2.3. Fruit decay, firmness and surface color measurements
Fruit decay was visually evaluated. Fruit with visible mold
growth was considered rotten. The severity of fruit decay was
expressed as percentage of fruit showing decay symptoms.
Fruit firmness measurement was conducted by a TA-XT plus
texture analyzer (Stable Micro Systems Ltd., U.K.) with a 5 mm
diameter stainless probe. Firmness was measured on the
equatorial region of each fruit. Ten fruit from each treatment
were compressed 3 mm at a rate of 1.0 mm s1 and the maximum
force (Newtons) developed during the test was recorded.
Color attributes (L*, a* and b*) were measured with a Minolta
Chroma meter (Konica Minolta, CR-400, Japan) using the CIE scale.
The equipment was calibrated with a white plate before use. A total
of 20 fruit measurements were examined from each treatment.