REDUCTION OF POSTHARVEST LOSS OF AVOCADO THROUGH IMPROVED POSTHARVEST HANDLING PRACTICES

Abstract

Postharvest loss of avocado is reported to be around 40%. Major causes for the loss are disease development, poor ripening and poor external appearance. Of the problems stem end rot and development is the serious problem for the high loss. The Experiments were done to study the effect of removal of stem end on postharvest behavior of avocado (Persea americana Mil). Two avocado varieties were used. Avocado fruits were harvested at fully mature stage with stalk attached to the fruit. Then stalks were removed from half of the fruits while the stems were remained in other half. This was tested for both type of avocados. Avocado fruits were placed in ventilated plastic bins and VQR, % of Postharvest weight loss,Disease Severity index, % of postharvest loss due to the diseases was obtained of each fruit for 10 days at room temperature (27°C - 29°C). It was observed that postharvest loss of 40% can be reduced down to 20 - 26% by keeping stalk attached to the fruits. Another experiment was carried out to check the Stage of maturity at harvest on Stem end rot and Anthracnose incidence of avocado. This was done using fruits of one variety harvested at 3 different stages; fully mature, maximum fruit size and Just before reaching maximum size. According to the result showed that the lowest postharvest loss due to the diseases occurrence was observed in fruits harvested at in maximum fruit size which was only 26.6%. Where as other two stages showed a disease incidence of 33.33%. The study also showed that the attached or detached of stalk did not had a significant effect on Anthracnose but had a significant affect on Stem end rot; with a higher disease incidence when stalk was detached, it was further shown that disease incidence also depend on the storage period and the variety of avocado.