Abstract:
The study was conducted to assess the
effect
of different wax coating materials and
Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) on storage life and quality of ‘Kaghzi lime’
(
Citrus aurantifolia
Swing.) fruits. The fruits were harvested at light yellow skin color
stage and treated with different wax co
ating materials: T
1
= Citrus Wax (wood resins18%,
Imazalil 0.3%, Thiabendazloe 0.5%), T
2
= PHRC SCM Wax [9% total solids (castor and
shellac based wax)]; T
3
=
Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP), and T
0
= The fruit
without any treatment were used as control. T
he fruits were stored at 10°C for 45
days
and relative humidity was maintained at 90%. Physiochemical, sensory, organoleptic, and
quality parameters were measured after 30 and 45 days of harvesting.
The coating
treatments significantly (
P
≤
0.05) reduced physiological weight loss, increased shelf life
and maintained the quality of fruits. Among all treatments,
Citrus Wax
proved best
because it maintained relatively higher levels of acidity, flavor, vitamin C content and
fruit firmness; prev
ented disease attack; and improved juice recovery of lime fruits
compared with control. Thus this treatment can
be used to enhance the shelf life and
maintain quality of the lime fruits.
Keywords:
Citrus aurantifolia
, Lime, Postharvest treatment, Shelf li
fe, Wax application.
