Post harvest characteristics of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit

Information and knowledge about the evolution of properties and quality attributes, that are so important for understanding post harvest behavior, is very limited due to the use of completely different frameworks in pre harvest and post harvest quality analyses. This study was conducted to determine firmness of two variety of pomegranate that are cultivated in Iran. The firmness was determined at top, middle and bottom positions of fruit by an Instron Universal Testing Machine with 5 mm, 6 mm and 8 mm diameter probes. The mechanical properties of bottom section were more than top and middle sections. Rupture energy and firmness measured with 8 mm probe was found to decrease during storage time. The mechanical properties of two varieties were found approximately the same. Effect of storage time and variety on mechanical properties was found insignificant (P 0.05).