Effect of Fruit Age on Harvesting Quality of Aromatic Coconut

Abstract

Aromatic coconuts are the principal economic crops of Thailand.  Although the quality of the aromatic coconut fruit depends on maintenance, the appropriate harvesting period is also an important factor for the quality of the aromatic coconut fruit.  This research was conducted to explore the different fruit age on harvesting quality of aromatic coconuts.  The completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of 7 treatments was applied with aromatic coconuts harvested at the 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34 weeks of age. Data of each treatment collected from 5 coconut trees were coconut meat weight, coconut juice weight, coconut meat around pore, coconut meat opposite pore, number of coconut meat layer, total soluble solids (TSS), and potential of hydrogen (pH). The results showed that coconut fruit age had a significant effect on coconut meat weight, coconut meat around pore, coconut meat opposite pore, number of coconut meat layer, total soluble solids, and potential of hydrogen. The coconut fruits at the age of 28 - 30 weeks were the most suitable duration for consumption because they had 2 coconut meat layers and high total soluble solids with desirable characteristics, whereas the coconut fruits at the age of more than 30 weeks having 2.5 coconut meat layers with a decrease in total soluble solids were not wanted by consumers.