Abstract

Effect of Post-harvest Treatments of Chemical and Plant Growth Regulators on Physical Parameters of Sapota Fruit cv. Kalipatti

Tsomu T and Patel HC

Investigation was conducted to study the effect of post-harvest treatment of chemical and plant growth regulators on physical characteristics sapota fruit cv. Kalipatti. Fruits were treated with CaCl2 (5000 and 10000 mg/l) followed by plant growth regulators, Gibbrellic acid (GA3) (150 and 300 mg/l), kinetin (100 and 200 mg/l), ethrel (1000 and 2000 mg/l) and control (untreated fruit) and stored at room temperature. CaCl2 (5000 and 10000 mg/l) was proved very effective in reducing loss in weight, spoilage and registered high fruit firmness, increase shelf life and ripening period. There was a significant increase in Physiological loss in weight (PLW), with enhanced storage period irrespective of calcium chloride (5000 and 10000 mg/l) and Gibbrellic acid (GA3) (150 and 300 mg/l) treatments. On the other hand, Physiological loss in weight (PLW), spoilage was increase throughout the storage. However, minimum Physiological loss in weight (PLW) and, total spoilage were noticed under CaCl2 5000 mg/l and 10000 mg/l treated fruits. The study suggests that calcium chloride (5000 mg/l) as post-harvestdip improves the fruit firmness, shelf life and ripening period of the sapota upto 12 days of storage.