Effect of packaging films on shelf life of individually wrapped pear fruits

Pear [Pyrus pyrifolia (Burm.) Nakai] fruits of cultivar ‘Patharnakh’ were harvested at physiological mature stage. The individual fruits were seal packed with different packaging film such as shrink film, cling film, low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) film. After packing the fruits were stored under two different conditions i.e. under super-market conditions (20–22°C and 80–85% RH) and under ordinary market conditions (30–32°C and 60–65% RH). The fruits were evaluated for various quality attributes periodically. The data revealed that shrink and cling film proved quite effective in prolonging the shelf life and maintaining the quality of pear fruits under super market conditions upto 18 days. However under ordinary market conditions, it was noticed that the packaging films interfere with overall quality of pear fruit due to build up of high water vapour condensation and abnormal gaseous atmosphere in the package as a result of high temperature and thus have adverse effect during retail marketing of pear fruit.