Quality attributes of bottle gourd (Lagenaria Siceraria) dried in natural convection domestic solar dryer

Thenatural convective domestic dryer has been designed and fabricated in conformity with the atmospheric conditions of Kashmir Valley. Bottle gourd was dehydrated samples were analyzed for quality attributes. The drying time reduced to 22 hours, water activity sampleis restricted low value (0.349) leading constrained microbial growth. Moisture content dried is found be 2.842 % which significantly small comparison open sun-dried sample (10.18 %). Non-enzymatic browning results shows absorbance 0.042 indicating transmittance 90% while as sun have 0.198 (transmittance 65%). significance result confirmed by using one T- test showed significant difference between Solar samples.