Abstract: Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) coatings alone and in combination with gamma irradiation were tested for maintaining the storage quality and extending shelf life of pear. Matured green pears were CMC coated at levels 0.25% to 1.0% w/v and gamma irradiated at 1.5 kGy. The treated fruit including control was stored under ambient (temperature 25 ± 2 °C, RH 70%) and refrigerated (temperature 3 ± 1 °C, RH 80%) conditions. Irradiation alone at 1.5 kGy gave 8 and 4 d extension in shelf life of pear following 45 and 60 d of refrigeration, respectively. CMC coating at 1.0% w/v was effective in giving 6 and 2 d extension in shelf life of pear following 45 and 60 d of refrigeration, respectively. All combinatory treatments delayed the decaying of pear during postrefrigerated storage, but combination of 1.0% w/v CMC and 1.5 kGy irradiation proved significantly (P≤ 0.05) effective in maintaining the storage quality and delaying the decaying of pear. The above combinatory treatment gave an extension of 12 and 6 d in shelf life of pear during postrefrigerated storage at 25 ± 2 °C, RH 70% following 45 and 60 d of refrigeration.
Practical Application: Among the Pear varieties grown in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, William pear has 2nd leading position next to apple both in terms of cultivation and production. Being a climacteric fruit, it has short shelf life due to its fast ripening behavior. The short shelf life is a major constraint in the marketing chain of the produce. Microbial contamination of the produce also results in losses and poses potential health risks. We have evaluated the use of combinatory treatment of carboxymethyl cellulose coating (1.0% w/v CMC) and low‐dose gamma irradiation (1.5 kGy) to extend the shelf life of William pear. We found that the combinatory treatment of CMC coating (1.0% w/v) and low‐dose irradiation (1.5 kGy) appears to be promising method for improving the storage quality and extending the shelf life of the William pear. The combinatory treatment can be applied so as to facilitate servicing to farther markets.