Abstract:
Passion fruit is a tropical fruit which is extensively used in juice
processing. The fruit is highly perishable and losses its quality immediately after
the second day of harvest. The postharvest loss in quality and commercial value
is due to the intense respiratory activity and significant moisture loss. Hence a
study was undertaken to develop a wax applicator to extend the shelf life of
passion fruit by adopting the postharvest technologies. A simple and efficient
wax applicator with a capacity of 250 kg.hr -1 was developed based on the physical
properties of the fruits. Various samples of the passion fruits were treated with
bee wax and commercial wax packed in LDPE bags of 200 and 400 gauge. The
effect on the shelf life extension of fruits was investigated individually and in
combination of wax and LDPE bags. In the case of LDPE bags, different levels
of perforations such as 0%, 0.5%, 1% and 2% were used. The samples were kept
in ambient condition viz., 32 - 35°C and 70 - 80% RH and at cold conditions as
7oC and 90% RH.
The physicochemical characteristics of samples were tested periodically at
an interval of 5 and 7 days, under ambient and cold storage conditions,
respectively. The results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. From the
results it was revealed that the samples kept in non-perforated polythene covers
were found to be better than those kept in perforated bags and in normal
atmosphere. A maximum shelf life of 40 days was obtained for passion fruits at
7 o C coated with commercial wax emulsion. Thus, commercial wax coating in
combination with LDPE bags acted as a barrier against moisture loss and
respiration rate of fruits. However, the fruits kept as control had lost consumer
acceptability after the tenth day of study at cold condition and within two days at
ambient storage conditions.
