EFFECT OF SHADING NET COLOR ON HARVEST AGE AND FRUIT QUALITY OF MD2 PINEAPPLE (ANANAS COMOSUS L. Merr.)

Abstract

Global fresh pineapple market is dominated by MD2 cultivar due to superior sweetness, golden yellow flesh color, lower acidity, and longer shelf life compared with earlier cultivars. Despite the advantages, sunburn causes significant surface damage and yield loss. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of colored shading net application as a preharvest treatment to modify the fruit microclimate and reduce sunburn incidence. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with seven treatments. These included a control without cover, recycled paper bagging, and five shading nets of different colors, namely black, white, red, green, and blue. Treatments were applied at 78 days after forcing, and evaluations were made when fruits were at the 10–20% stage of maturity or shell color 2 (SC2). The parameters included the extent of sunburn, age at harvest, physical characteristics (weight, length, diameter, and length of the crown), and attributes of fruits, color of the flesh, firmness, total soluble solids (°Brix), titratable acidity, and vitamin C levels. The results showed that all protective treatments significantly reduced sunburn compared with the control. Blue and green shading nets provided the most effective protection against sunburn (up to 96.5%) and increased vitamin C content by 17–23% compared to the control, directly enhancing the visual appearance and nutritional value of the fruit. By minimizing physiological damage and preserving antioxidant content, these treatments contribute to improved postharvest quality, greater storage stability, and higher market acceptance. Meanwhile, the black shading net increased fruit size by 33.06% without reducing °Brix or acidity, showing that sweetness and flavor balance were maintained with yield improvement. Collectively, these results report the significant role of green, blue, and black shading nets in improving overall food quality and postharvest performance, while offering a simpler and more efficient preharvest alternative to bagging for export-grade MD2 fruit production.