Strawberry is a non-climacteric fruit and harvested at different
stages of maturity, depending on the cultivar and market
preference. However, maturity indices as well as
harvesting time mostly varied with cultivars (Kafkas et al.,
2007; Kader, 1999) and to some extent with location and
weather conditions. Unripe fruits are more prone to shriveling
and physical injuries, and have poor flavour quality when ripe.
Overripe fruits become soft and mealy with insipid flavour
soon after harvest. Fruits picked either too early or too late
in their season are more susceptible to postharvest physiological
disorders than fruits picked at the proper stage of maturity
(Kader, 1999). Ripe strawberries have high soluble solids, total
sugars, total ascorbic acid, and pH, and have low firmness and
acidity. Thin cell walls in strawberry fruits lead to fruit softening
and high level of susceptibility to physical fruit injuries
(Kader, 1991). Strawberries are highly perishable which is
accelerated under subtropical high humid climate of Bangladesh.
Strawberries are susceptible to fungal decay, which is
speed up under subtropical high humid climate like Bangladesh.
As it is a new crop in Bangladesh, no information is
available on maturity stages and post harvest quality.