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Impact of Pre-harvest Fruit Bagging and Improved Postharvest Practices in Reducing Losses and Managing Quality of Mango in the Value Chain System

Md. Atiqur Rahman*
Horticulture Research Center, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Joydebpur, Gazipur, 1701, Bangladesh

S.M. Khorshed Alam
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, Farmgate, Dhaka, 1215, Bangladesh

Md. Hamim Reza
Regional Horticulture Research Station, BARI, Chapainawabganj, 6300, Bangladesh

Md. Sorof Uddin
Regional Horticulture Research Station, BARI, Chapainawabganj, 6300, Bangladesh

Md. Nurul Amin
FMPE Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, 1701, Bangladesh

Taslima Ayesha Aktar Nasrin
Horticulture Research Center, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, 1701, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Pre-harvest fruit bagging and improved postharvest management practices (IPMP) were integrated in the mango value chain of Bangladesh to reduce losses and to manage fruit quality along the value chain. A popular and commercial mango cultivar ‘Khirsapat’ was used in this experiment. Fruit bagging, improved mango harvester, desapping tray and hot water treatment (HWT) plant were integrated in the IPMP. Traditional postharvest management practices (TPMP) existed in the value chain was used as control. Pre-harvest fruit bagging along with IPMP showed the best performance in respect of decay control, attractive skin colour development, good keeping quality and marketability of mangoes for ten days at retail outlets. Decay incidence caused by stem end rot and anthracnose reduced by 86.7% in bagged mangoes handled with IPMP compared to traditionally handled non-bagged mangoes. The integration of fruit bagging and IPMP resulted in 70% reduction of postharvest losses of mango in the value chain. Total soluble solids of mango was not affected due to bagging followed by IPMP, while titratable acidity and ascorbic acid contents slightly decreased at ripe stage compared to non-bagged control fruits. Pre-harvest fruit bagging along with or without IPMT did not affect the overall sensory qualities of mangoes cv. Khirsapat.

Keywords: Fruit bagging; Desapping; Hot water treatment; HWT; fruit quality; Postharvest loss; Mango value chain; Bangladesh.

Location: Chapainawabganj and Gazipur districts, Bangladesh

Start Date: 25-04-2017

End Date:

Program Area: Postharvest and Agro-processing

Commodity: Mango

Objectives:

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of pre-harvest fruit bagging and improved postharvest management practices (IPMP) in reducing losses and managing quality of mango along the value chain.

Methodology:

2.1 Fruit materials and experimental procedures: The experiment was conducted between Chapainawabganj and Gazipur districts, starting from a mango orchard and ended at the retail outlets. A popular commercial mango cultivar namely ‘Khirsapat’ was used in this study. Pre-harvest fruit bagging was done in the selected mango trees on 25 April 2017 using brown paper bag (30 cm × 20 cm × 15 cm). Marble sized fruits weighted 45–50 g was selected for bagging purpose. In contrast, different pesticides were sprayed on the mango tree for eight times to protect the non-bagged mangoes from insect-pests and diseases starting before flowering and ended at 15 days before harvest. Both bagged and non-bagged mangoes were harvested on 6 June 2017 at commercially mature stage. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) has developed some improved postharvest tools and equipment, i.e., BARI mango harvester, BARI desapping tray, BARI hot water treatment (HWT) plant, which were integrated in the ‘improved value chain’ during conducting the experiment. In the traditional postharvest management practices (TPMP), on the other hand, mangoes were harvested using a bamboo pole with a net attached at the end that detached the fruit from the tree with or without leaving stem attached to the fruit. Long stems were then detached by manual pulling allowing fresh latex to drip on the fruit. Bamboo baskets lined with newspaper were used as field containers, which transported to the collection centre for eventual marketing. Usually, desapping and HWT were not practiced in the TPMP. Both bagged and non-bagged mangoes were packed in plastic crate (22 kg in each crate), were loaded on to a truck and transported together with the commercial load to the wholesale market in Gazipur district, some about 500 km away, and a 12-hour drive. After data collection at wholesale market, mangoes were distributed to three retail shops at Gazipur fruit wet market for subsequent observation and data collection. In the TPMP and IPMP, there were three plastic crates of both bagged and non-bagged mangoes having 85–90 fruits in each crate, which was considered as a replication. Thus, the experiment was piloted with four treatments replicated thrice. Each fruit in a crate was evaluated daily during wholesale and four-days retail period under ambient condition prevailing temperature at 27–33°C and relative humidity (RH) 85%–90%. 2.2 Measurements of weight loss Mangoes were weighed at the beginning of the experiment just before apply the HWT and thereafter at wholesale market and each day during retail display. Weight loss was calculated and expressed as the percent loss of the initial weight. 2.3 Disease incidence Data on the incidence of SER, anthracnose and fruit rot diseases was gathered during wholesale and retail evaluations. The severity of anthracnose infection in each fruit was rated following the standard rating of the Postharvest Horticulture Training and Research Center of the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) as follows: 1 no infection 2 slight, 1%–10% of fruit surface area infected 3 moderate, 11%–30% of surface area infected 4 severe, > 30% of surface area infected. For stem end and fruit rot, severity of infection was not rated since even slight infection renders the fruit unmarketable. 2.4 Estimation of postharvest loss and shelf life Mangoes that did not show any decay or exhibiting slight infectious spot were considered marketable. On the other hand, mangoes that exhibited SER, fruit rot and moderate to severe anthracnose infection were considered unmarketable and represents postharvest loss. The end of shelf life of mango was noted when more than 50% of the fruit samples per replicate has become overripe, rotten and/or severely shrivelled. 2.5 Fruit quality evaluation Data on physico-chemical properties of mango fruit including skin colour, flesh firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), ascorbic acid and titratable acidity (TA) were collected every day during ripening at four-days retail display. Four fruits were randomly selected from each replication of each treatment for those purposes. 2.6 Measurements of fruit surface colour The skin colour of mango fruits was measured using a Chroma meter (model CR-400, Minolta Corp., Japan) with an 8 mm light path aperture. The device was calibrated with Minolta standard white tile CR-400 (Y = 93.5, x = 0.3114, y = 0.3190). Readings at four equidistant points around the equatorial axis of the fruit were recorded and the lightness (L*), chroma (C*), and hue angle (h°) were automatically calculated. For each fruit, the four measurements of skin colour were averaged.

Source of Information: Int. J. Postharvest Technology and Innovation, Vol. 6, No. 2, 2019

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Quality of fruit plays a vital role in determining consumer acceptance of the fruit in domestic and international markets. Findings of the present study revealed that the integration of pre-harvest fruit bagging, and IPMP comprising the use of improved harvesting tool and method, desapping and HWT in the existing value chain of Bangladesh was very effective in reducing postharvest losses and managing quality of mango cv. Khirsapat. Intervention of those simple technologies found highly effective in controlling SER and anthracnose diseases of mango and thus, reduced postharvest loss by 70% along the value chain. Thus, the existing value chain system of mango in Bangladesh could be improved by using pre-harvest fruit bagging followed by IPMP in order to reduce high postharvest losses and retain produce quality, its marketability and profitability. However, efficient and strict coordination between each actor in the mango value chain is essential in order to maintain an effective quality management system.

Knowledge Management: Journal