Abstract

PEREZ C, Hilda C; GOMEZ P, Manuel  and  VILA, Josefina. Physical characteristics of mammon fruit (Melicoccus bijugatus Jacq.) according to its location in the tree and the storage temperature. Bioagro [online]. 2009, vol.21, n.3, pp.189-194. ISSN 1316-3361.

The seasonality of production and its perishability is an important constraint to increase consumption of fresh mammon fruit. The objective of this research was to evaluate the physical quality of the fruits according to their location in the tree and the storage temperature. Mammon fruits were obtained near El Tocuyo city, Lara State, Venezuela. The fruits were harvested according to their position at the top, middle or bottom of the tree, and stored at temperatures of 4, 7, 10, 15 or 30 ± 2 °C. Daily determinations of weight, polar diameter, equatorial diameter, and peel color of the fruits in their indicators L, a, and b were made. It was concluded that the samples that kept their weight and physical appearance, and showed the deepest green hue and better appearance were those coming from the top of the tree and stored at temperatures of 10ºC. At this temperature, the fruit quality was kept for a 14-day period.

Keywords : Physical quality; color; postharvest management.