Effect of preharvest bagging on fruit calcium levels, and storage and ripening characteristics of 'Sensation' mangoes

Mango fruit may be bagged during their development on the tree in order to reduce disease incidence and skin blemish. However, the influence of fruit bagging on calcium accumulation and their storage and ripening characteristics has not been reported. 'Sensation' mango fruit were bagged with commercially available plastic or paper bags 7 weeks before normal harvest. No significant differences in calcium concentrations between bagged (plastic or paper) and unbagged fruit were recorded for either skin or flesh tissue. Plastic bags resulted in increased fruit water (weight) loss after harvest. Softening and colouring of fruit which had been bagged with plastic were both hastened. Paper bags had no apparent influence, compared with unbagged control fruit, on weight loss or ripening characteristics of 'Sensation' mango fruit.