RESPONSE OF MANGO CULTIVARS TO MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE STORAGE AT AN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE CV. ALPHANSO AND CHOUNSA

The study was carried out to evaluate the Modified Atmosphere Packaging techniques at two different maturity stages of ‘Alphanso’ and ‘Chounsa’ mangoes to reduce the post harvest losses and extend the shelf life of mango at ambient conditions. Results revealed that mangoes packed in polyethylene bags ripened slowly as indicated by skin colour, texture and conversion of starch into sugar but produced brown colour on the peep of the fruit. Less mature furit (½ mature) showed higher weight loss than mature fruits. Packaging of mangoes in 0.037 mm polyethylene bags resulted in the accumulation of CO2 concentration, which ultimately led to the incidence of CO2 injury. It is concluded that mangoes should be harvested at the advance stage of maturity and the use of polyethylene bags for packaging of fruit in ambient conditions is not practicable to extend the shelf life of mangoes but it might be applicable after further investigation in controlled low temperature and high humidity.