Course Code : ABF 415

Course Title : Postharvest Physiology and Technology

Weekly lecture and application hours of the course: 3-2

Course Description:Theoretical part: Quality of horticultural products, Factors affecting postharvest life of horticultural products, maturity indices,ethylene and its inhibitors

(1-methylycyclopropene), pre- harvest factors affecting postharvest life of horticultural products, harvesting systems, preparation of horticulturalproducts for the market, precooling and cooling systems, modified/controlled atmosphere storage, transportation of horticultural products,physiological disorders, postharvest losses due to fungi. Lab exercises: Sources of information about postharvest physiology and technology(introductory note), determination of ascorbic acid content, maturity indices (physical characteristics), maturity indices (chemicalcharacteristics), maturity indices (physiological characteristics), organoleptic characteristics, determination of total phenol content,determination of total antioxidant capacity, determination of total carotenoids, cell wall preparation and fractionation, determination of neutral sugars and uranic acid content. The course also includes visits to packing houses and storage facilities.

Textbooks and supplementary books:

  1. Postharvest Physiology and Storage of Tropical and Subtropical Fruits (Fourth Edition) by S.K. Mitra ISBN-10: 0851992102 ISBN-13: 978-0851992105

  2. Postharvest Ripening Physiology of Crops by Sunil Pareek ISBN 9781498703802

  3. Fruit and Vegetables: Harvesting, Handling and Storage, 2nd Edition by Keith Thompson ISBN: 978-1-4051-0619-1

Course Evaluation:

  • Class Participation 10%,

  • Mid-term Examination 30%,

  • Assignments 10%,

  • Final Examination 50%,

Attendance 95%compulsory