Ayman H Amer Eissa
Minoufiya university,Egypt
Title: Monitoring of changing in cantaloupe quality under forced air cooling
Biography
Biography: Ayman H Amer Eissa
Abstract
Cantaloupe fruits (Cucumis melo) harvested at the mature stage were precooled by forced air cooling (1-2 m/s air velocity) at 5oC, 10oC and 15oC. Fruit temperature expectedly decreased from an initial level of about 36-38oC to the desired storage temperature of 15oC at the most rapid rate at 5oC, for about 45 min. Cooling time increased to 105 and 165 min when precooling temperature increased to 10oC and 15oC, respectively. During subsequent storage at 15oC with 90-95% relative humidity, precooled fruits were exhibit more desirable characteristics than that of non-precooled fruits (control), precooling was retard softening. Non precooled fruits “Control” turned ripe-soft after 15 days when firmness decreased to less than 10 N from about 90 N at the unripe stage.