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Paper No. 715 Received: 09-04-2018 Accepted: 29-05-2018
ABSTRACT
Storage at 10°C with 93% RH was evaluated as the best condition to maintain the post-harvest quality of the Dragon fruit. These fruit retained the lowest weight loss i.e. around 0.3% per day inside the cold room. While an average weight loss of 2.6% per day was measured during post-storage period. Fruit stored inside cold room of Ecofrost retained a maximum storage life upto 15 to 17 days and the poststorage life was recorded as 3 to 4 days. Shelf-life was recorded as 2.5 days in ordinary room conditions. Fruit stored at 10°C had 100% decay incidence after five days in ordinary room conditions.
Highlights
* The fruit stored at 10°C (50°F) with 93% RH conditions retained higher storage life upto 15 to 17 days.
* The average weight loss was recorded minimum per day inside cold room.
Keywords; Dragon, Post-storage, Weight, Cold, Temperature, Ecofrost, Fruit, Storage
Dragon fruit (Strawberry pear, and Thang), Hylocereus have been introduced as exotic fruit crop. This fruit is popular in Southeast Asia; belongs to the climbing cacti (Cactaceae) family. Vietnam is the main commercial producer of dragon fruits in the Southeast Asian region. It is grown commercially, as is the red- or purple-fleshed (H. costaricensis and H. polyrihizus). The fruit is a fleshy berry with thick peel enclosing delicately flavoured and seedy red pulp. It is a non-climacteric fruit that reaches the best eating quality when harvested at ripe conditions (Chien et al. 2007). The flesh is sweet and white with numerous tiny black seeds, and is consumed fresh or used for juice, jellies, marmalades, jams, wine, and beverages (Wybraniec et al. 2002; Chuah et al. 2008).
Dragon fruit are high in antioxidants (phytoalbumins), which help to fight carcinogenic free-radicals against forming in the body. It is rich in Vitamin-C and minerals, especially calcium and phosphorus. They are also low in calories and high in fiber, while the seeds are having high polyunsaturated fatty acids. The seeds of the...