Thesis Abstract

Fruits and vegetables are highly perishable commodities and post-harvest losses during storage and transportation are a major concern for farmers and traders. Appropriate packaging plays an important role in extending the shelf-life of produce by reducing moisture loss, respiration rate and microbial spoilage. The objective of this study was to evaluate different packaging materials like polyethylene bags, polypropylene bags, cardboard boxes, bamboo baskets and wooden crates for selected fruits and vegetables in terms of their ability to retain quality during ambient storage. Tomatoes, carrots and mangoes were packaged in different materials and stored at room temperature. Quality parameters like weight loss, firmness, color, microbial load and sensory attributes were analyzed periodically up to 12 days of storage. Polyethylene bags were found to be most effective in maintaining quality of tomatoes and carrots, while mangoes retained better quality in cardboard boxes. Overall, the study demonstrated the potential of appropriate packaging for reducing post-harvest losses of horticultural produce.

Thesis Overview