Storage temperature, postharvest treatments, market life and quality of winter melon (Cucumis melo L. group inodorus)

In Southern Italy, many landraces and cultivars of winter melons are harvested at full size, but partially ripe, during August-September, stored and offered for sale until Christmas holidays. Generally, during long term storage deterioration develops causing product losses. The fruits of group inodorus are subject to chilling injury and very scarce information is available on post-harvest physiology and storage. Experiments were conducted to investigate the best storage temperature and the effect of some post-harvest treatments on the duration of storage and quality of fruits (cv. Amarillo oro) harvested at 45 days after anthesis during August. The effect of three temperatures (5-10 and 15 °C) was investigated. Fruits were treated as follows: 1) held submerged in water bath at 50 °C for 2 minutes; 2) 24 hours in 30% CO2 atmosphere; 3) sprayed with a 0.25 % (v/v) H2O2 solution; 4) sprayed with a 0.01 M 2,5-dimethoxybenzoic (2,5-DMBA) acid solution. At twenty-day intervals, the texture, acidity, soluble solids, glucose, fructose and sucrose content of the edible mesocarp tissue were followed. The development of fruit decay also was assessed. Fruits stored better at 15 °C. Hot water and 2,5-DMBA treatments provided effective protection against storage rots; after 60 days in storage, 47% of melons was still marketable. Results confirmed the importance of pre-storage disinfectant treatments which can provide fruits free from field parasitic bacteria and/or fungi.