1. Prepared by: Hamid Salari
INFLUENCE OF PREHARVEST FACTORS ON POSTHARVEST LIFE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Prepared by: Hamid Salari

2. Water supply (Irrigation)
Bad effect may be caused by:
Too much rain or irrigation: brittle and easily damage leafy vegetables
Lack of rain or irrigation: low juice content and thick skin in citrus fruits
Dry condition followed by rain or irrigation: cracks

3. Soil fertility (Fertilization) Some of the effects are:
Lack of nitrogen: yellow-red discoloration of
Lack of potassium: abnormal ripening
Calcium: blossom end rot, bitter pit
Boron: cracking

4. Crop load
size
total soluble solid contents (TSS)

5. Fruit canopy position
Large difference in TSS and acidity
size

6. Leaf removal
colour
Girdling
size
TSS and acidity

7. Crop rotation
reducing decay
control of soilborne diseases
Weed control
alternate hosts for crop disease and pests
compete with crops for nutrient and soil moisture.

8. Crop hygiene-decaying
dead wood: source of disease

9. Agricultural chemicals
These are of two types:
Pesticides and herbicides
Growth-regulating
Temperature
High sugar
Poor colour

10. Rootstock
Size
Colour
Taste

11. Length of the day
Citrus and mango produced in full sun had a thinner skin, low average weight, lower juice content and lower acidity. Besides, citrus grown in shade are less susceptible to chilling injury in further storage.