Abstract:
Effect of duration after storage on quality of fresh cut dragon fruit was studied. Fresh cut dragon
fruit was prepared on day 0, 2, 4 and 6 after storage. The fresh cut product was packed in foam tray
with PVC film wrapping and then was stored at 4 OC. Fresh cut dragon fruit prepared on day 2 after
storage had high quality and high ratio of SS and TA, and vitamin C content compared with other
treatments. Fresh weight loss was also lowered in fresh cut product prepared on day 2 after storage.
Fresh cut dragon fruit prepared on day 2 after storage had highest visual acceptance score during
shelf life of 10 days. Dragon fruit was irradiated by UV-C at 0, 1.8, 3.6 and 7.2 kJ/m2 prior and
after cutting. The fresh cut product was also packed in foam tray with PVC film wrapping and then
was stored at 4 OC. The results showed that UV-C treatment after cutting the dragon fruit delayed
total bacterial growth especially at the dose of 3.6 and 7.2 kJ/m2. However, UV-C treatment at 3.6
kJ/m2 after cutting dragon fruit maintained better quality, and delayed fresh weight loss and vitamin
C loss compared with those at 7.2 kJ/m2. In addition, the effect of UV-C at 3.6 kJ/m2 was studied
with fresh cut dragon fruit before and after wrapping PVC film. UV-C irradiation before wrapping
fresh cut dragon fruit with PVC film reduced total bacteria, yeasts and coliform growth compared
with UV-C irradiation after wrapping. However, there was no significantly difference in qualities of
fresh cut dragon fruit between UV-C treatment before and after wrapping with PVC film.