Impact of different packaging types and low temperature shipping durations on fruit quality and marketability of Pakistani mangoes

Corrugated cardboard boxes are being used for the export of mango fruit worldwide. However, for sea freight, the performance of cardboard box (open vs closed) needs to be evaluated for shipment under low temperature conditions. Under this perspective, two different types of corrugated cardboard box packaging were compared for their effect on the quality, marketability and consumer acceptability in two commercial mango cultivars (Sindhri & Sufaid Chaunsa) of Pakistan under simulated harvest, handling and shipping conditions with storage (11 degree C; 80-85% RH) intervals of 3, 4 and 5 weeks. Both Sindhri and Sufaid Chaunsa mangoes packed in open top boxes had higher marketability with better firmness and higher sugar contents (less softness score; significant in case of cv. Sufaid Chaunsa only) at ripening as compared to the fruit of closed top boxes. However, the problem of comparatively less peel color development in case of open top packaging needs to be addressed for improving the competitiveness of fruit at retail. Physiological weight loss and rate of respiration were statistically at par in both types of packaging in both cultivars. The low temperature storage duration had significant impact on various physico-chemical and organoleptic fruit quality attributes of both cultivars. Fruit peel color and textural softness were significantly increased with the increase of storage period (from three to five weeks). Moreover, increased weight loss percentage and reduced marketable fruit percentage were observed as the storage/shipping period was extended from three weeks to five weeks. But overall, cv. Sindhri had higher percentage of marketable fruit at all removals due to lower incidence of disease. The trend of disease development was increased in duration of low temperature storage; however, it was less in case of cv. Sindhri, thus indicating its better shipping potential with lower disease incidence as compared to cv. Sufaid Chaunsa. The respiration rate increased with advancement in post shipment ripening stages (i.e., at removal day, after ethylene treatment & at final day of ripening). Overall, open top packaging was found to be more advantageous as compared to closed top packaging, in both cultivars under low temperature storage (11 degree C; 80-85% RH). More research work is needed for post harvest disease management, particularly in cv. Sufaid Chaunsa, to have commercial success in sea-freighting this cultivar.