溫度、塑膠袋包裝及乙烯吸收劑對採收後苦瓜品質之影響

Effect of Temperature, Polyethylene Bags and Ethylene Absorbent on Qualities of Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.) after Harvest

為明瞭各種採收後處理對苦瓜品質之影響而進行本試驗。初步結果顯示利用塑膠袋包裝可延緩失重。於30℃溫度下，置於打洞塑膠袋之苦瓜品質較完全封閉者為佳。於5℃下失重及黃化情形皆較30℃下減輕，但有凹陷之現象，利用塑膠袋包裝可減輕此凹陷之程度。將採收之苦瓜依據外觀形態細分為ABC三級，其貯藏力隨成熟度增加而減少。於紙箱內加乙烯吸收劑（過錳酸鉀加蛭石）可延續成熟度較高之AB級苦瓜之老化，但對較不成熟之C級影響則小。B級苦瓜果色白果實大小均勻，外型美觀、貯運力佳，為適當之採收熟度。

The rate of deterioration of bitter gourd was affected by the environ-meats of harvest and storage. Fruits sorted and packed under shading had better qualities than those being exposed to sunlight for two hours. Polyethylene bags used for packaging could reduce the degree of weight loss. Fruits stored in perforated polyethylene bags had better qualities than in sealed bags at 30℃. Weight loss and yellowing under 5℃ were less than 30℃, but pitting was observed in the former treatment but not in the latter. Polyethylene bags package greatly reduced the damage of pitting, Fruits was classified into A, B and C stages on the basis of maturity, A stage being the oldest, and storage life gradually decreased with the advance of maturity. The effect of ethylene absorbent in delaying senescences of bitter gourd was particularly pronounced at the older stage A and B, but not effective at the young stage C. Stage B can be considered to be the proper stage for harvesting not only because of its storage life but also of its attractive appearance.