Experiments on the storage of limes at tropical ambient temperature

Abstract

When stored in air under tropical ambient conditions of high temperature and low relative humidity, 'West Indian' limes rapidly lost weight and turned yellow. Weight loss was reduced by enclosure of fruits in polyethylene bags or by storage at high relative humidity (rh). Degreening was slowed down by treatment with N6-benzyladenlne or gibberellic acid. Combination of hormone application with storage in polyethylene bags or at high rh enabled fruit to be preserved for 65 days or more at ambient temperature. Hormone treatment did not adversely affect fruit firmness, or the percentage of soluble solids or titratable acidity of the juice.