With this project a technique to decrease the metabolism, keep the product´s chemical quality and optimum physical characteristics, and also delay its harvest will be established.
Producers in the southern part of Sinaloa still don't have the technology to enable them to delay the Keitt mango harvest, which would allow the product to enter the market when prices and the demand rises (the price increases between 50% and 100%
when the crop is late).
It is therefore necessary to develop techniques to reduce the metabolism of this mango, and thus harvest it one or two weeks later than normal. To achieve this, phytoregulators (regulating plant growth) ethylene action inhibitors (1-MCP) and
anti-senescences (to slower the ageing process) as well as gibberellic acid and cytokinins are being used.
As an interesting alternative to address this problem Fundación Produce Sinaloa, A.C. (during the 2011-2011-cycle, throughout their southern zone Advisory Council), supports the new project that delays the ripening in Keitt mango, which is treated pre-harvest with 1-MCP, gibberellic acid and cytokinins in southern Sinaloa.
The primary purpose to extend the harvest season mango Mango is classified as climacteric, i.e. once it reaches physiological maturity it is harvested and continues
maturing, hence, if any treatment to reduce their metabolism is not done, it is highly perishable and its shelf life is shortened, which can lead to loss before it reaches its final destination.
This project aims to reduce the metabolism of the Keitt mango, to prolong the harvest season, using plant growth regulators that inhibit the activity of ethylene (1-MCP) and with antisenescence activity (Gibberellins and cytokinins).
The decreased metabolism of the fruit will be evaluated, taking as a variable of response, the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) during postharvest.
The maturation rate was measured according to the physical characteristics (weight loss, firmness, and external and internal color) and chemical (pH, soluble solids and titratable acidity).
The later you have the mango fruit, the more price increases Southern Sinaloa, mainly in the municipalities of Rosario and Escuinapa, is the main production area for mangoes in the state, with about 20,000 hectares of Ataulfo, Tommy Atkins, Kent and Keitt mangoes mainly. The first two varieties mature early (late May and June), the third of intermediate maturity (July) and last late maturation (August and early September).
Despite the good quality of Sinaloa´s mangoes, competition with Jalisco and Nayarit, for the early and intermediate fruit is very strong. Only the Keitt variety is marketed with a better price when you have less supply. Thus, if the fruit is harvested later (September) the price will increase, so they are seeking to expand this window of marketing opportunity as long as possible.
Source: fps