In Pakistan, strawberry is among the most delicious fruits. It is grown all over the world due to its nutritional value, but it faces high fungal attacks and rapid respiration. The main problem with strawberry fruit is that it has a low shelf-life and is prone to rapid decay. Poor packaging material is the main cause that deteriorates the quality and reduces the shelf life of strawberry. However the postharvest quality of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) can be enhanced by modifying its packaging. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of conventional and improved packaging material which can increase the postharvest quality of strawberry. Effect of four types of packaging materials (8 kg plastic basket, 8 kg plastic crate, 4 kg plastic crate or 360 g plastic punnet) was analysed. Fruits were harvested and immediately packed and stored at room temperature for maximum 4 days. The results indicated that 360 g plastic punnet showed maximum marketable fruit weight percentage (85%), color hue angle (6), total soluble solids (TSS) (11.87 Brixº), fruit ripening index (71.67), ascorbic acid content (202.63 mg 100 g^-1), dry weight percentage (4.24 %), ion leakage (36.3 %) and reducing and non-reducing sugars (2.43%, 3.85%), and less disease, decay, damage incidence with minimum fruit weight loss by applying the Completely Randomized Design.

Keywords: Nutritional value, fungal attack, respiration, shelf life, packaging, postharvest quality, biochemical and physical characters.