International Journal of Horticulture, 2017, Vol.7, No.13, 106-114
106
Research Article
Open Access
Evaluation of Packaging Materials for Transportation of Golden Delicious
Apple
Subedi G.D.
1
, and Giri R.K.
2
1 Horticulture Research Division, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal
2 Horticulture Research Station, Rajikot, Jumla, Nepal
Corresponding email:
International Journal of Horticulture, 2017, Vol. 7, No. 13 doi:
Received: 05 May, 2017
Accepted: 12 May, 2017
Published: 30 Jun., 2017
Copyright
©2017 Subedi and Giri, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Preferred citation for this article
:
Subedi G.D., and Giri R.K., 2017, Evaluation of packaging materials for transportation of golden delicious apple, International Journal of Horticulture, 7(13):
106-114 (doi:
Abstract
After harvesting, apple fruits experience a variety of loading conditions that potentially lead to mechanical damage and
bruising, which reduce the quality and shelf life of the products. Studies were carried out for two consecutive years (2013-2014) to
identify appropriate packaging materials for transportation of apples. Fruits of Golden Delicious cultivar harvested on 3rd week of
September were packed in different types of corrugated fiber board boxes and transported from HRS, Rajikot, Jumla, Nepal (2390m
a.s.l., 29017’ N, 82013’ E) to Kohalpur, Banke, Nepal (215 km mountainous gravel road, 48 hours) by truck. The treatments were 10
kg capacity 5 ply and 7 ply CFB boxes having 140 psi, 160 psi and 180 psi bursting strength. To compare with conventional and
government recommended practices, fruits were also packed in 3 ply Beer cartons (conventional practice) and 7 ply 20 kg capacity
CFB boxes (Government recommendation). The experiment was designed as eight treatments randomized completely with three
replications. After transportation, fruits were stored as such condition in cold store at 5±1°C and 95% RH for one month.
Observations were made on physiological loss in weight (PLW), damage fruits, fruit quality and economic analysis. There was more
than 40% reduction in PLW in all packaging treatments as compared to conventional one (4.6%). Similarly, highest postharvest loss
(24.2%) was in conventional practice which was reduced to 7.2 to 18% in other treatments. Among the treatments, 7 ply 180 psi
bursting strength CFB box was the best to retain fruit quality. Besides reduction in postharvest loss and better quality fruits, higher
gross return, higher benefit cost ratio was received from improved technology. Use of 7 ply 180 psi CFB boxes has an additional
benefit of NRs. 86250 (US $ 829) per truckload load. Higher cost of CFB boxes could be an important obstacle in adoption of
improved technology; hence provision should be made from the government to subsidize for packaging materials to encourage
adoption of improved technology.
Keywords
Brushing; CFB boxes; Hedonic rating; Potential added benefit; Starch index
1 Introduction
Apple (
Malus domestica
Borkh.) is a
fruit tree belonging to family Rosaceae, an economically
important
having colorful appearance, crispy flesh, pleasant flavor and sweet taste. It has been
originated in
where its wild ancestor
is still found today (Hancock et al., 2008).
Apples have been grown for thousands of years in Asia and Europe; were brought to Indian sub-continent by
European colonists. There are more than 7500 cultivars and it is one of the most grown fruit in the temperate
zones of all over the world (Martinelli et al., 2008). Apples have
and
significance in
, Christian traditions and European cultures. The proverb “An apple a day, sends the doctor away”
addresses the health benefit of fruit. Consumption of apple has shown better health to prevent a variety of chronic
diseases and lung cancer, asthma, diabetes and ischemic heart disease which is mainly due to large content of
structural cell walls and polysaccharides along with the various phyto-chemical antioxidants (Device et al., 2010).
Red delicious, Royal Delicious and Golden Delicious cultivars are leading the deciduous fruit grown successfully
in high hill areas of Nepal. In Nepal, apple can be grown in 54 districts; however, only 12 districts grow apple
commercially of which Jumla district ranked number one in terms of area and production (Subedi et al., 2012).
