Makapuno is a high-value commercial coconut with distinct sensory attributes, however the postharvest conditions required to maintain quality are unknown. To address this, partially de-husked mature
Makapuno coconut fruit were stored at 2, 5 or 30
◦
C and were then evaluated after transferring to 30
◦
C
for 3 days to simulate conditions in retail markets. During storage at 30
◦
C, the fruit showed a moderate respiration rate of 40–60 mg CO2kg
−1
h
−1
, a low ethylene production rate of 0.6–0.8 L C2H4kg
−1
h
−1
and storage life was 3 days. In contrast, storage at 2
◦
C or 5
◦
C markedly reduced respiration rates to
4 and 20 mg CO2kg
−1
h
−1
, respectively, and storage-life increased dramatically from 3 days to 6 weeks.
Generally, cold storage delayed fruit deterioration by limiting weight loss, kernel browning and malondialdehyde content, however, after the fruits were transferred to 30
◦
C, those previously held at 2
◦
C showed
signs of chilling injury, while those held at 5
◦
C did not. Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) using high
oxygen transmission rate (OTR) bags in combination with 5
◦
C storage extended fruit storage-life 20-fold,
from 3 days at ambient conditions to 10 weeks. The combination of MAP and 5
◦
C storage reduced weight
loss (4-fold), the incidence of surface mold and the quality parameters measured were comparable to
values in freshly harvested fruit.
© 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved