@article{Muiruri:334069,
      recid = {334069},
      author = {Muiruri, Jacinta and Ambuko, Jane and Nyankanga, Richard  and Owino, Willis O},
      title = {Maturity indices of specific mango varieties produced at  medium altitude agro-ecological zone in Kenya},
      journal = {African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and  Development},
      address = {2022},
      year = {2022},
      abstract = {The high postharvest losses (40 – 50%) reported in the  mango value chain are partly attributed to lack of reliable  maturity indices. Harvest maturity is dictated by the  intended use and the target market for the fruits. The aim  of this study was to establish maturity indices of three  commercial mango varieties namely ‘Van dyke,’ ‘Kent’ and  ‘Tommy Atkins’ in Embu County of Kenya. At least eighteen  mango trees (six per variety) were randomly tagged at 50%  flowering in each of the three selected small-scale farms  in Embu County. Number of days from flowering to different  maturity stages were recorded (computational method). For  each variety and maturity stage, five fruits were randomly  sampled from the pool and analysed for physical (size,  density, firmness, colour), physiological (ethylene  evolution and respiration rate) and biochemical  (obrix/Total Soluble Solids (TSS), total titratable acidity  (TTA) and their ratio) indices of maturity.  The results  showed that although size increased as the fruits  developed, it was not a reliable index of maturity since  some small-sized fruits attained advanced maturity earlier  than others that were large-sized.  The weight of the  fruits fluctuated as the fruits developed and similar trend  was observed on the specific gravity. Flesh firmness  decreased gradually with maturity from a mean firmness of  40.54 N to 6.84 N. Tommy Atkins exhibited the lowest  firmness levels at stage 4.  Kent variety had the lowest  ethylene at all stages while Tommy Atkins variety had the  highest respiration rate of 21.40 ml/kg/hr at stage 1,  which increased gradually to 32.10 ml/kg/hr at stage 4. The  highest TSS: TTA values were reported in Kent variety. The  results revealed significant differences in maturity  indices of the three mango varieties despite similar  physical indices. This study confirms the unreliability of  physical maturity indices such as size and shape in  establishing the right harvest stage of mango fruits.  Computational, physiological and biochemical maturity  indices should be incorporated in determination of accurate  harvest maturity for mango.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/334069},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.111.22025},
}