Postharvest Physiology. Biochemical and physiological changes during maturation and senescence of durable and perishable crops. Pre-harvest factors and postharvest quality. Maturity indices and quality standards. Postharvest losses. Postharvest loss assessment. Postharvest loss-reduction technologies: commodity treatment and control. Safety assurance of fresh produce. Good Agricultural Practices. Standards and regulations. Principles of postharvest chlorination. Postharvest handling systems of selected crops. Field harvesting and preparation for market. Transportation and logistics. Cool chain management for perishables. Cooling and pre-cooling methods. Packinghouse operations. Packaging of horticultural produce. Modified atmosphere packaging. Environment-friendly packaging. Storage of horticultural crops. Ethylene. Climacteric and non-climacteric produce. Commercial fruit ripening. Postharvest diseases and their management. Decay control. Pests of stored crop commodities.
