Storability effects of different packaging materials on small wax gourd of Heixianzi 1

ObjectiveStorability effects of different packaging materials on small wax gourd of Heixianzi 1 were discussed to provide references for fresh-keeping of small wax gourd . MethodSmall wax gourds of Heixianzi 1 were planted in autumn and their mature fruits were stored in winter in this experiment. The fruits were packaged with parafilm, grape wrapper, newspaper and black plastic with no package as the control. The small wax gourds were stored for 90 days at ambient temperature. During storage, six nutritional qualities including vitamin C, soluble sugar, soluble solid, soluble protein, water and titratable acid were determined every 15 days. And then the storability effects of different packaging materials on small wax gourd of Heixianzi 1 were analyzed . ResultThe mature fruits of small wax gourd of Heixianzi 1 harvested from the end of November to the beginning of December performed well during stor-age. The nutritional qualities of mature fruits changed little except vitamin C during conventional storage for 30-45 days. Nutritional qualities were higher in bagging treatments than in the control. Packed with parafilm, fruits’ nutrition-al qualities were higher than other materials. Vitamin C in fruits packed with parafilm was the highest in each storage stage. Stored for 15 ,30 ,45 and 90 days, the content of vitamin C was 44.79,24.13,16.31 and 0.17 mg/100 g, respec-tively. ConclusionPackaging can improve the storability of small wax gourd of Heixianzi 1. Fruits packed with parafilm have better storability effect than other materials.