Optimizing packaging and storage of red mulberry fruits to augment post-harvest life

Downloads

Published

2026-06-30

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58993/ijh/2026.83.2.16

Keywords:

Morus rubra L., sugars, anthocyanins, sensory quality, spoilage.
Dimensions Badge

Issue

Vol. 83 No. 02 (2026): Indian Journal of Horticulture

Section

Research Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 P. S. Gurjar, M. K. Berwal, K. L. Kumawat, D. K. Sarolia

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Authors

  • P. S. Gurjar ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner 334006, Rajasthan, India
  • M. K. Berwal ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner 334006, Rajasthan, India
  • K. L. Kumawat ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner 334006, Rajasthan, India
  • D. K. Sarolia ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner 334006, Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Mulberry fruits are highly perishable and susceptible to physical damage during post-harvest handling. This study was carried out to assess the shelf life of red mulberry fruits (cv. ‘Thar Lohit’) under ambient conditions (38-42°C; 55-60% RH) and low temperature storage (5±1°C; 85-90% RH). In addition, effect of packing materials, including plastic punnets, CFB boxes with 0.3% and 0.5% aeration, brown paper bags and muslin cloth bags on storage life was also studied. Plastic punnets and CFB boxes significantly reduced weight loss, minimized spoilage, and delayed biochemical changes during 3 days of storage under ambient conditions. Low-temperature storage combined with plastic punnet box packaging extended storage to 8 days while maintaining freshness and market acceptability. Under cold storage, total soluble solids (TSS), sugars, phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidants increased gradually up to 10 days but declined by day 12. The study concluded that red mulberry fruits (cv. Thar Lohit) can be stored in plastic punnets or CFB boxes for 2 days under ambient conditions and 8 days under low temperatures without compromising sensory quality.

How to Cite

Gurjar, P. S., Berwal, M. K., Kumawat, K. L., & Sarolia, D. K. (2026). Optimizing packaging and storage of red mulberry fruits to augment post-harvest life. Indian Journal of Horticulture, 83(02), 241–246. https://doi.org/10.58993/ijh/2026.83.2.16

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

M. K. Berwal, ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner 334006, Rajasthan, India

Senior Scientist, Plant Biochemistry

K. L. Kumawat, ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner 334006, Rajasthan, India

Scientist, Fruit Science

D. K. Sarolia, ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner 334006, Rajasthan, India

Principal Scientist Fruit Science

References

1. AOAC. 2012. Official Method of Analysis: Association of Analytical Chemists. 19th Edition, Washington DC, 2012, 121-130.

2. Bao, T., Li, Y., Xie, J., Jia, Z., and Chen W. 2019. Systematic evaluation of polyphenols composition and antioxidant activity of mulberry cultivars subjected to gastrointestinal digestion and gut microbiota fermentation. J. Funct. Foods. 58: 338–349.

3. Berwal, M.K., Haldhar, S.M., Ram, C., Shil, S., Kumar, R., Gora, J.S., Singh, D., Samadia, D.K. and Kumar, M. 2021. Calligonum polygonoides L. as novel source of bioactive compounds in hot arid regions: evaluation of phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity. Plants, 10: 1156. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10061156.

4. Bianco, R.L. and Mirabella, F. 2018. Use of leaf and fruit morphometric analysis to identify and classify white mulberry (Morus alba L.) genotypes. Agriculture. 8(10): 157. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture8100157.

5. Dubois, M., Gilles, K.A., Hamilton, J.K. and Smith, F. 1956. Colorimetric method for determination of sugars and related substances. Anal. Chem. 28(3): 350.

6. Fan, D., Wang, W., Hao, Q. and Jia W. 2022. Do non-climacteric fruits share a common ripening mechanism of hormonal regulation? Front. Plant Sci. 13: 923484. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.923484.

7. Han, Q., Gao, H., Chen, H., Fang, X. and Wu, W. 2017. Precooling and ozone treatments affects postharvest quality of black mulberry (Morus nigra) fruits. Food Chem. 221: 1947–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.11.152.

8. Kaur, K. Dhillon, W.S. and Mahajan, B.V.C. 2013. Effect of different packaging materials and storage intervals on physical and biochemical characteristics of pear. J. Food Sci. Technol. 50(1): 147–52. 10.1007/s13197-011-0317-0.

9. Lashkari, E. 2022. Effect of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on the stability of anthocyanins and degradation of phenolic compounds during postharvest storage of pomegranate fruit. Food Nutr. Sci. 13: 316-335.

10. Lee, J., Durst, R.W. and Wrolstad, R.E. 2005. Determination of total monomeric anthocyanin pigment content of fruit juices, beverages, natural colorants, and wines by the pH differential method: Collaborative study. J. AOAC Int. 88: 1269–1278. https://doi.org/10.1093/jaoac/88.5.1269.

11. Li, Z. Liu, Y. Xiang, J, Wang, C. Jonson, J.B & Beta, T. 2023. Diverse polyphenol components contribute to antioxidant activity and hypoglycemic potential of mulberry varieties. LWT-Food Sci. Technol. 173: 114308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2022.114308.

12. Medini, F., Fellah, H., Ksouri, R. and Abdelly, C. 2014. Total phenolic, flavonoid and tannin contents and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of organic extracts of shoots of the plant Limonium delicatulum. J Taibaan Univ Sci. 8(3): 216-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtusci.2014.01.003.

13. Nielsen, T. and Leufvén, A. 2008. The effect of modified atmosphere packaging on the quality of Honeoye and Korona strawberries. Food Chem. 107(3): 1053–1063.

14. Park, J.H., Hong, S.I., Jeong, M.C., and Kim, D.M. 2013. Quality characteristics and changes in mulberry (Morus alba L.) depending on their maturity during distribution. Korean J. Food Preserv. 20: 304-16.

15. Sarolia, D.K., Saroj, P.L., Reddy, VRS, Singh, D and Meena, A. 2022. Influence of weather variables on different phenophases of mulberry. Ind. J. Hortic. 79(2): 215-20.

16. Singh, S., Singh, N.P., Mahajan, B.V.C. and Sidhu, G.S. 2021. Response of strawberry fruits to low temperature and ambient storage conditions. Indian J. Hortic. 78(1): 111-117.

17. Tinebra, I., Sortino, G., Inglese, P., Fretto, S. and Farina, V. (2021). Effect of different modified atmosphere packaging on the quality of mulberry fruit (Morus alba L. cv Kokuso 21). Int. J. Food Sci. 2021: https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8844502.

18. Yavic, A. 2024. Detailed study on cold storage of mulberry fruits: Effect of postharvest putrescine treatments on quality characteristics and biochemical properties of mulberry fruits. J. Food Compos. Anal. 126: 105916. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2023.105916.

Similar Articles

<< < 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.