Preliminary storage study on African star apple (Chrysophyllum Albidum)

Freshly harvested ripe African star apples were wrapped in perforated polythene, moist jute material and without wrapping for storage. They were stored in an evaporative cooling basket (ECB), refrigerator and ambient shade to study some of their characteristics and compare their durability in the different storage environments. The apples were observed to be susceptible to disorders mediated by microbial infection and insects, suggesting the need for disinfestation and fungicide treatment prior to storage. Manifestation of infestation which affected their shelf-life was delayed longest in the refrigerator. The level of infestation of the apples stored in ECB was next to the refrigerator in the decreasing order. Fresh weight losses were lower in apples stored in ECB than in the refrigerator and ambient shade. Shelf-life was better enhanced in the refrigerator (15 days) followed by ECB (10 days). Desiccation of apples was common only in apples stored in the refrigerator and ambient shade. The infecting organisms detected in the deteriorating apples were yeast, Bacillus cells and larva of insect (Carporphillus sp.). The potentials of evaporative cooling basket in the post-harvest handling of African star apple was revealed in this study.