6. Postharvest quality and shelf life of dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp.) as influenced by preharvest fruit bagging materials

Abstract

This research was conducted at the Bangladesh Agricultural University Germplasm Centre (BAU-GPC), Mymensingh during the period from May 2018 to September 2019 with a view to determine the effect of preharvest fruit bagging materials as well as variety on the yield, postharvest qualities and shelf life of dragon fruit. The two-factor experiment was comprised of two varieties viz., V1: BAU dragon fruit-1 (White flesh) and V2: BAU dragon fruit-2 (Red flesh) and five bagging materials viz., T0: non-bag (Control), TCB: cloth bag, TBB: brown paper bag, TBP: black polythene bag and TWP: white polythene bag. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that fruit bagging with black polythene bag significantly improved fruit fresh weight (287.47 g), fruit diameter (7.91 cm), peel-flesh ratio (5.97), total dry weight (61.33 g/fruit), reduced days to maturity (22 days) and peel weight (48.11 g) of BAU dragon fruit-1 while black polythene bag extended shelf life (12.05 days), increased total soluble solids (TSS)  14.40%) and reduced peel thickness (0.21 cm) of BAU dragon fruit-2. From the findings of this study, it can be stated that preharvest fruit bagging with black polythene bag would be the best option as bagging material to improve the yield, postharvest quality and shelf life of dragon fruit.