Delivering in good condition and storing of the pomegranate fruits in Iran considered to be a great problem. Variation in genotype, climatic condition before harvesting, temperature, and humidity are belived to have more or less important effects in storing capacity of the crop.
This study was conducted to determine the effect of four different temperature on some storage aspects of four Saveh originated cultivars of pomegranate fruit. These cultivars were Malas Torsh, Saveh Hendes, Shirin Paeizeh (Yazdi) and poust Sefid Torsh (Yazdi) have rather good storage charachters and are dominate in pomogranate cultivation in this region. The effect of four storage temprature of +1, +4, +7°C and the ordinary air temperature, as control, on the length of the storing period was evaluated. A.compeletely randomized design, was used.
Weight reduction, soluble solids, percent dry matter, pH and titrable acidity (T.A) of the fruits were observed in 45 day intervals from the begining of the experiment. The ratio of T.S.S. to T.A. taken as the index for juice flavor, color intensity of the juice and some other qualitative charachters of the fruits.
The results showed that fruit weight was reduced by 8.2% in +1°C treatments while this reduction was 3O.4% with control. The quality of aerials and fruits at the end of the storage period was higher in +1°C treatment than other temperatures. The pH of all cultivars were raised slower in +1°C treatment and faster in control. The rate of this raise for the +1°C treatment was the slowest but for the control was the fastest. No injury on the fruits was observed as the effect of chilling during 4.5 months period of the experiment. The weight of the aerial and some qualitative aspects of the .fruits were different, among cultivars.
It was resulted that the Malas Torsh cultivar has the best storage quality, and the temperature of +1°C provided the most suitable conditions for a longer storage period (4.5 Months) compared to other treatments used.
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