February 26, 2026 | International Journal of Agronomy | Valbuena-Gaona
This study conducted by Universidad Nacional de Colombia examined the postharvest quality, phytosanitary status, economic losses, and consumer perception of five underexplored seasonal tropical fruits in Colombia: mamoncillo (Melicoccus bijugatus), yellow sapote (Quararibea cordata), red dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus), chontaduro (Bactris gasipaes), and cherimoya (Annona cherimola). Although tropical regions contain many fruit species with nutritional and commercial potential, information on their quality and market limitations remains limited.
Fruit samples were collected from commercial distribution centers during the 2024–2025 harvest seasons. The study evaluated physicochemical traits, postharvest diseases, physiological disorders, market losses, and consumer preferences. Results showed high variability in fruit quality parameters among species and between seasons. Common disorders included epidermal browning, dehydration, senescence, and sunburn, while anthracnose and stem-end rot were the main pathological problems.
These postharvest issues caused substantial reductions in market value, estimated at 40–70%, with fruit losses ranging from 25% to 80%. Highly perishable fruits such as cherimoya and high-value fruits such as red dragon fruit showed particularly high waste rates. Consumer perception analysis, supported by natural language processing, identified color, aroma, flavor, and texture as important quality attributes. The study highlights the need for improved preharvest and postharvest handling, phytosanitary control, and quality assurance strategies to support domestic marketing and export potential.
