Effect of zero energy cool chamber and post-harvest treatments on shelf-life of fruits under semi-arid environment of Western India. Part 1. Ber fruits

Effect of zero energy cool chamber (ZECC) along with post-harvest treatments (including CaCl2, mustard oil and K2SO4 separately) on shelf-life and fruit quality attributes of ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk.) cv 'Gola' during storage under semi-arid ecosystem of Gujarat was studied. Increase in physiological loss in weight (PLW), spoilage loss, total soluble solids, total sugars, reducing sugar and reduction in titratable acidity, and ascorbic acid during storage were observed in all treatments. Fruits treated with CaCl2 1.5% and stored in ZECC recorded least PLW (17.1%), spoilage loss (20%), respiratory activity (0.25 mg CO2/kg/h) and exhibited 7 days of shelf-life, followed by CaCl2 1% + ZECC, while untreated fruits had 3 days of economic shelf-life. Fruits stored in ZECC recorded 6 days shelf-life. Highest respiration rate was in control (0.45 mg CO2 /kg/h) on 9(th) day of storage. Data on fruit quality attributes indicated that ZECC + CaCl2 1.5% or ZECC alone might be an ideal on-farm storage facility for maintaining the quality of ber fruits under semi-arid environment of Western India.