Effects of various salt concentrations on shelf life and quality of Eriobotrya japonica fruit at ambient temperature

Eriobotrya japonica (Loquat), a subtropical evergreen tree, is a good source of minerals and phytochemicals; its fruit is disbursed in fresh and preserved forms. At the same time, its kernel is rich in protein and carbohydrates. The study was conducted to determine the effects of several salt concentrations in E. japonica fruits at ambient conditions. Weight-tovolume ratios were prepared for two concentrations of both KCl and NaCl. Fruit weight, seed weight, and flesh weight were calculated by standard electrical balance. The total number of seeds in the fruit, including the total number of healthy seeds and total no of aborted seeds, was also calculated manually. The result shows that the maximum fruit weight was calculated in fruit treated with 6g NaCl and the minimum fruit weight was calculated in Control. Maximum flesh weight was calculated after 9 days in fruits coated with 6g NaCl, and minimum flesh weight was calculated in uncoated fruits. The maximum total antioxidants and total phenolic compounds (TPC) were measured at 6 days of storage. Total phenolic compounds (TPC) activity was calculated after 9 days in uncoated fruits and coated fruits which were minimum in fruits coated with 6g KCl. It was concluded that the salts might maintain the fruit quality at ambient temperature and preserve maximum fruit quality for 9 days of storage.