Improving mango quality through accurate harvest maturity (MG13015)

What was it all about?

If mangoes are damaged or blemished it reduces the desirability of the fruit at the point of sale. Fruit maturity is another consumer consideration.

This project was developed to provide an objective assessment of these two quality parameters, both in the field and in the market place.

The project involved two activities…

• Testing for maturity, as measured by dry matter, prior to harvest - a pilot study to assess the value and functionality of the activity
  
  
• In market assessment of mango consignments in the Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth wholesale markets. 

Over 215 dry matter tests and 38 Brix tests for fruit sweetness were undertaken in the Northern Territory.

Over 1000 consignments were inspected by independent quality assessors across four markets. Of these, 400 consignments were tested for Brix levels with more detailed quality assessments and Brix testing done at random. The consignments were assessed for a range of defects and disorders.

Researchers found that resin canal, which has become a significant issue over the past two seasons, was evident in fruit from several regions, especially in riper fruit.

Other significant issues and defects were skin browning, sap burn, field blemish and lenticel spots.

Researchers concluded that there was a high incidence of defects blemishing the appearance of mangoes at the wholesale market, but the fruit are still saleable.