Abstract:
Carambola (Averrhoa carambola L.) is non-climacteric fruit but sensitive to the
presence of ethylene which be able to induce the ripening process in the fruit.
Common assumption when carambola are mixed load with ethylene producer i.e.
mango, it will cause adverse effect on quality of carambola fruit. The aim of this
study is to see the effects of mixed loading of mango (climacteric) and carambola
(non-climacteric) during storage at ambient temperature. The mixed loading ratio of
carambola with mango are in 1:1 (1 kg carambola: 1 kg mango), 1:2 (1 kg carambola:
2 kg mango) and 1:3 (1 kg carambola: 3 kg mango). Evaluation and data obtained of
carambola quality based on the skin surface changes, loss of firmness and total soluble
solid concentration of carambola taken for every 2-day interval for 10 day. As fruit
ripen, L *, a* and b* value was increased for all treatments, indicated that there was
ethylene effect on the pigment during chlorophyll degradation. Treatment 1 (ratio
1: 1 ), showed the lowest rate on degreening of carambola, compared with treatment 3
(ratio 1 :3). For the loss of firmness of carambola, treatment 1 and treatment 2 (ratio
1 :2) appeared to give minimal effect of firmness loss on carambola whereas treatment
3, showed the higher rate of loss in firmness. For total soluble solid concentration,
treatment 1 showed lowest rate in quality changes on total soluble solid concentration
value during storage for 10 days, meanwhile, for treatment 3 showed sharply
decreased of brix value on day 10 of experiment. In conclusion, the best ratio by
weight for mixed loading between carambola and mango was I kg of carambola to 1
kg of mango for 10 days in storage.
