Breadfruit

MATURITY & QUALITY

Maturity Indices

Fully mature fruits are dark-green and their segments are more rounded and smoother than less mature fruits. Latex stains may be present on the skin of mature fruits. Yellowing of the skin indicates over-maturity (partial ripeness). In some cases, fruits are picked when fully ripe and sweet for consumption as a dessert.

Quality Indices

• Good quality breadfruits are mature-green, firm, with intact stem, and free from defects (such as blemishes, sunscald, cracking, bruising, and insect damage) and decay
• Uniformity of shape, size, and weight is also important as quality factors.
• Breadfruit pulp (edible portion) contains 25-30% (fresh weight basis) carbohydrates, half of which is starch. The pulp is boiled, baked, fried, or roasted, but never eaten raw. It is also ground into flour that is used in bread-making.

TEMPERATURE & CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE (CA)

Optimum Temperature

13 ± 1°C (56 ± 2°F); storage potential = 2-4 weeks, depending on cultivar and maturity stage.

Optimum Relative Humidity

85-95%

Rates of Respiration

The range of respiration rates at 20°C (68°F) is 38 (preclimacteric) to 178 (climacteric peak) ml CO₂/kg·hr.

To calculate heat production multiply ml CO₂/kg·hr by 440 to get Btu/ton/day or by 122 to get kcal/metric ton/day.

Rates of Ethylene Production

The range of ethylene production at 20°C (68°F) is 0.1 (preclimacteric) to 1.6 (climacteric peak) µl/kg·hr.

Responses to Ethylene

Exposure to 50ppm or higher concentrations of C₂H₄ for 24 hours at 20°C (68°F) accelerates ripening of breadfruits (as indicated by color changes from green to yellow and softening) and shortens their postharvest-life.

Responses to Controlled Atmospheres (CA)

A CA of 5% O₂ + 5% CO₂ or use of modified atmosphere packaging (5-8% O₂ + 8-10% CO₂) may be useful in delaying ripening (softening) and extending postharvest-life of mature-green breadfruits kept within the optimum ranges of temperature and relative humidity.