The effects of different harvesting dates on shelf lif of muskmelon (Cucumes melo)

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of harvesting dates on shelf life of muskmelon (cucumis melo) in laboratory study. The harvesting dates for muskmelon are refer to 65 days one week before actual date, 75 days was the age of muskmelon after transplanting and the third harvesting was 80 days. After harvested, it was stored at ambient temperature 25°C for 9 days. The parameters that been used for this experiment were ph, Total Soluble Solid (TSS), color changes of flesh, firmness flesh of muskmelon and vitamin C content. The second and third harvesting had a higher value of TSS which means it contain higher amount of sugar than the first harvesting. Second and third harvesting showed that the values of vitamin C were decreased after storage. The second harvesting and third harvesting also had consistently the value of pH .. The third harvesting showed the texture of fruits had softer. It is because fruits harvested at third harvesting over mature and soften progressively during ripening. The lightness (L value) decreased slightly in muskmelon as maturity was increased. Muskmelon became darker in color. Result indicated that the second harvesting is the best harvested because it contain high value of vitamin C and sugar. It also have the good quality of shelf life.