A study on the effect of palm based coating treatment on the postharvest shelflife of starfruits (Averrhoa carambola) var.B10

Abstract

Starfruit, Carambola averrhoa var. B 10, were coated with different concentration level of palm-based coating. Three different concentration level of palm-based coating were classified based on the ratio of Palm wax to the ratio of 5000g of Palm oil. This was done to obtain different concentration level of coatings which were assumed as various thickness of coatings. Treatments includes Tl (500g of Palm wax with 5000g of Palm oil) with ratio 1: 10, T2 (1500g of Palm wax with 5000g of Palm oil) with ratio 3: 10, T3 (2500g of Palm wax with 5000g of Palm oil) with ratio 5: 10 and TO as the control. Each treatment had 3 replicates and each replicates had 54 samples of Starfruits. Samples were arranged in each personal boxes for each replicates and were located at the laboratory with an ambient temperature. 3 main parameters has been used throughout this experiment which are the weight loss, fruit colour and Total Soluble Solid (TSS). At the end of this research, it was found that level concentration of Palm-based coating treatments in 5: 10 ratio shows the best result in parameters chosen which are weight loss and fruit colour, on the postharvest shelf life of Starfruit (Averrhoa carambola) during 8 days of storage period at ambient temperature. However, there were no significant difffrence (p < 0.05) on the g th day of storage period based on the analysis done.