Early and uniform ripening of mango cv. Alphonso with ethrel treatment.
Das S. C., Balamohan T. N., Auxcilia J., Nalina L.
Author Affiliation: Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Lembucherra (Tripura), India.
Asian Journal of Horticulture 6 : 185-190
Abstract : Now a day to meet the market demand mango traders use calcium carbide for ripening. Calcium carbide contains impurities of arsenic and phosphorous hydride, which are toxic to human health. A study conducted during 2007 at Horticultural College and Research Institute, revealed that the post harvest dipping of ethrel (750 ppm) for 5 minutes at 52°C and storage at ambient conditions, induced early and uniform ripening as against six days in control, with pleasant flavour, desirable texture and acceptable quality, which not only in mature fruits but also in early harvested mango fruits. The quality attributes viz., TSS (19°Brix), tritable acidity (0.31%) and ascorbic acids (33.59 mg/100 g of pulp) in cv. Alphonso at 750 ppm ethrel dipped solution, while in control TSS, acidity and ascorbic acid were 15°Brix, 0.34% and 33.33 mg/100 g of pulp, respectively.