Influence of precooling systems on postharvest quality and shelf life of dragon fruits (Hylocereus polyrhizus)

Postharvest loss management has attained the main concern in the current world for the growing population and to ensure global food security. As a non-climacteric fruit, proper postharvest management is vital for dragon fruits in the context of decreasing postharvest losses and extending shelf life. A factorial experiment consisting of three locations (Tala, Dumuria, Keshobpur), and three precooling systems (without cooling, hydro cooling, CoolBot-AC cooling) was conducted to evaluate physico-chemical quality attributes of dragon fruits. The results showed that physico-chemical quality attributes were significantly influenced by precooling systems in which the CoolBot-AC cooling system significantly reduced weight loss by more than 9 % and extended shelf life by more than 2.5 days. Of the three-precooling system, the CoolBot-AC system significantly performed better resulting in higher flesh weight, flesh and pericarp ratio, edible portion, moisture, and dry matter content over other precooling systems. Similarly, CoolBot-AC precooling system performed pointedly better than other precooling systems and retained acceptable skin colour, firmness, high levels of TSS content, 12.03 % more anthocyanins, 30.73 % more flavonoid, 32.55 % more total phenols, 24.22 % more carotenoid, and high levels of ascorbic acid content. No statistical variation was documented among locations with a few exceptions. Therefore, the results indicated that CoolBot-AC precooling system could be an effective postharvest management strategy for prolonging shelf life and reducing postharvest losses of dragon fruit.