Harvesting and Post Harvest Technology of Dragon Fruit

Harvesting and Post Harvest Technology of Dragon Fruit

HARVESTING AND POSTHARVEST TECHNOLOGY

OF DRAGON FRUIT

Harvesting means the deliberate picking

of the commodity To determine the exact moment when to pick a crop , we have to consider the idea of maturity

The postharvest behavior of a commodity depends on the stage of maturity when it was harvested

Maturity Index- signs or indications of the readiness of the plant for harvest The

basis for determining harvest date

Maturity Index for Dragon fruit

30-35 days after flower opening

Full color development

Size

Dragon fruit is non-climacteric It has no ability to ripen after harvesting Time of harvesting is very

critical

Fruit harvested before optimum stage of

maturity

 Poor quality

 Deteriorate faster

 Lower yield (commodity grows bigger

considerably at the end of fruit maturation

Fruit harvested beyond optimum maturity

 Over ripe

 Cracking

 Not fit for storage