Abstract:

Effects of storage temperature, chemical fungicides and coating treatment on peel browning, weight loss,
decay incidence and seed quality indexes of ‘Heyin’ pomegranate were studied. The results showed that chilling injury
of pomegranate fruit appeared at 4.5 ℃, peel browning was more serious and decay incidence was higher during 120-d
storage. Effects of coating treatment with 1% chitosan on reducing peel browning index, weight loss, and decay incidence
were better than those of 1% sodium alginate and 1% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. The decay incidence of pomegranate
fruits was reduced after dipping for 60 s in 1 000-fold diluted thiabendazole, thiophanate methyl and arbendazim, with no
significant differences in decay incidence seen among the three fungicides. Dipping in 1 000-fold diluted thiabendazole for
1 min, coating treatment with 1% chitosan and packaging with 0.015-mm thick plastic bags were found to be optimal for
the preservation of pomegranate quality during storage at 6 ℃ and a relative humidity of 85%. After 120 days of storage,
weight loss rate, peel browning index, soluble solids content and seed quality score were 3.46%, 2.13%, 0.11, 14.5% and 92,
respectively, implying high commodity value of pomegranate.

Key words: storage temperature, coating, fungicides, preservation, ‘Heyin&rsquo, pomegranate