Relationship of Netted Muskmelon Fruit Water Loss to Postharvest Storage Life

Abstract ‘Magnum 45’ muskmelon fruit, ( Cucumis melo L. var. reticulatus Ser.) either shrink-film-wrapped to maintain a water-saturated microatmosphere or non wrapped, were stored in 4°C, 85-95% RH, and were sampled at 10-day intervals for 40 days postharvest. Fruits maintained in a water-saturated microatmosphere via shrinkwrap exhibited no significant change in percentage of dry weight, firmness, soluble sugars, β-carotene, or a loss of membrane integrity throughout 40 days storage. Shrink-wrap fruit had a 1% reduction in fresh weight, and a decline in appearance rating and surface browning by 40 days postharvest but were generally rated as excellent to good salable quality. Unwrapped fruit maintained in 85-95% RH exhibited progressive decline in appearance, surface browning, percentage of dry weight, soluble sugars, mesocarp firmness, and loss of membrane integrity. No change was observed in β-carotene. Non wrapped fruit had a 5.7% reduction in fresh weight within 20 days postharvest and were generally rated as fair to poor salable quality. Mesocarp membrane integrity during postharvest storage was highly dependent on percentage of fresh weight loss over time for both shrink-film-wrapped and non wrapped muskmelon fruit.