International Journal of Horticulture, 2017, Vol.7, No. 19, 154-162
155
the damages and injuries may not be visible to naked eyes but they influence weight loss, rotting, quality and
shelf-life in long run. Mechanical damages like bruising cuts, puncture, split and abrasion due to scratch,
compression impact and vibration forces for instance causes significant economic loss of fruits due to
downgrading or rejection of appearance quality by the consumers (Van Zeebroeck et al., 2007). Mechanical
damages during transportation and handling accelerate the physiological processes leading to senescence,
consequent spoilage and loss of nutritional value. Several studies conducted internationally showed that
compression, vibration and impact forces during transportation and handling lead to mechanical damage, reduces
quality to consumer and income to fruit industries (Umezuruike et al., 2014). Moreover scratches and wounds
created during transport are the avenue for the entry of microorganism for the development of disease and
consequent rotting. Such damages may not be apparent and visible to naked eyes right after transport; however
effects are apparent during and/or after storage. The sharp tip of the fruit stalk causes scarring damage to apples
during handling and long distance transportation. Various packaging materials are elsewhere used to hold apple
fruits for transportation. Most of the apples fruits imported from China are individually wrapped with Styrofoam
and packed in different CFB box. Existing higher postharvest loss of apple can be effectively minimized by
improving packaging method for transportation. The main objective of this study was to identify appropriate
packaging method for transportation of apple.
2 Materials and Methods
Studies were carried out for two consecutive years (2013-2014) to identify appropriate packing methods for
minimization of transportation loss in Red Delicious apple from production site to distant markets and thereafter
in storage. Different packaging treatments were imposed to transport apple fruits from
HRS, Rajikot, Jumla
to
Kohalpur, Banke, Nepal
(215 km mountainous gravel road, 48 hours). About 10 kilograms of fruits were packed
in CFB boxes (5 ply 160 psi and 300x250x295 mm
3
) with the following treatments; i. With whole stalk and with
trimmed stalk, ii. Individually wrapped with styrofoam and without styrofoam, iii. Fruits arranged in layers
separated by deck plate and without deck plate separation and iv. With ventilation and without ventilation. The
fruit stalks were trimmed with clipper below the shoulder. Individual fruits were wrapped with styrofoam net.
Fruits were arranged in layers separated by 3 ply 120 psi deck plate. Eight holes having 20mm diameter were
made in both sides of the CFB boxes for ventilation. The experiment was laid in 4 by 4 factorial design with three
replications. All the CFB boxes were sealed with carton tape first, then diagonally sealed by carton sealing and
strapping machine (Golden Eagle); transported to truck by porters on their head (200m). CFB boxes were loaded
randomly; stacked in 4 layers inside the truck after spreading of HDPE tarpaulin at the base; shipped by truck to
Kohalpur, Banke
,
Nepal.
After transportation, fruits were stored as such condition in cold store at 5±1
℃
and
95% RH for one month in order to find out the effect as that may not be apparent immediately after
transportation.
Observations were recorded on physiological loss in weight (%), total damage (%), unacceptable damage or
spoilage (%), acceptable damage (%), total soluble solids (B
0
), firmness (kg force/cm
2
, titratable acidity (%),
appearance, crispiness, aroma, taste, juice content, starch index, blush intensity, fruit quality and economic
analysis. Consumer’s acceptability was recorded by a panel of 10 judges on the basis of hedonic rating as; 9-like
extremely; 8-like very much; 7-like moderately; 6-like slightly; 5-neither like nor dislike; 4-dislike slightly;
3-dislike moderately; 2-dislike very much; 1-dislike extremely (Juyun Lim, 2011). Firmness of fruit was
measured with hand penetrometer (FT-327, Italy). Total soluble solids (TSS) were recorded with hand
refractometer (Erma, Japan). Titratable acidity (TA) was determined by titrating 5 ml juice with 0.1N sodium
hydroxide using phenolphthalein as an indicator and calculated as equivalent maleic acid (AOAC, 1990).
Starch iodine test was performed to determine the conversion pattern of starch into sugars (M.S. Reid et al., 1982).
Iodine solution was prepared by dissolving 10 g of iodine crystals and 25 g of potassium iodide in 1 liter of water.
The fruits (n=10) were cut at right angles to the core, approximately halfway from stem to calyx end; iodine
solution was applied to cut surface, drained away any excess and rated fruit staining after 2 minutes by using 0-6
scales [0-all tissue zones stained (all starch); 1-clearing within the core flesh, particularly between adjacent seed
