EFFECT OF POSTHARVEST TREATMENTS AND PACKAGING MATERIALS ON SHELF LIFE AND QUALITY OF GUAVA

Abstract

The experiment was carried out in the Postharvest Laboratory of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka to find out the effect of different postharvest treatments on shelf life and quality of guava. The experiment comprised two factors viz. Factor A: T 0 = No postharvest treatments, T 1 = Hot water (45 0 c for 5 minutes), T 2 = CaCl 2 (4%) and T 3 = 1-MCP (250 ppb) and Factor B: P 0 = No packaging material, P 1 = Perforated polythene bag and P 2 = Newspaper were used in this experiment. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design (CRD) with five replications. Various physical and chemical parameters were recorded during the experiment. In case of packaging material, the highest shelf life (10.92 days) were observed in P 1 (Perforated polythene) the lowest was recorded in P 0 (no packaging) (7.25 days). Regarding postharvest treatments, T 3 (1-MCP treated fruits) gave the best results on studied parameters and showed highest shelf life (11.00 days) compared to other treatments and shortest shelf life (6.67 days) was recorded from T 0 (no postharvest treatments). In combined application of postharvest treatments and packaging materials, the highest percent dry matter content (22.99%), total soluble solid (8.90%), percent total sugar (9.06%), percent reducing sugar (6.05%), percent titratable acidity (2.12%), non-reducing sugar (3.01%) and vitamin C (195.17 mg/100g) were found from the treatment combination of T 3 P 1 whereas T 0 P 0 showed the lowest results. Likewise, the highest shelf life (12.67 days) was also recorded from T 3 P 1 whereas the lowest (5.33 days) was found in T 0 P 0 . Therefore, T 3 P 1 is considered to be the most effective postharvest treatment for extending shelf life and quality of guava.