Journal of Agriculture and Food Research (Dec 2023)
Appropriate harvest age of mango (Mangifera indica cv. Arumanis) for quality assurance in long distance transportation planning in Indonesia
Abstract
Transportation of mango (Mangifera indica) is a significant challenge in a large archipelago country like Indonesia. This study addresses the quality assurance problem of long-distance transportation of mangoes from Java Island, Indonesia, and recommends the optimal harvest age for different transportation schemes in the Indonesian mango supply chain. The study investigated harvested mangoes at three different maturity levels and evaluated their quality characteristics, including climacteric peak and respiration rate, total soluble solids, acidity, firmness, dry matter concentration, and weight loss. Samples were kept in their respective packaging during storage to imitate transportation conditions, and an Internet of Things (IoT)-based system was used for real-time monitoring and remote access to the storage conditions information. Long-distance transportation cases of six destinations with different distances, modes of transportation, travel durations, and environmental conditions were studied. Mango harvested at 105 and 108 days after flowering is suitable for consumption, while the harvest age of 90–95 days after flowering is recommended for longer transportation durations involving non-refrigerated and refrigerated vehicles. The harvest age of 105 days after flowering is appropriate for long-distance transportation with non-refrigerated vehicles, while 108 days after flowering is only recommended for inter-province transportation with non-refrigerated vehicles with a short duration of transportation. The existing practice where one harvest age applies for all destinations cannot be recommended as quality deterioration and/or inappropriate maturity level at destination may occur. The results emphasize the importance of determining the optimal harvest time based on the climacteric peak and quality changes during storage to ensure that mangoes meet consumer demands and maximize their quality and shelf life.
