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Not AvailableThe common term ‘berry fruit’ includes different fruits, such as blueberry, currant, gooseberry, raspberry, and blackberry. These fruits are the richest sources of natural antioxidants. Almost all berries are non-climacteric and are considered highly perishable, being susceptible to mechanical injury during transportation, picking, and storage. The postharvest life of berries is limited to a few days and only a small percentage of these fruits can be consumed fresh. In order to minimize undesirable changes in quality attributes during the postharvest period, a series of techniques to extend the shelf life of perishable fruit can be adopted. Postharvest technology comprises different methods of harvesting, packaging, rapid cooling, storage under refrigeration, as well as modified and controlled atmospheres, and transportation under controlled conditions. This chapter will deal with various aspects of berries, viz., fruit maturation, ripening, postharvest biological factors, and causes of postharvest losses and different postharvest techniques to extend the postharvest shelf life.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableBrassinosteroids (BRs) are a group of naturally occurring plant steroidal compounds having varied biological activities. This group was recently added in the category of classical hormones and considered as sixth novel plant growth hormone. BRs regulate numerous important pomological attributes such as initiation and cessation of flowering, plant canopy architecture, micropropagation, cell division and elongation, vegetative growth, flowering, fruit set, fruit ripening, quality and yield. Besides, BRs can improve resistance/tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. These are also known to enhance postharvest fruit quality. Owing to multiple and diverse physiological roles in plant growth and development, BRs have been collectively referred to as ‘pleotropic phytohormones’. In the present review, we have attempted to highlight the conceptual research and development of BRs with their wide range of physiological functions and economic significance in relation to modern fruit production.Not Availabl