STORAGE TEMPERATURE AFFECTS FRUIT QUALITY ATTRIBUTES OF
BER (ZIZIPHUS MAURITIANA LAMK.) IN ZIMBABWE

STORAGE TEMPERATURE AFFECTS FRUIT QUALITY ATTRIBUTES OF
BER (ZIZIPHUS MAURITIANA LAMK.) IN ZIMBABWE

LOVEJOY TEMBO

Z. A. CHITEKA
I

RENE KADZERE

FESTUS K. AKINNIFESI

F. TAGWIRA

Fruit utilization is affected by quality attributes and shelf life. The quality of Jujube or Ber (Ziziphus
mauritiana Lamk.) fruits after harvest depends on storage conditions used. In this study, different
storage temperatures and durations were evaluated to determine the appropriate storage conditions of
fresh fruits of Z. mauritiana. Three storage temperature levels, low (5oC), intermediate (15oC) and
ambient (22oC) were evaluated at 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks storage durations. Fruits stored at low
temperature lost only 48% of their weight during the entire 12 week storage period while the fruits
stored in the ambient and intermediate temperature ranges lost 70 and 75% of weight, respectively. At
three weeks of storage, more than 40% of fruits had shrivelled under the ambient and intermediate
storage temperatures compared to only 3% under the low storage temperature. It is concluded that cold
storage condition can prolong the shelf life of Z. mauritiana fruits

African Journal of Biotechnology

2008