Responses of MD2 pineapple to postharvest application of calcium incombination with hot water treatments during storage

The post-harvest handling of pineapple fruits is targeted at providing an ideal quality for consumers. This study aimed to determine the impact of calcium combined with hot water treatments associated with the postharvest quality of MD2 pineapple. The treatments employed were A (Control: No use of CaCl2 and hot water treatment), B (0% CaCl2 + hot water treatment), C (2% CaCl2 + hot water treatment), D (4% CaCl2 + hot water treatment), E (6% CaCl2 + hot water treatment), implemented in two pineapple harvest stages, dark green skin color and light green skin color. The calcium content in the flesh and skin, together with the water content, firmness, total soluble solids, and total acidity level of the fruits were analyzed postharvest during storage conditions. Regarding the dark green skin color, the treatment employing CaCl2 (6%) with hot water treatment for five mins gave the best performance, providing the most elevated calcium content in the flesh, an ideal level in the skin, and optimal values of water content, total soluble solids (TSS) and total acidity (TA) in the fruits. On the contrary, for the light green skin color stage, the treatment that provided the best response was the one that only used hot water treatment, having the most elevated calcium content in the flesh. Also, the treated pineapples had an ideal level in the skin, optimal values of water content, firmness of the flesh, and TSS and TA in the fruits examined. In conclusion, the postharvest application of calcium together with hot water treatments can affect the postharvest quality of MD2 pineapple depending on its physiological harvest stage.