Effect of pre-harvest chemical treatments and mulching on quality and marketability of Dashehari mango

Abstract

Ten-year-old Dashehari mango trees of uniform vigour and size were given eight treatments comprising of polythene mulching (during September) and pre-harvest chemical spray of CaCl2 at 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0%, CaNO3 at 4.0%, K2SO4 at 1.0% and borax at 1.0% in combination with polythene mulching and control (water spray without mulching) at 30 days before anticipated harvest date. On the basis of pooled analysis of two years data, it was revealed that the treatment of 1.0% borax with mulching was found more effective for increasing the fruit weight (161.66 g) and yield (37.20 kg tree-1). This treatment was also found effective for increasing the TSS (16.22 & 19.51°Brix), total sugars (8.98 & 15.94%) and for decreasing the acidity (0.32 & 0.16%) at time of harvest and end of storage period, respectively. At 10th day of storage, the maximum fruit marketability (90.01%) and minimum physiological loss in weight (23.99%) were observed with the treatment of 2.0% CaCl2 in combination with mulching. The effects of CaCl2 at 2 & 4% and CaNO3 at 4% on fruit marketability (90.01, 86.12 and 85.45%) were found statistically at par. Therefore, the use of 2%CaCl2 along with polythene mulch can be recommended for improving the fruit marketability (shelf-life). Thus, the study indicated that pre-harvest application of CaCl2 at 2.0% is effective for improving the fruit marketability and decreasing the physiological loss in weight (PLW), whereas, the borax at 1.0% with mulching proved effective for improving the fruit quality of Dashehari mango.