| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立屏東科技大學 === 熱帶農業暨國際合作研究所 === 92 === Consumers nowadays buy what appeals to their eyes hence the appearance of the final product is of paramount importance. A wide range of preharvest factors are known to affect the appearance of the harvested product. Fruits are susceptible to insect attack, bird damage, sunburn, and blemish. Physical protection is important to reduce these damages and to enhance the final appearance of the fruit. This experiment attempts to evaluate how much physical methods (bagging and plastic boxes) can influence morphological changes in tropical fruits such as: Pitaya Hylocereus undatus, Abiu Pouteria caimito, Star apple Chrysophyllum caimito and Guava Psidium guajava. Three different types of bags (white, yellow/black-inner coated paper and plastic transparent polyethylene bag) and separately plastic boxes were used. Light intensity, temperature and relative humidity inside the bags and boxes as well as environmental conditions were recorded. It was proven that the use of plastic boxes can affect the shape of the fruit. Fruit quality characteristics such as fruit weight, length, diameter, soluble solids, firmness and colour were evaluated. In some instances bagging and boxing had positive and negatives effect among tropical fruits.
|
|---|
