Effect of gamma-irradiation and refrigerated storage on the improvement of quality and shelf life of pear (Pyrus communis L., Cv. Bartlett/William)

Gamma-irradiation alone and in combination with refrigeration was tested consecutively for 3 years for extending the shelf life of pear. Matured green pears were irradiated in the dose range of 0.8-2.0 kGy and stored under ambient (temperature 25±2 °C, RH 70%) and refrigerated (temperature 3±1 °C, RH 80%) conditions. Dose range of 1.5-1.7 kGy extended the storage life of pear by 14 days under ambient conditions. Control unirradiated pears were almost fully ripe within 8 days, while as the pears irradiated in the dose range of 1.5-1.7 kGy were fully ripe within 22 days of ambient storage. Irradiation dose of 1.5-1.7 kGy significantly inhibited the decaying of pears upto 16 days of ambient storage. Irradiation in combination with refrigeration prevented the decaying of pears upto 45 days as against the 35% decay in unirradiated samples. Irradiation dose of 1.5-1.7 kGy also gave an extension of 8 and 4 days during additional ambient storage of the pears following 30 and 45 days of refrigeration, respectively.