Effect of GA3 and plant extracts on storage behavior of mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Langra.
Singh J. N., Pinaki Acharyya, Singh B. B.
Author Affiliation: Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agricultural Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi - 221 005, India.
Haryana Journal of Horticultural Sciences 29 : 199-200
Abstract : The efficacy of gibberellic acid (GA3) and plant extracts on shelf life and quality of mango cv. Langra fruits was evaluated. The treatments consisted of a control, GA3 at 500 and 1000 ppm, and neem [Azadiracta indica] leaf extract, onion extract, castor oil and neem oil, each at 10% concentration. The fruits were dipped in the respective treatments for 5 minutes, air dried and finally packed in ventilated corrugated cardboard boxes having newspaper linings and tissue paper shreads as cushioning material. Physiological loss in weight showed an upward trend irrespective of treatments. Neem oil showed the minimum physiological loss in weight (7.77%), closely followed by castor oil (8.35%) and GA3 at 1000 ppm (9.87%). Fruits in the control showed maximum physiological loss in weight (17.28%) on the 12th day of storage. Spoilage percentage showed an increasing trend in all the treatments. None of the fruits decayed up to the 6th day of storage at room temperature. Postharvest application of neem oil showed the minimum decay loss of 9.98%, followed by castor oil (13.30%) and GA3 (13.30%). The spoilage organisms associated with decay were Botryodiplodia theobromae and Aspergillus niger. The infestation of these microorganisms were prevented by the antiseptic and antifungal action of neem oil. A sharp fall in firmness in all the treatments was observed during the storage period. Yet, edible firmness was retained favourably in fruits treated with neem oil (3.00). Application of GA3 at 500 ppm recorded the maximum organoleptic rating during the storage. Castor oil did not fare well due to the obnoxious smell and patchy appearance on the fruit. The total soluble solids increased with increasing period of storage irrespective of treatments. Acidity showed a reverse trend in all the treatments.