Abstract:
'Rong-rein' rambutans were stored in Controlled Atmosphere (CA) and ModifiedAtmosphere to investigate the prolonging of storage life. Under CA condition, rambutans werestored under 0.03'1/0, 1% ,5% ,lo% and 20% carbon dioxide at 1 3 ' ~an d 20'~.I t was found thatthe fruits stored under normal atmosphere (0.03%C02) at 2 0 ' ~an d 1 3 ' ~ha d storage life of 6days and 10 days, respectively. Carbon dioxide injury was observed on fruits stored at 2 0 ' ~under 5% ,lo% and 20% CO,. The storage life of fruits stored at 1 3 ' ~un der 1%, 5% ,lo% and20% CO, were 12, 14, 18 and 12 days, respectively. It was observed that the fruits stored at 1 3 ' ~ ,under 10% CO, maintained the best quality, had the least weight loss and respiration rate.Moreover, concentration of ethylene production was lowest and the fruits colour showed the bestappearance. Pretreatment with high CO, for short period was studied. Rambutans were placedunder 20% and 40% CO, for 30,90 and 120 minutes then stored at 1 3 ' an d 90-95 %RH. Therewere no difference among treatments. The fruits could be stored up to 10 days. Under modifiedatmosphere, rambutans were treated under 20% and 40% CO, for 30, 90 and 120 minutes. Thefruits were packed in polyethylene (PE bag) modified atmosphere. All CO, treated and untreatedfruits could be stored up to 16 days.The most effective treatments in prolonging of storage life of rainbutans from thisstudied was CA storage under 10 %CO, at 13 ?C.