Postharvest Technology Research Articles

Visualizing the distribution of strawberry plant metabolites at different maturity stages by MALDI-TOF imaging mass spectrometry

This study aimed to visualize differences in the distribution of citric acid, soluble sugars, and anthocyanins in strawberries at four different maturity stages (green to red strawberries) by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF IMS). Results demonstrated citric acid and sugars are evenly distributed in the entire fruit at all maturity stages, while most of anthocyanins are mainly located in the periphery of fruit with increased abundance in red strawberries, indicating a correlation with the colour attributes. Sugar in red strawberries (11.92 brix) increased by two-fold compared to the green ones (6.23 brix). Finally, absolute quantitation of each compound from HPLC analyses support the quantitative results from MALDI-TOF IMS. The results provide a deeper understanding in the changes and distribution of phytochemicals during the growth of strawberries, and demonstrates the usefulness of IMS for plant breeding and postharvest technology.

Postharvest Salicylic Acid Treatment Influences Some Quality Attributes in Air-Stored Pomegranate Fruit

Popularity of pomegranate fruit has increased in recent years because of its health benefit content, economic value and medicinal characteristics. Since pomegranate fruit is perishable species, prolonging storage life, keeping fruit quality during storage and marketing period with minimum quality and quantity loss after harvest are essential. Influence of salicylic acid treatments on some quality properties in ‘Hicaznar’ cultivar fruit were investigated in the current study. After harvest at commercial maturity, fruit were exposed to salicylic acid (SA) treatments. Controls (C1) were untreated. The other groups were dipped into a solution containing 0.01% Tween 20 (C2), 0.01% Tween 20+2 mM SA (SA1), and 0.01% Tween 20+4 mM SA (SA2). Then fruit were stored at 5±1 °C temperature, 85-90% relative humidity for 120 days. Changes in fruit skin and aril color, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, weight loss and chilling injury rate total phenolic content, antioxidant activity were followed at 60 days intervals. Neither SA1 nor SA2 affected total phenolic content and antioxidant activity levels of fruit. But, both treatments helped to maintain C* values in arils and skin, titratable acidity and soluble solids content. Since SA2 treatment significantly reduced chilling injury symptoms during cold storage period of 120 days, it could be considered as promising postharvest technology.

Tropical fruit genomes and postharvest technologies

Sequencing of tropical fruit genomes is entering a new phase, as sequencing technology undergoes dramatic changes in speed and cost. The three major steps in genome sequencing are: actual sequencing, application of bioinformatics to predict genes and confirming the identity of the predicted gene. Full genome sequencing and expressed sequence tags, often coupled to microarray technology, provide the possibility to determine the genes expressed and their regulation at specific stages of fruit development. The most difficult is the third step of connecting predicted genes to physiological function and directly confirming that connection. Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is the first fleshy fruit with a climacteric ripening pattern to be sequenced. As a member of the Rosids superorder in the order Brassicales, papaya apparently lacks the genome duplication that occurred twice in Arabidopsis. The predicted papaya genes that are homologous to those potentially involved in fruit growth, development, and ripening were investigated. Compared to Arabidopsis and tomato, fewer genes were predicted in papaya that may impact sugar accumulation, ethylene synthesis and response, respiration, chlorophyll degradation and carotenoid synthesis. Similar or fewer genes were found in papaya for the enzymes leading to volatile production than so far determined for tomato. The presence of fewer papaya genes in most fruit development and ripening categories suggests less subfunctionalization of gene action. The lack of whole genome duplication and reductions in most gene families and biosynthetic pathways make papaya a valuable and unique tool to study fruit evolution and the complex regulatory networks active in fruit ripening. The regulatory networks present an opportunity to modify ripening, fruit quality, phytonutrient content and postharvest disease resistance. The data also suggest that direct physiological homology and gene action may not occur between different fruit species.

Adoption of Post-Harvest Practices Implemented by Fruit Farmers in Johor

The post-harvest practice is important to maintain and prolong the shelf life of fruits and vegetable. However, farmer’s adoption towards agriculture practices is still low. This research aims to determine post-harvest adoption among fruit farmers in Johor. The study employs a Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Theory Planned Behaviour (TPB) to evaluate the factors that influencing post-harvest practice adoption. 150 fruit farmers in Johor were chosen by using a simple random sampling technique. This study indicates that the level of performance expectations (M=4.27), effort expectations (M=4.36), facilitating conditions (M=3.95), attitude (M=4.09) and post-harvest practices adoption (M=4.33) have a high mean score. This study emphasises the importance of post-harvest practices adoption in improving and maintaining the quality of fruits. Post-harvest practices adoption could help to enhance the per capita availability of fruits because the adoption of post-harvest practises and technologies will affect the reduction in fruits losses, thus increasing the availability of fruits products.

Effect of short-term anoxia treatment on endogenous ethanol and postharvest responses of broccoli florets during storage at ambient temperature

Color change is the main factor limiting quality and shelf-life of broccoli florets. The aim of this recent work was to investigate the effectiveness of anoxia treatment on appearance and the contents of chlorophylls and ascorbic acid of broccoli florets during storage at ambient temperature. In preliminary experiment, the broccoli florets were treated in anoxia condition for 24 h. It was found that the exposure period between 18−24 h was the most effective for delaying broccoli florets yellowing. Therefore, the confirmatory experiment of short-term anoxia treatment for 18, 20, 22 and 24 h was carried out to verify ethanol concentration after treatments and color, chlorophylls and ascorbic acid contents were investigated in broccoli florets during storage at 20 ± 1 °C (85–95 % RH) for 3 d. It was found that the longer exposure time was used, the more production of ethanol occurred which the highest level of ethanol was recorded in the treatment of 24 h (951.98 mg kg−1). Anoxia treatment maintained both L* and hue angle values by delaying the degradation of chlorophyll contents during storage. Florets started to turn yellow when total chlorophyll content was about 500 mg kg−1. It was also noted that during 20 h of anoxia treatment, the total ascorbic acid losses was relatively delayed in broccoli florets better than that of other treatments. However, higher ethanol content was observed in an excessive treatment of anoxia-treated broccoli for 22−24 h which contributed to a dark colorization and water soaking of floret tissues. It revealed that, broccoli florets with an appropriate level of endogenous ethanol is a relevant method to retard yellowing of broccoli floret stored at ambient temperature. Our purpose in this present work also indicate that anoxia treatment practicable for using as non-chemical and simple postharvest technology in maintaining visual appearance and delaying the loss of ascorbic acid in broccoli florets during short-term storage at ambient temperature.

Significance, status and scope of apricot in India: A review

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is a deciduous stone fruit grown in the temperate climate. India is not a leading producer country, but produces an appreciable quantity of apricot. The country fosters 84 genotypes including 15 commercially important genotypes. However, a large part of the fruit is wasted because of various reasons viz. unorganized market, lack of post-harvest technologies and unpredictable demand-supply. The present review comprises characteristics of the fruit, kernel and extracted oil with their aspects for value addition, packaging, storage, marketing aspects and future prospects. It also covers major growing areas of the country, botanical description, ecology, maturity, ripeness, physiology and promising cultivars of the region. Physical, chemical and functional characteristics of the fruit are reviewed. Value addition deals mainly with the products viz. dehydrated apricot, chutney, instant chutney powder and frozen fruit besides canned fruit, nectar, pulp juice, jam, infant drinks etc. It has widened to different methods and analysis of drying along with the need of engineering intervention in post harvest.

Entrepreneurial behaviour among non-timber forest product-growing farmers in Ghana: An analysis in support of a reforestation policy

Despite widespread acknowledgement of the importance of entrepreneurship for poverty alleviation, studies on entrepreneurship are scant for farmers engaged in the production of non-timber forest products. This study, therefore, examines the entrepreneurial status of farmers involved in the production of non-timber forest products, focusing on those involved in a reforestation scheme in three forest districts in Ghana. Caird's revised General Entrepreneurial Tendency test and quantile regression were used to calculate farmers' entrepreneurial scores and the respective influencing factors. Results show that most farmers had low to medium entrepreneurial scores. Across all quantiles, market information and value-addition knowledge had a positive influence on farmers' entrepreneurial scores. The study also revealed quantile-specific factors, with demographic factors (age, gender), years of farming, and networks with value-chain actors having a significant influence only at the lower quantile of entrepreneurial scores, and personal commitment, adaptability to new technology, and scientific advice being more significant at the upper quantile. At the low-to-median quantiles of entrepreneurial scores, socio-economic factors such as land size and off-farm jobs had a positive influence. The paper concludes that farmers with different entrepreneurial scores are susceptible to different factors that help or hinder improving their scores. This implies that entrepreneurship development programmes should be tailored to different farmer segments. Out of inclusivity and feasibility concerns, we recommend achieving this through an integrated yet diversified approach that combines generic and segment-specific needs. One way of doing so is through an annual market fair/exhibition during which NTFPs from community reforestation schemes are branded; networking opportunities among value chain actors are offered; market information on prices, demand and available buyers is provided; and training workshops on post-harvesting processing technologies are organised.

The Effects of 1-Methylcyclopropene Treatment on the Fruit Quality of ‘Idared’ Apples during Storage and Transportation

1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) is applied as an inhibitor of ethylene action, which is widely used in postharvest technology to prolong the shelf life of many fruits. The aim of the study was to assess the possibility to apply 1-MCP treatment to maintain the quality of ‘Idared’ apples for long-distance transportation. The studied apples were assessed in three groups: (I) 1-MCP postharvest treatment; (II) 1-MCP postharvest treatment with Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) selected gas permeability bags; and (III) control groups (with neither 1-MCP treatment, nor dedicated packaging). Apples were subjected to storage in the Ultra Low Oxygen (ULO) chamber that was applied for 0 weeks, 10 weeks and 20 weeks (three periods of storage); simulated long-distance transport (6 weeks); and simulated distribution, which was applied for 0 days, 5 days, 10 days, and 15 days (4 periods of distribution). The obtained 36 groups (three postharvest treatments per three periods of storage per four periods of distribution) were analyzed to assess firmness, total soluble solids (TSS) and titratable acidity (TA). There were differences between firmness values for control groups and those with 1-MCP applied, which were characterized by higher values of firmness (p < 0.05). Groups with 1-MCP and MAP applied combined were characterized by higher values of TSS than control groups (p < 0.05). The majority of groups with 1-MCP applied alone were characterized by higher values of TA than control groups (p < 0.05), but values for samples attributed to 1-MCP and MAP combined were not higher than for 1-MCP alone. It may be concluded that 1-MCP applied postharvest contributed to higher results of firmness and TA of ‘Idared’ apples after long-distance transportation, but combining 1-MCP with MAP did not contribute to further differences for TA. However, for TSS the observed influence was inconclusive. It may be stated that 1-MCP is a beneficial treatment for ‘Idared’ apples for long-distance transportation as it prolongs their shelf life and improves firmness.

Factors Influencing Post-harvest Losses among Vegetable Farmers in Mbaitoli Local Government Area in Imo State

The study analyzed factors influencing post harvest losses among vegetables farmers in Mbaitoli Local Government Area in Imo state, Nigeria. Specifically the study ascertained the kind of vegetables produced; determined the quantity of output production of vegetables; determined the causes of post harvest losses among vegetable farmers; examined the factors affecting post harvest losses of vegetable; ascertained the effect of post harvest losses among vegetable farmers and identify possible strategies that can reduce losses among vegetable farmers. Multi-stage random sampling procedure was used in the selection of ninety eight (98) respondents and a set of structured questionnaire was administered on them to obtain information. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive (frequency, percentages and chart) and inferential (multiple regression) statistics. Result showed that majority (51%) of the farmers cultivated leafy vegetables and the average quantity of vegetable produced was 142.35 kg. Farmers identified major causes of post harvest losses as pest (94.9%), disease (81.6%), lack of storage facility (80.6%) and poor handling of vegetable (71.4%). The major factors affecting post harvest losses were improper handling (87.8%), lack of credit facility (86.7%) and the possible strategies to reduce post harvest were use of improved processing and preservation method (91.8%), access to appropriate technology (88.8%), adequate post harvest handling (87.8%). The study recommends that, the extension agents through the aids of federal government, should train rural, urban and sub- urban farmers on post harvest, processing and marketing technology.

Patent trend analysis for postharvest technology of fresh mushrooms

Patent trend analysis for postharvest technology of fresh mushrooms

Action of 1-Methylcyclopropene on Postharvest Conservation of Banana ‘Prata-Anã’ Gorutuba Clone

The banana is a highly perishable fruit in which storage and transport for a long period is limited due to the lack of post-harvest technologies that aim to retard fruit ripening. In this regard, the objective of this study was to evaluate the postharvest conservation period of the ‘Prata-Anã’ clone Gorutuba banana using different concentrations of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), associated with the modified atmosphere and refrigerated storage. Banana bunches (Musa spp. AAB) ‘Prata-Anã’ Gorutuba clone were obtained from Belém farm, located in Janaúba-MG. The pieces were decomposed in bouquets of 4 fruits and submitted to 1-MCP application at concentrations of 0.0; 0.2; 0.4; 0.6; 0.8 and 1.0 ppm for 24 hours and stored refrigerated at room temperature to 13±1 °C. Every 5 days physical and chemical evaluations were performed. There was a delay in the ripening of fruits subjected to refrigeration and treated with 0.6 ppm of 1-MCP and increase in shelf life, due to probable inhibition of ethylene, which showed firmer fruits. Respiratory activity decreased with increasing concentration of 1-MCP. In refrigerated storage, fruits treated with 1-MCP were kept longer than 30 days. For the fruits kept at room temperature shelf life was 21 days for fruit subjected to concentrations of 0.4 to 1.0 ppm. However, the use of 1-MCP associated with the modified atmosphere under refrigeration directly influenced the postharvest conservation of bananas, allowing a longer period of commercialization.

Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Di Desa Kalikurmo Berbasis Kearifan Lokal

This community service activity is aimed at empowering the people of Kalkurmo Village, Beringin District, Semarang Regency through the processing of local natural resources. The appropriate technology being trained is the processing of corn into modified flour which can then be processed into various processed food products. Activities carried out in the form of training and community assistance to master post-harvest corn processing technology. Corn has been successfully processed into flour by fermentation and acetylation and then made into cookies. Cookies products can be used as processed food products to be marketed.

On-farm evaluation of effectiveness of improved postharvest handling of maize in reducing grain losses, mold infection and aflatoxin contamination in rural Uganda

Postharvest losses remain a challenge among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. The uses of hermetic storage containers (hermetic bags and metallic silos), tarpaulin sheet (plastic sheet) and raised racks reduce postharvest deterioration of grain. This study evaluated the effectiveness of selected improved drying and storage postharvest technologies and practices in reducing maize grain postharvest losses among smallholder farmers in Kamuli and Apac districts, Uganda. The assessed improved storage technologies were hermetic bags and metallic silos against woven polypropylene bags (common farmer practice). For drying, use of tarpaulins and raised racks were assessed against drying on bare ground (common farmer practice). Grain quality and quantity were determined at harvest as well as during drying and six months of storage using Longe 10H variety. Mean quantitative losses, mold infection and aflatoxin level of maize at harvest were 13.72 ± 5.44%, 59.01 ± 17.97% and 1.21 ± 0.7 ppb, respectively for traditional practice. Improved drying and storage technologies resulted in significantly lower (p≤0.05) losses, mold infection and aflatoxin level than the common farmer practices. Drying on bare ground (3.04 ± 1.50%) resulted in 1.94 times and 7.07 times higher quantitative losses than drying on tarpaulins (1.56 ± 1.09%) and raised racks (0.43 ± 0.58%). By the sixth month of storage, polypropylene bag storage resulted in 3.7 times and 84 times higher quantitative losses (23.7 ± 5.11%) than hermetic bags (6.33 ± 5.41%) and metallic silos (0.28 ± 0.22%), respectively. Polypropylene bag storage also resulted in 4.4 times and 6 times higher aflatoxin levels (45.82 ± 20.88 ppb) than hermetic bags and metallic silos, respectively. The interaction effects of type of drying technology and storage technology used on aflatoxin levels at the end of the storage period was significant. The highest mold infection and aflatoxin levels were observed when drying was done on bare ground and storage was in polypropylene bags and by the sixth month of storage, mold infection was 90.54 ± 5.48% and average aflatoxin content was 53.47 ± 22.79 ppb. Storage in metallic silos was the most effective in controlling mold infection and aflatoxin contamination, regardless of drying practice, while storage in polypropylene bags was the least effective. From the results, improved drying and storage technologies and practices were found to reduce postharvest maize losses, mold infection and aflatoxin level by over 50%. Use of raised drying racks and storage in metallic silos was found to be the most effective combination in maintaining maizequality and reducing postharvest losses. Key words: Aflatoxins, maize quality, mold infection, grain storage, postharvest losses

Ways to improve cleaning technology and post-harvest processing of soybeans

The article discusses the main causes of soybean crop losses, which can reach 25–30%. Most often, a high cut of the harvester's header, significant crushing and injury during harvesting, and violation of the post-harvest processing technology lead to losses and a decrease in the quality of commercial grain and seeds. The purpose of the research was to assess the impact of various factors on the amount of crop losses and develop recommendations for optimizing technological operations during harvesting and post-harvest processing of soybeans, compliance with which will ensure the minimization of quantitative losses and quality indicators of the crop. For soybean harvesting, it is recommended to use combines with hybrid or rotary threshing systems, which ensure careful cleaning and minimize output losses. Combines are equipped with reapers with a flexible cutting device, which, given the uneven terrain, provide a cut height of 2.5 cm. Primary cleaning of the grain heap should be performed immediately with subsequent drying: commercial grain to a humidity of 7–12% at the heating temperature of the coolant no more than 60°C, seeds to a conditioned humidity of 14% at the heating temperature of the coolant 35–40°C.

A robot system equipped with deep convolutional neural network for autonomous grading and sorting of root-trimmed garlics

The demand for smart automation systems in postharvest technology, particularly in the postharvest process of garlic production, is high. In this study, we introduce an artificial intelligence (AI)-integrated robot system for grading and sorting of garlics after root trimming. We developed a robot system that automatically grades and sorts root-trimmed garlics based on image analysis using a deep learning model, which is equipped with a deep convolutional neural network (CNN). The robot system consists of three main modules: image acquisition module (IAM), image processing module (IPM), and garlic sorting module (GSM). The IAM captures a live video of garlic roots using an independent light-emitting diode (LED) and a web camera connected to a computer. The IPM consists of garlic image processing software (GIPS) installed on a Windows 10 computer. GIPS imports videos, detects the shape of garlic bulbs, and predicts the garlic class using the deep learning model. When a garlic bulb shape is detected, the image is preprocessed, and the deep learning model is automatically activated to predict the garlic class. The GSM physically separates garlics into three containers for good, bad, and scratched classes based on a previous predicted result. A total of 800 root-trimmed garlics were tested and evaluated in nine experiments. The processing time to predict classes from a garlic image on a regular laptop computer (Intel® core™ i7-8650U 1.9 GHz CPU, with 16 Gb RAM) was 0.19–0.58 s. The median time to trim and sort one garlic was 11 s (in a setting with three prediction replications), and the overall grading accuracy for the three classes was 89%. The individual predicted precision for the good, bad, and scratched classes was 95%, 68%, and 100%, respectively. Given that the robot system was robust and inexpensive, it has the potential to be integrated into a garlic root trimming machine to develop a fully automatic garlic root trimming and sorting robot.

Performance of Five Postharvest Storage Methods for Maize Preservation in Northern Benin.

Simple SummarySmallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa lose grain to insect pests during storage. To reduce these losses, several storage technologies are available for sale in East Africa; but only a few are marketed in West Africa. We assessed the performance of four types of hermetic bags (SuperGrainbagTM, AgroZ® bag, EVALTM, and Purdue Improved Crop Storage-PICSTM bags), as well as an insecticide-treated woven bag (ZeroFly®), and a polypropylene (PP) woven bag. The trials sought to determine if these technology packages prevent losses of insect-infested maize purchased in local markets in northern Benin. After seven months of storage, we found that maize stored in hermetic bags did not suffer further damage or lose weight due to insects. By contrast, grain stored in insecticide-treated and regular PP woven bags had weight losses of 6.3% and 10.3%, respectively. Grain moisture content of maize kept in hermetic bags remained unchanged during the 7-month storage period. However, moisture content decreased by about 30% in insecticide-treated and PP woven bags due to the prevailing dry environmental conditions. Farmers and development agencies in the Sahel can use and/or recommend these hermetic technologies to reduce maize grain storage losses due to insects.Several postharvest technologies are currently being commercialized to help smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa reduce grain storage losses. We carried out a study in Northern Benin to compare the effectiveness of five technologies being sold to protect stored grain. Maize that had been naturally infested by insects was stored in four hermetic storage technologies (SuperGrainbag™, AgroZ® bag, EVAL™, and Purdue Improved Crop Storage-PICS™ bags), an insecticide impregnated bag (ZeroFly®), and a regular polypropylene (PP) woven bag as control. Oxygen levels in hermetic bags fluctuated between 0.5 ± 0.0 (v/v) and 1.0 ± 0.3 (v/v) percent during the seven months of storage. No weight loss or insect damage was observed in grain stored in any of the hermetic storage bags after seven months. However, grain stored in ZeroFly® and PP woven bags had weight losses of 6.3% and 10.3%, respectively. These results will help farmers and development agencies when making decisions to use and/or promote storage technologies to reduce postharvest grain losses.

Multifunctional role of brassinosteroid and its analogues in plants

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are steroid hormones that are essential for plant growth and development. These hormones control the division, elongation and differentiation of various cell types throughout the entire plant life cycle. Over the past few decades, studies on BRs caught the attention of plant scientists due to their versatile ability in mitigating various environmental stresses. Additionally, BR also involved in maintaining the quality of postharvest produces, by enhancing their resistance against abiotic and biotic stress. Furthermore, BRs are non-toxic and eco-friendly; this aids its importance in coping with adverse environmental conditions without disturbing the balance of the ecosystem. Our review summarized the structural characteristic and distribution of BRs in plants, role in postharvest technology, biotic stress tolerance, improving resistance against pesticide, organic pollutant toxicity and nodule formation and mycorrhization. This review provides useful information on BRs and its effects on plant system that we believe could be useful in maintaining environmental sustainability.

Studies on Effect of Different Packaging Materials on Shelf-Life of Blended Guava-Papaya Fruit Leather

Aims: To study the effect different packaging materials on shelf-life and quality of blended fruit leather.
 Place of Study: The present investigation was carried out at the Department of Post-Harvest Technology and Agri. Engineering, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru.
 Methodology: Guava variety ‘Allahabad Safeda’ and papaya variety ‘Taiwan Red Lady’ fruit leathers were prepared by blending their pulp at different ratios of 100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, 20:80 and 0:100 respectively. Citric acid at 0.3% and KMS (Potassium meta-bisulphite) at 600 ppm was added to the blended pulp and TSS was adjusted to 20°B. The pulp according to treatments were then dried in a cabinet drier at 55 to 60°C till the desired moisture content (approx. 15%) was achieved.
 Results: Blended guava-papaya (40:60) leather was found best among the treatments in terms of better nutritional and sensory characteristics at initial and also during the subsequent storage periods. The prepared fruit leathers that were packed in biaxially oriented polypropylene showed better results with better nutrient retention (ascorbic acid 90.1 mg/100 g and carotenoids 947.2 µg/100 g) and higher organoleptic score (70.03 overall acceptability out of 100) to those packed in punnets (ascorbic acid 73.2 mg/100 g, and carotenoids 893.0 µg/100 g) during the storage period of 4 months. The microbial examination also revealed that all the samples were found to be safe from the consumption point of view till the end of four months of storage. 
 Conclusion: The blended fruit leather can be a good source of various heath promoting phytochemical nutrients with a unique taste and acceptability having a storage stability for safe consumption till 4 months.

Factors Explaining Post Harvest Practices Adoption among Fruit Farmers in Johor

Nowadays, postharvest practices play an important role in the development of fruit production. Thus, this research investigates the relationship between effort expectations, performance expectations, social influence, facilitating conditions, and attitudes towards postharvest practices adoption among fruit farmers in Johor. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) were utilized to explain the purpose of this study. This study has employed a cross-sectional study with a survey method via self-administered questionnaire. A total of 150 fruit farmers in Johor were chosen by a simple random sampling technique. The data collected were analysed by using descriptive analysis and Spearman’s correlation. The analysis indicated that there was a positive significant relationship between performance expectations, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, and attitude towards postharvest practices adoption among fruit farmers in Johor. This study will be significant for farmers in order to help them increase the yield by reducing the postharvest losses and for other researchers to understand the level of postharvest technology acceptance.

Efecto de la aplicación de aire caliente humidificado como tecnología poscosecha en la calidad de la Feijoa

La feijoa (Acca sellowiana) es una fruta climatérica exótica de América del Sur, por su atractivo sabor agridulce se ha posicionado tanto en el mercado nacional como internacional. Por este motivo es pertinente avanzar en el desarrollo y aplicación de tecnologías de poscosecha que propendan por su adecuado manejo y conservación. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar el efecto en la calidad poscosecha de frutos de feijoa sometidos a una corriente de aire a temperatura de 41°C y HR de 57 % por 2 horas (T1) y por 4 horas (T2). Posteriormente se evaluaron parámetro físico - químicos en el almacenamiento durante dos semanas en condiciones ambientales. Se encontró disminución en la pérdida de peso de los tratamientos frente a control, así como disminución en la contracción del diámetro ecuatorial sin detrimento de parámetros químicos como pH, acidez total titulable (ATT) e índice de madurez (IM). Entre los dos tratamientos, el que presenta mejores condiciones es el T2 (41°C, 57 % HR, por cuatro horas) según parámetros como la pérdida de peso, contracción del diámetro ecuatorial, pH, ATT e IM.