Investigation of the preservation temperature and stripping on sunflower oil emulsion on storage quality on melon.

This research was conducted in Khorasan Agricultural and Natural Resources center in order to determine the proper tempreture for storing different cultivars of melon( ghasry, khaghany and tashkandy) and select the best concentration and time for treating by the emulsion of sunflower plant oil and sodium bicarbonate. In the first year, harvesting time of the different cultivars of melon were determined by maturity test. After pre cooling and sorting, the fruits were dipped in sunflower emulation(3%, 5%) and sodium bicabonate 2% for 5 and 10 minutes. All the treatments and control were stored in cold storage at different tempretures of 1, 5, 10, 18, 25 degree centigrade and relative humidity of 90-95% for 1.5 months. Quantative and qualitative characteristics of melon (decay, weight loss, chilling injury, total soluble solids, flesh firmness, sugar content) were measurd immediately after harvest and at 15 days intervals. Organoleptic test was done at the end of the storage time. All the experimants were repeated in the second year. The result of qualitative tests were analyzed by 4 factors factorial in completely randomized design by 3 replicates. The resultes of organoleptic test were analyzed by 3 factorial adopted completely randomized design. The results showed that dipping the fruit in 3% sunflower oil + 2% sodium bicarbonate for 10 minutes( treatment no.7), dipping the fruit in 5% sunflower oil + 2% sodium bicarbonate for 5 minutes( treatment no.8) and dipping in 5% oil + 2% sodium bicarbonate for 10 minutes( treatment no.9) maintained quantitative and qualitative characteristics in khaghany cultivar. Thashkandi and ghasri were in the next ranks. Using sodium bicarbonate prevented yeast and moulds growth, decreased decay and enhanced total acceptance of fruit.Acording to the quantative, qualitative, and sensory characteristics and financial issues, storage tempretures of 1 and 5 degree centigrade are suitable for storing khaghani, tashkandi and ghasri cultivars, respectively.