Impact of Different Packaging Materials on the Quality and Shelf Life of Kinnow Mandarin (Citrus reticulata)

The experiment carried out on the “Impact of Different Packaging Materials on The Quality and Shelf Life of Kinnow Mandarin (Citrus reticulata)".Under the study the packaging treatments include T1 (Control or no packaging), T2 (Fruits packed in Newspaper), T3 (Fruits wrapped in Brown paper bags), T4 (Fruits packed in Aluminium Foil), T5 (Fruits wrapped in LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene), T6 (Fruits packed in Rice stubble), T7 (fruits packed in Perforated boxes), T8 (Fruits packed in Gunny bags), T9 (Fruits packed in Nylon net bags). The main objective of the experiment was to evaluate the effect of various packaging materials on physico-chemical characteristics of Kinnow fruit during storage. The physico-chemical evaluation of the fruits of each treatment was done upto 24 days and all the observations were recorded at every 6 days interval. The Fruit Weight, Polar Diameter, Radial Diameter, Peel weight having the decreasing trend, the highest mean was found in T5 during storage which were (151.70), (57.58), (59.11), (36.08) respectively. The TSS(0Brix) and pH were recorded lowest in the fruits packed in T5 during storage which were (10.45) and (4.02) respectively. Specific gravity of fruits had decreasing trend during storage period and found highest (0.86) in T5 at 24 days while ascorbic acid and titrable acidity had decreasing trend and mean values was found highest (17.89) and (0.89) in T5 respectively during storage. On basis of study results shown by physico-chemical characteristics of kinnow, it was concluded that kinnow fruits packed in T5 LDPE packing has highest overall acceptability at 24 days of storage. These practices may be passed on for obtaining higher returns with B:C ratio of 2.39.