B.Sc. Horticulture Semester VII – Elective Specialization

Postharvest Management of Fruit Crops

Credits: 2 (1+1) Fruit Science

Course Overview

Official detailed syllabus from the ICAR Sixth Deans’ Committee curriculum.

Course Objectives

i. To provide knowledge about various physico-chemical changes occurring during postharvest life of fruits ii. To familiarize students with various techniques to minimize postharvest losses and maintain the postharvest quality of fruits

Theory Syllabus

Importance and scope. Maturity indices, harvesting practices and grading. Influence of pre-harvest practices. Physiology and biochemistry of fruit ripening, ethylene evolution and its management. Pre-cooling. Factors leading to post-harvest losses. Treatments prior to transportation viz. chlorination, waxing, chemicals, natural plant products, hot-water, vapour heat treatment, sulphur fumigation and irradiation. Fruit packaging and transport. Methods of storage.

Practical Syllabus

Analyzing maturity stages of commercially important fruit crops, harvesting methods, pre- cooling methods, grading. Components of cold and ripening chambers. Ripening of fruits. Pre- harvest and post-harvest application of growth substances, fungicides, nutrients, waxes and hot water treatments. Improved packing and storage of important horticultural commodities, Physiological loss in weight of fruits. Estimation of quality characteristics viz; TSS, titratable acidity, firmness, Vitamin C, sugars in stored fruits.

Suggested Readings

1. Kader A A. 2002. Postharvest Technology of Horticultural Crops. (3rd Edn.). University of California. Agricultural and Natural Resources.

2. Wills R, McGlasson B, Graham D and Joyce DC. 2007. An Introduction to the Physiology and Handling of Fruits, Vegetables and Ornamentals, CAB International

3. Saraswathy S, Preethi T L, Balasubramanyam S, Suresh J, Revathy N and Nararajan S. 2010. Postharvest Management of Horticultural Crops. Agrobios publication, Jodhpur.

4. Verma L R and Joshi V K. 2000. Postharvest Technology of Fruits and Vegetables. Vol I, II. Indus Publishing Company. B. Vegetable Science Note: The University/ Institute may offer more electives/courses relevant to the subject.