Irradiation of mangoes. II. Radiation effects on skin-coated Alphonso mangoes

Abstract

The respiratory patterns of skin-coated and uncoated Alphonso mangoes, either unirradiated or irradiated under gaseous atmospheres like air, nitrogen, or carbon dioxide, were studied. The skins were coated with an emulsion made of an acetylated monoglyceride preparation. Skin-coated fruits show physiological damage presumably due to too much inhibition of respiration. This defect is rectified by a spurt in respiratory activity when fruits are irradiated in air or nitrogen. Irradiation in carbon dioxide, which also retards respiration, shows physiological damage which is reversible, the recovery of organoleptic qualities being possible to some extent. Suppression of respiration beyond an optimum level seems to be responsible for irreversible damage to the fruit. Organoleptic evaluation, analysis for fruit constituents, skin color, and pressure tests showed that storage life of the fruit can be increased by combining skin-coating with irradiation under either air or nitrogen.