Ripening Pattern of Specific Gravity Graded Dashehari Mangoes

‘Dashehari’ mango fruits were harvested and then graded into three specific gravity grades viz. less than 1.0 (Gr. I), 1.0 to 1.02 (Gr. II) and more than 1.02 (Gr. III). The fruits of Gr. I were the biggest while Gr. III the smallest The fruits were ripened under ambient conditions (29–35°C and 75–65 per cent R. H.) and evaluated for various storage attributes upto 11 days. It was observed that the Gr. III fruits ripened the earliest within 5 days and their shelf life was less as compared to the fruits of Gr. I and Gr. II. Grade I mangoes ripened with better quality and shelf life and retained some marketability even after 11 days of storage. The development of carotenoids and rate of depletion of starch was rather slow in Gr. I fruits and so was senescence as compared to Gr. II and Gr III fruits So, Dashehari mangoes with specific gravity more than one do not have any advantage rather are prone to higher PLW, senescence and other losses. Finally Tapka stage may be considered an unavoidable late stage rather than initiation of harvesting.