PRE AND POST HARVEST FACTORS AFFECTING THE QUALITY IN POST HARVEST SHELF LIFE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

By, Kavya.M, M.K.813, IIIAg.Ma.Co., U.A.S(B).

PRE HARVEST FACTORS AFFECTING THE QUALITY IN POST HARVEST SHELF LIFE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ARE:

Water supply (Irrigation): Growing plants need a continuous water supply for both photosynthesis and transpiration. Bad effects can be caused by: a) too much rain or irrigation, which can lead to brittle and easily damaged leafy vegetables and to increased tendency to decay;

lack of rainb) lack of rain or irrigation, which can lead to low juice content and thick skin in citrus fruit; c) dry conditions followed by rain or irrigation, which can give rise to growth cracks or secondary growth in potatoes or to growth cracks in tomatoes.

boron deficiency Soil fertility, use of fertilizers:

Lack of plant foods in the soil can seriously affect the quality of fresh produce at harvest. On the other hand, too much fertilizer can harm the development and post-harvest condition of produce. Some of the effects are:

fertilizers enhance growtha) lack of nitrogen can lead to stunted growth or to yellow-red discoloration of leaves in green vegetables, e.g. cabbage; b) lack of potash can bring about poor fruit development and abnormal ripening; c) calcium-moisture imbalance can cause blossom-end rot in tomatoes and bitter pit in apples.

bitter pit of apple-

 Cultivation practices:
a) Weed control -weeds are commonly alternate or alternative hosts for crop diseases and pests, and those growing in fallow land near crops are as important as those growing among the crop. Weeds also compete with crops for nutrients and soil moisture;

 b) Crop hygiene - decaying plant residues, dead wood, and decaying or mummified fruit are all reservoirs of infection causing postharvest decay. Their collection and removal are crucial factors in the reduction of postharvest losses.

browning & decay in lyche-

discolouration due to excess pesticides Agricultural chemicals: These are of two types : a) Pesticides and herbicides: These are used as sprays or soil applications to control weeds, disease and insect pests. They are dangerous because they can damage produce by producing spray burns if used incorrectly, and they can leave poisonous residues on produce after harvest.

herbicide deficiencyb) Growth-regulating chemicals: These are used in the field mainly to improve the marketability of fruit in order to control the time of fruit set and to promote uniform ripening. Their effective use requires specialist knowledge, and they are mainly applicable to large-scale commercial production.

POST HARVEST FACTORS AFFECTING THE QUALITY IN POST HARVEST SHELF LIFE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ARE:

Mechanical injury: The high moisture content and soft texture of fruits, vegetables and root crops make them susceptible to mechanical injury, which can occur at any stage from production to retail marketing because of: a) poor harvesting practices; b) over packing or under packing of field or marketing containers;

improper handlingc) unsuitable field or marketing containers and crates, which may have splintered wood, sharp edges, poor nailing or stapling; d) careless handling, such as dropping or throwing or walking on produce and packed containers during the process of grading, transport or marketing.

frost affected Injuries from temperature effects. a) Freezing injury - Frozen produce has a watersoaked or glassy appearance. Although a few commodities are tolerant of slight freezing, it is advisable to avoid such temperatures because subsequent storage life is short. b) High temperature injury - if fresh produce is exposed to high temperatures caused by solar radiation, it will deteriorate rapidly.

-Fungus infected Diseases and pests. a) Diseases caused by fungi and bacteria commonly result in losses of fresh produce. Virus diseases, which can cause severe losses in growing crops, are not a serious post-harvest problem. b) Insect pests that are mainly responsible for wastage in cereals and grain legumes are

pear rust mitesrarely a cause of post-harvest loss in fresh produce. Where they do appear, they are often locally serious, e.g. the potato tuber moth.

-frost ring disease reduces growth.

REFERENCE
Prevention of postharvest food losses: fruits, vegetables and root crops- by

John Burden & R.B.H.Wills.

THANK YOU.