EFFECT OF LOW DENSITY POLY ETHYLENE (LDPE) PACKAGING AND CHEMICALS ON AMBIENT STORAGE OF KINNOW

Study was planned and freshly harvested kinnow fruits were washed and treated with Sodium carbonate (2 & 3 %), Boric acid (2 & 3%) and packed in low density polyethylene (LDPE) bags with perforation and with out perforation before packaging in CFB boxes. Fruits were analysed for various physico-chemical characteristics after 15, 30,45 and 60 days of storage. Results revealed that minimum rotting and maximum palatability rating and acidity were registered in Boric acid @ 3 % + LDPE packaging with perforation during the entire storage period. TSS was found maximum in control fruits, whereas minimum physiological loss in weight was recorded in Boric acid @ 3 % +LDPE packaging without perforation. It can be concluded that the storage rots can be reduced by treating the kinnow fruits with Boric acid @ 3 % +LDPE packaging with perforation and fruit health can be maintained up to 45 days at ambient conditions without much deterioration in quality.