Objectives:

To equip students with the techniques to prolong shelf-life of perishable horticultural produce.

Theory: 
Introduction and importance, Pre- and post-harvest factors affecting quality, Climacteric and non-climacteric commodities, Indices of crop maturity / ripening, harvesting and pre-cooling, Curing and artificial ripening of horticultural commodities, Packing house operations; culling, grading, washing, cleaning, colouring, waxing and packaging of important horticultural commodities, Packing materials and containers, Storage; principles and types, storage life and factors determining it, International standards and quality assurance, sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures, Shipment for local and foreign markets.

Practical:
Machinery and equipment used for various operations, Demonstration of harvest indices, Practices in harvesting, curing, packing and preparation of different fruits, vegetables and cut flowers for marketing, Determination of total soluble solids; Determination of fruit firmness, starch-iodine test, color determination, Visits to the fruit, vegetable and floral markets, packing houses and cold storages etc.

Learning Outcomes:

Students must have the knowledge of produce physiology and its application to ensure quality and shelf life.

Books Recommended:

• Bhattacharjee S. K and L.C. De. 2005. Post-Harvest Technology of Flowers and Ornamental Plants. Pointer Publishers jaipur India.
• Burg. P. S. 2004. Post harvest Physiology and Hypobaric Storage of Fresh Produce. CABI Publishing.
• Choudhry, M. L and K. V. Parsad. 2003. Value Addition in Horticulture. Delhi Agri-Horticultural Society. Division of Floriculture and Landscaping Indian Agricultural Research Institute Pusa, New Delhi-110 012.
• Kader, A.A. 2002. Postharvest Technology of Horticultural Crops. University of California Press, California, USA.
• Sadiq M., J. Ahmed, M.G. Lobo and F. Ozadali. 2012. Tropical and Subtropical Fruits: Postharvest Physiology, Processing and Packaging. Wiley-Balckwell Publisher.
• Simson, P.S. and Straus, M.C. 2010. Post-Harvest Technology of Horticultural Crops. Oxford Book Company, New Delhi.
• Singh, S.I. 2009. Post-Harvest Handling and Processing of Fruits and Vegetables. Westville Publishing House.
• Thompson, A.K. 1996. Post-Harvest Technology of Fruits and Vegetables. Blackwell Science Ltd., Oxford.