conversion of starch in to sugars during storage. Fruits
coated with various coatings showed a slow increase in
total sugars as compared to uncoated (control) fruits (Fig.-
3). All the treatments showed an increase in total sugars
with the increase in storage period. Maximum increase in
total sugars was recorded in control fruits, but this increase
was only up to 45 days of storage after that a decline was
recorded. Fruits coated with chitosan and alovera gel
showed an increase in total sugars up to 60 days of
storage, whereas fruits treated with Carboxymethyl
cellulose (CMC) @ 0.25% showed this increase up to 67
days of storage. The increase in total sugars during storage
might be due to water loss and fast hydrolysis of acids,
starch and polysaccharides to soluble form of sugars.
Similarly Dhillon et al. (1981) reported the increase in
total sugars with the advancement of storage period in pear
fruits. Singh (2004) also reported a slow increase in
sugars in wax coated pear fruits as compared to control.