Studies on hydrocooling in Kesar mango (Mangifera indica L.)

The Kesar mango fruits at a proper maturity were harvested from the orchard of a farmer near Navsari (Gujarat). The fruits were given hydrocooling treatments at 8 degrees C, 12 degrees C, 16 degrees C and control, immediately 2 hrs after harvest. Treated fruits were immediately transported to New Delhi (1150 kms) by truck where the storage studies at ambient temperature were conducted. Among the precooling treatments, the fruits precooled at 8 degrees C showed chilling injury and did not ripe properly. The fruit quality at ripening was at par recording similar TSS content in both the precooling treatments. However, the significantly lower weight loss was observed in precooling at 12 degrees C, maintaining the higher values for firmness followed by 16 degrees C than control. In addition the diseases (stem end rot and anthracnose) did not appear upto 13(th) day of storage in both the remaining precooling treatments (12 degrees C and 16 degrees C) recording higher disease reduction index (DRI) till the end of storage. The ripening was delayed significantly by showing highest shelf life (14.33 days) in fruits precooled at 12 degrees C followed by 16 degrees C (12.33 days) over control(10.16 days).