A Case Study of Tendral Winter Melons (cucumis Melo L.) Postharvest Senescence

Tendral type cultivar melons (Cucumis melo L., inodorus group, Winter melon variety) were stored for a 75-d postharvest period in a ventilated chamber at 10 oC ± 1 oC and 75% ± 5 % RH. Qualitative degradation of the fruit was observed mainly involving proteins and ascorbic acid. It was also found that the sugar/acid ratio increased while the glucose/fructose ratio decreased, thus making the fruit sweeter. Sucrose was the predominant sugar found and glucose was the major reducing sugar. Citric acid was the major component of the organic acid fraction of the Tendral mesocarp. The ACC oxidase activity declined as the fruit became overripe. Membrane degradation linked to the accumulation of hydroperoxides was modulated by a progressive failure of the antioxidant enzymes system. A reduction in superoxide dismutase activity as well as in catalase activity was observed. It can be concluded that the oxidative status of Tendral melons during postharvest storage increased progressively.