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POSTHARVEST HANDLING OF LITCHI. Yoram Fuchs.
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POSTHARVEST HANDLING OF LITCHI Yoram Fuchs
IntroductionLitchi (Litchi chinensis Son) has originated in China. It has been cultivated for over 3000 years and was introduced to Burma and India by the end of the 17th century and from there probably by the end of the19th century to many countries which have subtropical climate regions such as Japan, Australia, South Africa, Thailand, Hong Kong, Mauritius, Reunion, Madagascar, USA – Florida, Brazil, New Zealand and also Israel.
LITCHI PRODUCTION (1998)INDIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH (ICAR)COUNTRY PRODUCTION 000 MTINDIA 250 – 300CHINA 190 - 220MADAGASCAR 35 - 40 SOUTH AFRICA 20 - 28THAILAND 5 - 10 MAURITIUS 0.7 - 1
THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION ACCOUNTS FOR 95 % OF THE WORLD’S PRODUCTION (2001)(PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU – GOVERNMENT OF INDIA) CHINA IS THE LARGEST PRODUCER OF LITCHI FOLLOWED BY INDIA, THAILAND, AUSTRALIA, VIETNAM, SOUTH AFRICA, MADAGASCAR AND FLORIDA
HOW LITCHI IS CONSUMED? FRESH FRUIT JUICE CANNED DRIED (LITCHI FIG OR NUT) PICKLLED
THE MAIN THREE PROBLEMS IN KEEPING THE POSTHARVEST QUALITY OF LITCHI FRUIT ARE: • HOW TO PRESERVE THE RED COLOR OF THE PEEL • HOW TO PROTECT THE FRUIT FROM DECAY BY MICROORGANISMS • HOW TO REDUCE WEIGHT LOSS (DESICCATION)
LITCHI IS REGARDED AS A NONE CLIMACTERIC FRUIT -IT DOSE NOT RIPEN OFF THE TREE AND UNRIPE FRUIT DO NOT DEVELOP FULL FLAVOR. -THEREFORE, IT HAS TO BE HARVESTED RIPE. -FOR FRESH MARKET PURPOSES THE MAIN CRITERION FOR RIPENESS IS THE RED COLOR OF THE RIND (PEEL, PERICARP). -THE PEEL TURNS BROWN AND GETTING DESICCATED 1 OR 2 DAYS AFTER HARVEST. -ALTHOUGH THE BROWNING HAS NO EFFECT ON THE TASTE AND THE FLAVOR OF THE FRUIT, IT REDUCES SERIOUSLY ITS COMMERCIAL VALUE.
ABSORPTION SPECTRA IN THE VISIBLE REGION OF PALARGONIDIN CYNIDIN AND DELPHINIDIN(IN 0/01% HCL IN METHANOL)
ABSORBANCE OF METHANOLIC PEEL EXTRACT OF FUMIGATED LITCHI - “I” AND AFTER ACIDIFICATION WITH HCL – “II”
6 DAYS AFTER HARVEST IIIIIIIII
FRUIT ROTS ( MAINLY Penicillium spp.)
WHAT NEXT? • HOW TO KEEP THE RED COLOR WITHOUT USING SO2 FUMIGATION AND HCL DIP? • HOW TO PREVENT DECAY WITHOUT USING FUNGICIDES? • COLD TEMPERATUR (ICE) ? • MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE (BAGS)? • BETTER RH CONTROL? • DIFFERENT CULTIVARS?