Effect of 1-Methylcyclopropene and Wrapping Material on Shelf-Life and Postharvest Qualities of Spine Gourd (Momordica dioica)

Abstract

Spine gourd (Momordica dioica) is a tropical underutilized, climbing creeper vegetable (commonly known as kakrol, spiny gourd or teasle gourd) belonging to the family cucurbitaceae. It is native to Asia and now extensively distributed in Sri Lanka due to boosted commercial cultivation of hybrid varieties. Spine gourd has a growing demand both in the local and the export market for its distinct taste and promising health properties over thousands of years. However, vulnerability to postharvest damages due to large area/volume ratio and climacteric ripening behaviour result in short shelf- life for this commodity. Consequently, its market potential is significantly affected. The present study attempts to extend shelf-life while maintaining postharvest qualities in spine gourd by using 1- methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) wrapping at an ambient temperature (27±1 ⁰ᢽ). The experiment was conducted according to the Completely Randomized Design (CRD) using eight treatments: 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 µL L-1 1-MCP treated for 15 hours and stored with and without LDPE wrapping under ambient temperature (27±1 oᢽ). Physical parameters; fresh weight loss, firmness, peel colour changes, and chemical parameters; total soluble solids, titratable acidity, were evaluated daily. Fresh weight loss and peel colour changes significantly declined in wrapped Spine gourd fruits. The highest firmness was observed in chemically treated and LDPE wrapped fruits than the control during 5 days of the storage. Thus, it can be concluded that some postharvest qualities of Spine gourd are positively affected by 1-MCP treatment and LDPE wrapping.