MATURITY & QUALITY
Maturity Indices
Eggplant fruit are harvested at a range of developmental stages. Depending on cultivar and temperature, the time from flowering to harvest may be 10 to 40 days. Generally fruit are harvested immature before seeds begin to significantly enlarge and harden. Firmness and external glossiness are also indicators of a pre-maturity condition. Eggplant fruit become pithy and bitter as they reach an overmature condition.
Quality Indices
The diversity of eggplant types being marketed has increased greatly in recent years. Standard (American) eggplant quality is primarily based on uniform egg to globular shape, firmness and a dark purple skin color. Additional quality indices are size, freedom from growth or handling defects, freedom from decay, and a fresh green calyx. Other eggplant types include:
- Japanese – elongated, slender, light to dark purple, very perishable
- White – small egg shaped to globular, thin skinned
- Mini-Japanese – small elongate, striated purple and violet
- Chinese – elongated, slender, light purple
U.S. grades are Fancy, No. 1, and No. 2, and No. 3. Distinction among grades is based solely on size, external appearances, and firmness.
TEMPERATURE & CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE (CA)
Optimum Temperature and Relative Humidity
10 – 12°C (50 – 54°F); 90-95% R.H.
Storage of eggplant is generally less than 14 days as visual and sensory qualities deteriorate rapidly. Decay is likely to increase following storage beyond two weeks, especially after removal to typical retail conditions. Short term storage or transit temperatures below this range are used often to reduce weight loss, but will result in chilling injury after several days.
Chilling Injury
Eggplant fruit are chilling sensitive at temperatures below 10°C (50°F). At 5°C (41°F) chilling injury will occur in 6-8 days. Consequences of chilling injury are pitting, surface bronzing, and browning of seeds and pulp tissue. Accelerated decay by Alternaria spp. is common in chilling stressed fruit. Chilling injury is cumulative and may be initiated in the field prior to harvest.
Days to Visible Chilling Symptoms on each type:
| Temperature | O°C (32°F) | 2.5°C (36°F) | 5°C (41°F) | 7.5°C (45°F) |
| American | 1-2 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 12 |
| Japanese | – | 5-6 | 8-9 | 12-14 |
| Chinese | 2-3 | 5-6 | 10-12 | 15-16 |
Rates of Respiration
| Temperature | 12.5°C (55°F) |
| ml CO2/kg·hr American | 30-39 |
| ml CO2/kg·hr White egg | 52-61 |
| ml CO2/kg·hr Japanese | 62-69 |
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
0.1 – 0.7µl/kg·hr at 12.5°C (55°F)
Responses to Ethylene
Eggplant fruit have a moderate to high sensitivity to exogenous ethylene. Calyx abscission and increased deterioration, particularly browning, may be a problem if eggplants are exposed to >1ppm ethylene during distribution and short-term storage.
Responses to Controlled Atmospheres (CA)
Controlled or modified atmosphere storage or shipping offer little benefit to eggplant quality maintenance. Low O2 levels (3-5%) delay deterioration and the onset of decay by a few days. Eggplant tolerates up to 10% CO2 but storage life is not extended beyond the benefit of reduced levels of O2.
Add Comment