EFFECT OF STORAGE TEMPERATURE AND WRAPPING TREATMENTS ON THE KEEPING QUALITY OF

King coconut (Cocos nucifera var. aurantiaca) has a good export market as a natural beverage. However, the quality of the nut has to be maintained for several weeks to meet export market requirements. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to develop techniques to improve the keeping quality of tender king coconuts. Seven-month-old nuts collected from different locations were given wrapping and waxing treatments and stored at low temperature to improve the keeping quality up to four weeks. Invert sugars and total sugars were analyzed. Observations on cosmetic appearance and organoleptic tests were made at initial stage and after storage. The study revealed that the quality of tender king coconuts could be maintained for a period of four weeks when the whole nuts were wrapped with cling film and stored at 14-15 °C, in order to meet export market requirements.