STORAGE OF RIPE MANGO (MANGIFERA INDICA L.) CV. ALPHONSO IN CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE WITH ELEVATED CO2

Alphonso cultivar of mango (Mangifera indica L.) is an important fruit of Pakistan which has strong export potential. Fresh mango fruits normally have a short storage life of 10 to 12 days at ambient temperature and can suffer low temperature injury (chilling injury) during refrigerated storage, which severely hinders it from reaching the ultimate consumers in suitable edible form so causes high economic losses. Controlled atmosphere (CA) storage was studied to determine its feasibility and optimum storage conditions for mango fruit cv. Alphonso in order to extend its shelf life without detrimental affects on its quality. Fully ripe mangoes were stored at 3% O-2 with elevated CO2 levels i.e., 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 %, and compared with fruit stored at 21% O-2 and 0% CO2 at 10 degrees C as a control. Fruits were removed from Controlled Atmosphere (CA) three weeks after storage and different quality parameters were measured chemically and by sensory evaluations. It was found that the rate of weight loss decreased with an increase of CO2 in the storage atmosphere. Fruits stored in controlled atmosphere storage showed better retention of freshness, colour, firmness, TSS and flavour as compared to the fruits stored in the air. Panellists preferred the treatment in which fruits were stored at 3% O-2 with 6% CO2 than other treatments. Fruits held in the air were highly unacceptable due to off flavour and fermentation. It was concluded that the controlled atmosphere storage is feasible for extending the shelf life of mangoes cv. Alphonso while 3% O-2 with 6% CO2 proved to be the optimal atmospheric conditions for storage.