Abstract
The subject of study was to assess and to compare the effect of storage time on flesh firmness and skin strength in muskmelons (Cucumis melo L.) obtained from supermarket and marketplace. Texture quality of fruit is considered to be the major determinant for customer preference that depends on harvesting maturity and proper storage conditions of fruit and its fresh-cuts. Changes in flesh firmness and skin strength were measured periodically in stored fresh-cut fruits in both groups for initial, 2nd, 5th and 6th day. Analysis of basic physical parameters revealed that muskmelons from marketplace had higher height and width perimeter and therefore also a higher weight, compared to those ones from supermarkets. Textural analysis pointed out to significant differences (p <0.05) in flesh firmness among initial day group and all tested groups from 2nd, 5th and 6th day in muskmelons from supermarket. In marketplace muskmelon group was observed significant difference (p <0.05) between samples from initial day and 5th day. Within the skin strength, there were demonstrated significant differences (p <0.05) between initial day and most of remaining storage days in both supermarket and marketplace muskmelons groups. The data for flesh firmness and skin strength were used in linear regression analysis, in order to evaluate trends during storage period. The correlation coefficients of linear model describing relationship between storage time and skin strength for the group of supermarket and marketplace muskmelons were r = -0.828 and r = -0.780, respectively, which indicated approximately equal relationship between time and skin strength in both tested groups. A strong inverse correlation (r = -0.816) between time and flesh firmness in the group of supermarket muskmelons was noticed. In the group of marketplace muskmelons, there was observed weaker inverse correlation (r = -0.441) within this relation, compared to commercial ones. The model revealed that the muskmelons from marketplace retailers tend to maintain the flesh firmness for a longer time than did commercial ones. The melon flesh quality was markedly changing during storage period and highly depends on the muskmelon origin.
Highlights
Melon family is an economically important crop that includes wildtypes and numerous varieties, consumed worldwide either as desert fruits, vegetable or sauce ingredients, depending on the type of fruit
Cucumis melo (Cantaloupe or Muskmelon) is one of the most important cultivated cucurbits, which is native to India and Africa
The relationship between time and skin strength was approximately equal in both tested groups (Figure 2, Table 4)
Summary
Melon family is an economically important crop that includes wildtypes and numerous varieties, consumed worldwide either as desert fruits, vegetable or sauce ingredients, depending on the type of fruit. Fruit quality is a consequence of many biochemical processes that result in changes of its intrinsic properties such as colour, texture, flavour and aroma, together with the exterior appearance (size, colour and shape) and nutritional value These properties exert a strong influence on producing commercially acceptable melons, and happen to be remarkably different depending on each particular melon cultivar, due to its morphological variability (Obando et al, 2007). Fruit wholesalers are there for interested in the measurement of fruit texture All these attributes are based on biochemical, physical and structural components that occur at different levels in the fruit such as turgidity and cell wall composition at cell level; number, size and morphology of cells as well as their cohesion, spatial organization and the distribution of intercellular airspaces at the tissue level. All the computational work, including the graphical presentations, was performed using XLSTAT (Addinsoft, 2014) package program
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