EMULSION COATING TO EXTEND POSTHARVEST LIFE OF MANGO (MANGIFERA-INDICA CV MANILA)

A coating emulsion was prepared using maltodextrins, carboxymethylcell ulose, propileneglycol and a mixture of sorbitan fatty acid esters wit h an HLB of 6. The emulsion was sprayed on fully mature, unripened man ila mangoes, which were the stored at 15 and 25C and 80-85 % R.H. At 2 5C it was observed that rate CO2 production increased and lost in cont rol fruits after 12 days of storage. Coated mangoes kept their rate CO 2 production and suffered only 8% weight loss after 21 days of storage . After storage, the coating was washed out and fruits were allowed to ripen naturally, which occurred in 3-4 days. The results obtained fro m this study indicate that application of the hydrophobic coating exte nded the postharvest storage of mangoes for at least 20 days more than uncoated fruits.