Orchard locality and postharvest oxalic acid application influence fruit quality and shelf life of Jamun (Syzygium cumini L.) fruit

Abstract

Jamun is a highly nutritious fruit crop having a short shelf life. This study was performed to evaluate the
effect of harvest location and oxalic acid treatment on fruit quality, shelf life, biochemical attributes and antioxidative
activity in jamun fruit under ambient conditions. The fruit was sourced from two different locations in the Multan
region and subjected to various postharvest oxalic acid (OA) applications (T0: Control, T1: 0.5 mM, T2: 1 mM,
T3: 2 mM). The treated fruits were subjected to physicochemical evaluation at shelf under ambient environment
(25±2 ºC & 55-60% RH). Harvest location significantly affected various physical, biochemical and antioxidative
attributes of jamun fruit. The fruit harvested from OrchardII exhibited lower weight loss and fruit shriveling with
higher titratable acidity (TA), vitamin C, total phenolic contents (TPC) and enzyme activity of superoxide
dismutase (SOD), while, soluble solid contents (SSC), SSC: TA ratio, total antioxidants and activities of catalase