Post-harvest study of mandarin in cold storage condition and ambient condition at Syangja, Nepal

Abstract

Mandarin (Citrus reticulate Blanco) falls under Rutaceae family is the major fruit crop of mid-hills region of Nepal. Syangja being the Citrus super-zone, the Mandarin area and production in this district has been significantly expanded and increased. The Mandarin fruit industry grapples with major challenge of huge post-harvest losses. Two different postharvest studies were carried out in the same time at Syangja cold-store. Different concentration of calcium chloride (0, 2% and 4%) was used to enhance the shelf life of mandarin along with the study on physiology of mandarins (harvested and stored in different date) after removal from cold storage was done. Decay loss caused by Green and Blue mold (Penicillium spp) was reduced when mandarins were dipped in a 4% solution of calcium chloride and kept in cold storage. Mandarins harvested and kept in cold storage on 1st week of December had comparatively low weight loss and decay loss. In general, the mandarins produced in Syangja district must picked safely from second fortnight of November to first week of December and stored them in cold storage by treating with 4% calcium chloride.