Studies on enhancing the keeping quality of peach (Prunus persica Bausch) Cv. Elberta by gamma-irradiation

The effect of gamma-irradiation on keeping quality of peach fruit was studied. The fruit, after harvesting at proper maturity stage, was irradiated in the dose range of 1.0-2.0 kGy, stored tinder ambient (temp. 25 +/- 2 degrees C, RH 70%) and refrigerated (temp. 3 +/- 1 degrees, RH 80%) conditions and evaluated periodically for firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), anthocyanins, water-soluble pectic fractions, loss in weight and decay percentage. The anthocyanin evaluation of the fruits revealed that irradiation enhanced the colour development under both the storage conditions. The gamma-irradiation dose range of 1.2-1.4kGy proved effective in maintaining higher TSS concentration, reducing weight loss and significantly (p <= 0.05) delaying the decaying of the fruit by 6 days under ambient conditions and by 20 days under refrigerated storage conditions. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.