Evaluation of Harumanis mango fruit weight at the optimum maturity stage

Abstract

Weight and size are the major parameters that a consumer identifies to be related to the grade of mango fruit. According to Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) Malaysia, size of a mango is determined by weight. The mango named "HarumManis" is a famous agricultural product of Perlis, Malaysia. The purpose of this research study is to make a prediction of the harvest Harumanis mango (MangiferaIndica Linn)fruit weight from Harumanis mango weight measured over time by using a portable mass balance. This study was performed at the Harumanis's greenhouse located at Kangar, Perlis. A total of 50 samples of Harumanis mango fruits were tagged and measured with respect to their weight to within an accuracy of 1 g starting from 30 days after full bloom (DAFB) until 94 DAFB with three interval days which is 3,5 and 10 days interval. The fruits underwent a selection process based on their age and size, which is 4 weeks age DAFB and 12.6 cm of circumference respectively. The mean weight of the Harumanis mango at 30 DAFB was 74.14 0.73g and the weight of the fruits increases steadily until 90 DAFB.The final mean of fruit weight was 458.47 1.46 g.The relationship between DAFB and the Harumanis mango weight was analysed for each of the interval days. The equation were extracted from the average growth curve of each interval days. A cubic fitted data equation were used with the R2 = 0.9976 Based on data measurements, the equation was then used to predict the weight of the mango during its growing stages.