films). In comparison to control, T5 showed the highest shelf life (9.06 days) with the lowest PLW (3.64%), along with the lowest decay incidence (36.33%) of all treatments. In refrigerated condition, highest shelf life was showed by T5 (27.38 days) with lowest PLW (4.71%) as compared to only 22.50 days with highest PLW (12.18%) in control whereas the decay incidence (%) was also less in T5 (12.69%) compared to all other treatments. T5 has been found to be the best treatment both for ambient and refrigerated conditions for enhancing shelf life. The present study concluded that T5 was the best treatment for enhancing fruit weight and length under both ambient and refrigerated conditions.