Description and objectives                   

The Agricultural sector is contributing largest share to the economy of Pakistan. But most of the Agricultural produce (about 40%) is lost due to lack of knowledge about handling, transportation and storage facilities. Pakistan can become self-sufficient if these agricultural produce are saved from losses. Fruits and vegetables play a significant role in the health of Pakistani community. This course is designed to provide basic knowledge to the students of BSc.Hons about pre-harvest and post-harvest techniques to save losses.

Intended learning outcomes:

The students will be given knowledge about post-harvest techniques of fruits and vegetables for

• Better harvesting.
• Better storage
• Transportation
• Marketing
• Develop understanding of maturity indices of fruits and vegetables.

Theory:

Introduction to post harvest technology, Pre harvest and postharvest factors affecting quality(genetic, climatic, cultural practices, harvesting) maturity at harvest, harvesting methods, humidity, temperature, light, mechanical injury, rate of respiration, ripening. Postharvest Handling operations; farm house operations, sorting and grading, methods of precooling(room cooling, forced air or pressure cooling, package Icing, hydro cooling, vacuum cooling, cushioning and other protections, transportation, precooling. Post Harvest treatments; cleaning and washing, coating and waxing, heat treatment, irradiation, chemicals treatments, disinfection and decay control, controlled ripening, sprout inhibition, losses, causes, Fruit ripening: changes during ripening, recommended conditions, commercial practices, water loss, respiration activity. Harvesting and handling methods.Maturity assessment of different fruits and vegetables. Ripening process: respiration, climacteric and non-climacteric patterns, pectic substances, ripening conditions. Postharvest physiology of fruits and vegetables. Postharvest treatments: coatings, curing, vapor heat treatment, hot water treatment, degreening. Storage: refrigerated, CA, hypobaric, MAS. Packaging: types, design, modified atmospheric packaging, recycling. Cold chain: packing house operations, transportation. Safety and quality of fruits and vegetables.

Practicals:

1. Determining harvest maturity of different fruits and vegetables
2. Determining basis of Grading and sorting of fruits & vegetables
3. Applications of different postharvest techniques on fruits & vegetables
4. Changes in physical and chemical quality parameters of fruits during storage (weight loss, acidity, TSS, firmness with penetro meter, color changes)
5. Effect of packaging materials on stored fruits and vegetables
6. Effect of different chemicals - anti-sprouting, anti-ripening agents
7. Visit to kinnow waxing unit

Readings:

1. Thompson A. K. 2003. Fruit and Vegetables Harvesting, Handling and Storage. 2nd Edition. Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford OX4 2DQ, UK.
2. Lisa Kitinoja and Adel A. Kader. 2003. Small-Scale Postharvest Handling Practices: A Manual for Horticultural Crops (4th Edition). Postharvest Horticulture Series No. 8E( slightly Revised).  University of California, Davis Postharvest Technology Research and Information Center. USA.
3. Gopinadhan Paliyath, Dennis P. Murr, Avtar K. Handa, and Susan Lurie. 2008. Postharvest Biology and Technology of Fruits, Vegetables, and Flowers. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, 2121 State Avenue, Ames, Iowa 50014-8300, USA
4. Maureen Mecozzi (Editor). 2010. Postharvest Technology for Leafy Vegetables-A project Report. AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center, Publication No: 10-733. P.O. Box 42. Shanhua, Tainan 74199, TAIWAN.
5. Sharon Pastor Simson and Martha C. Straus.  2010/ Post-harvest Technology of Horticultural Crops. Oxford Book Company, 267, IO-B-Scheme, Opp. arayan Niwas, Gopalpura By Pass Road, Jaipur-INDIA. 302018.
6. Elhadi M. Yahia (Editor). 2011. Postharvest biology and technology of tropical and subtropical fruits- Açai to citrus. Vol. 2. Woodhead Publishing India Private Limited, G-2, Vardaan House, 7/28 Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi – 110002, India.
7. Wojciech J. Florkowski, Robert Shewfelt, Bernhard Brueckher and Stanley E. Prussia. 2009. Post Harvest Handling – A system approach.  Academic Press is an imprint of Elsevier 30 Corporate Drive, Suite 400, Burlington, MA 01803, USA.
8. Ron Wills and John john Golding. 2017. Postharvest-An introduction to the physiology,and handling of fruit and vegetables. 6th Edition. CABI UK.
9. Blakistone BA. 1998. Principles and applications of modified atmosphere packaging of foods, 2nd  ed. Blackie Academic & Professional, New York, USA.
10. Wim J. (Ed) 2002. Fruit and vegetable processing-improving quality. Woodhead Publishing Ltd. Abington Cambridge, UK.
11. Thompson AK. 1996. Postharvest technology of fruits and vegetables. Blackwell Science Publisher Cambridge, UK.
12.  Wills R.H.H., T.H. Lee, D. Graham, W.B. McGlasson and E.G. Hall.  1981.  Postharvest. The AVI Publishing Company Inc., Westport, Connecticuts. USA.
13.  Gamage T.V. and Rahman S.M. 1999. Postharvest Handling of Foods of Plant Origin. In: Handbook of Food Preservation. Rahman M.S.(ed.). Marcel Dekker, Inc., 270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016. USA. pp11-46.

Course schedule:

Research project/Assignments:

Assignments, presentations and short practical projects will be assigned from the course work and outside relevant to the subject.

Assessment criteria

Mid-term:                    30 Marks

Sessional:                    20 Marks

Project:                        As per requirements (from sessional marks)

Presentation:               As per requirements (from sessional marks)

Participation:               As per requirements (from sessional marks)

Final exam:                  50 Marks

 Course material/ Lectures :

The post-harvest technology will ensure the proper stages of maturity at harvest to maximize profit and extended shelf life during transportation handling loading unloading and during storage conditions. All these conditions will be determined by collecting from markets to give an understanding to students and conduct research on application of different chemical additives to extend their shelf life. Visits will be planned to institutes working on post-harvest technology (AARI FAISALABAD and Citrus Research Institute Sargodha). Visit to fruit and vegetable nearby market and study packaging material, cushioning material and marketing channel in Pakistan.