Effect of storage conditions on the postharvest physico-mechanical parameters of pomegranate (punica granatum l.)

The physico-mechanical parameters of pomegranate were determined with respect to storage period under ambient (18ºC and 75% RH) and refrigerated (7.5ºC and 60% RH) conditions. Also, effects of individual fruit wrapping with EPE-foam, Polyethylene-film and non-wrapping were investigated. The physical parameters such as aril weight, rind weight, rind thickness, rind moisture, weight loss, and mechanical parameters including firmness, failure stress, failure strain and modulus of elasticity were determined after storage at two different conditions. At the end of 20 days storage, the physical parameters were better preserved for wrapped fruits and refrigerated condition. The weight losses for EPE-foam and polyethylene-film wrapped fruits were 0.8 and 0.98% at refrigerated and, also 1.51 and 1.84% at ambient conditions, respectively. During the same period non-wrapped fruits lost 4.97 and 9.5% of weight at ambient and refrigerated conditions, respectively. The firmness was maintained significantly better when fruits were wrapped with polyethylene-film as compared to those wrapped with EPE-foam both at ambient and refrigerated conditions. Also, changes of stress, modulus of elasticity and strain for wrapped fruits was lower than non- wrapped fruits.