Effect of foliar application of chemicals on quality characters of mango during storage.
Ruby Rani, Brahmachari V. S.
Author Affiliation: Department of Horticulture, Bihar Agricultural College, Sabour, Bhagalpur - 813 210 (Bihar), India.
Progressive Horticulture 35 : 216-218
Abstract : An experiment was conducted in Sabour, Bihar, India, during 1998 and 1999 on 8-year-old mango cv. Amrapali treated with 2,4,5-T (50 and 100 ppm), GA3(100 and 200 ppm), CCC [chlormequat] (500 and 1000 ppm), Ca(NO3)2 (1 and 2%) and CaCl2 (1 and 2%). The lowest decay loss (7.52%) was obtained with 2% Ca(NO3)2 after 15 days of storage. The highest total soluble solids (14.10%) in freshly-harvested fruits was obtained with 100 ppm 2,4,5-T. treated with 100 ppm 2,4,5-T gave the lowest acidity (0.307%). A significant and gradual increase in total sugar content was observed in all treatments. A progressive decline in ascorbic acid content was observed during storage in all treatments. Preharvest sprays of the growth regulators and calcium compounds significantly retained more ascorbic acid in mature green fruits and during storage. The total carotenoids in fruits progressively increased with the advancement of storage period in all treatments. After 15 days of storage, the mean value of total carotenoids was highest (13.82 mg/100 g pulp) with 100 ppm 2,4,5-T. Irrespective of the treatments, consumer acceptability of the fruits initially increased then declined after obtaining a high organoleptic score on storage period. The gradual improvement in quality parameters increased the organoleptic score in the initial stage of storage, while the reduction in total soluble solids, total sugar and firmness decreased the organoleptic score at later stage. High consumer acceptability (6.91) was estimated with 100 ppm GA3 followed by 200 ppm GA3 and calcium compounds, where the fruits were acceptable up to the last day of storage.