Tree Age Affects Postharvest Attributes and Mineral Content in Amrapali Mango (Mangifera indica) Fruits

The study was carried out to investigate the effect of tree age on postharvest attributes and mineral content of Amrapali mango fruits. Effect of 3 different tree ages (6, 18 and 30 years) on functional components, including the antioxidant activity (AOX), total phenols, total carotenoids, ascorbic acid and minerals like Ca, K, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn and B along with total sugars, total soluble solids (TSS) and titratable acidity (TA), respiration rate, polygalacturonase (PG) and pectin methylesterase (PME) activities in Amrapali cultivar were studied. With tree ageing total phenols, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity decreased whereas total carotenoids increased. Ca diminished and K elevated with the tree age progression while, B, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn showed an indefinite pattern. Total soluble solids and total sugars were recorded higher in 18 year old tree fruits. Fruit respiration rate, polygalacturonase and pectin methylesterase activities showed an upward trend with tree ageing. The study indicates that fruit produced from middle age group mango orchard (18 year old) suits to the requirement of consumers as well as industry.