DETERMINATION OF MATURITY INDICES OF STRAWBERRY IN DHAKA, BANGLADESH

Strawberry is a new exotic crop in Bangladesh. To determine the optimum maturity stage in the present climatic condition, five strawberry cultivars viz., Camarosa, Festival, Sweet Charlie, FA 008 and BARI Strawberry-1 were harvested under one-third, two-third and full maturity stages. The results showed that two-third matured fruits of cv. Camarosa exhibited maximum firmness. Irrespective of germplasm fully matured fruits showed the minimum shelf life. The genotype cv. Festival gave the highest sugar-acid ratio and ascorbic acid content among the maturity stage. Sensory evaluation indicates that fully matured fruits of studied cultivars preferred better. Based on firmness, surface color, nutritive value, sugar-acid ratio and sensory attributes, fully matured fruits of strawberry were suggested for harvest. Two-third matured fruits of Festival and Camarosa produced a considerable amount of TSS, sugar-acid ratio and shelf life, and thus, fruits of these two cultivars harvested at two-third matured stage were found suitable for distant marketing.