Storage Temperature Influences Postharvest Quality of Wild Plum &lt;i&gt;(Ximmenia Americana L.)&lt;/i&gt; Fruit

V E Emongor,G Ramagonono

doi:10.4314/gjs.v60i2.1

Abstract

Wild plum has many medicinal, therapeutic and nutritive uses, but its fruits are collected in the wild and less researched. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of storage temperature on postharvest fruit quality of wild plum. The fruits of wild plum were subjected to different storage treatments at 0, 5, 10 and 15 ± 1°C in a completely randomized design. The results showed that as storage temperature decreased below 15°C, the incidence and severity of chilling injury significantly (p<0.05) increased. As storage temperature increased from 0 to 15°C fruit titratable acidity (TTA) and vitamin C content significantly (p< 0.05) decreased, but juice pH, soluble solids content (SSC) and weight loss significantly (p< 0.05) increased. The decrease in TTA and vitamin C content, and increase in SSC and juice pH was attributed to fruit ripening. The increase in fruit weight loss was attributed to higher transpiration and respiration. It was concluded that to extend the storage-life and marketing period of wild plum fruits, the fruits should be stored at 15°C and 90-95% RH. Keywords: Ximenia americana, Chilling injury and incidence, Vitamin C, Soluble solids content, Acidity

Highlights

Wild plum, scientifically known as Ximenia americana L., is a bush-forming shrub, named after a Spanish Priest Francisco Ximόnez (Orwa et al, 2009)
Fruit development The results of the study showed that wild plum fruit significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased both in length (2.64 cm) and diameter (2.14 cm) with increase in time reaching a maximum size at nine weeks after full bloom (Fig. 1)
The size of fruit growth greatly depends on the cultivar and early maturing cultivars with a short period of fruit growth are generally smaller than fruit of later maturing cultivars of the same species that have a longer period for growth (Jackson et al, 2011)

Summary

Introduction

Scientifically known as Ximenia americana L., is a bush-forming shrub, named after a Spanish Priest Francisco Ximόnez (Orwa et al, 2009). The genus Ximenia, is part of the Olacaceae family of plants that comprises of eight species (Orwa et al, 2009). Indigenous people have knowledge of the use and management of wild plum. Over harvesting and lack of proper management can lead to the extinction of a species (Feyssa et al, 2012).

Objectives

Results

Conclusion