Pre-harvest treatments enhances the post-harvest quality of papaya (Carica papaya L.) cv. Red Lady

Downloads

Published

2025-06-30

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58993/ijh/2025.82.2.8

Keywords:

Carica papaya L, fruit quality, Ascorbic acid, TSS
Dimensions Badge

Issue

Vol. 82 No. 02 (2025): Indian Journal of Horticulture

Section

Research Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 SHARVESH S, Sathappan CT, Kandasamy R

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Authors

  • SHARVESH S Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar 608002, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Sathappan CT Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar 608002, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Kandasamy R Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar 608002, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Papaya stands as a significant fruit crop in India, ranking fifth in importance after banana. The Red Lady variety, particularly thriving in Tamil Nadu, has gained widespread popularity domestically and in export markets. However, ensuring consistent high-quality fruit reaching consumers remains a challenge. Addressing this issue, an experiment conducted at a farmer’s field, Ammampalayam, Attur taluk, Salem district during 2020-2021 aimed to assess pre-harvest chemical treatments’ impact on post-harvest papaya quality. Papaya plants were subjected to a series of spray treatments including NAA, potassium chloride, potassium nitrate (as a potassium source), calcium chloride, calcium nitrate and calcium sulfate (as a calcium source). Additionally, a combination treatment of NAA @ 100 ppm with potassium and calcium sources at 1.5% was applied at 21 days after flower anthesis onto the fruits. A control group was sprayed with plain water. These treatments were repeated six times every two weeks. The application of 1.5% calcium chloride (CaCl2) significantly enhanced fruit quality, leading to increased total soluble solids and ascorbic acid levels. Treatment with 1.5% calcium chloride (T5) significantly increased the quality parameters, showing higher total soluble solids and ascorbic acid content, while acidity significantly decreased compared to the control. Throughout the storage period, all treatments maintained a low pH, suggesting papaya fruits had a low degree of acidity. However, the treatment with 1.5% calcium chloride stood out for its comprehensive enhancement of post-harvest quality parameters.

How to Cite

SHARVESH S, Sathappan CT, & Kandasamy R. (2025). Pre-harvest treatments enhances the post-harvest quality of papaya (Carica papaya L.) cv. Red Lady. Indian Journal of Horticulture, 82(02), 179–183. https://doi.org/10.58993/ijh/2025.82.2.8

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Asgharzade, A., Valizade, G.A. and Babaeian, M. 2012. Effect of calcium chloride (CaCl2) on some quality characteristics of apple fruits in Shirvan region. Afr. J. Microbiol. Res. 6(9): 2000-2003.

2. Bisen, S., Thakur, R.S. and Tembhare, D. 2014. Effect of pre-harvest spray of calcium nitrate and gibberellic acid alone and in combination on growth, yield and post-harvest behavior of guava fruits. An Int. Q. J. Environ. Sci. 5: 56-62.

3. Chadha, K.L. 1992. Scenario of papaya production and utilization in India. Indian J. Hort. 49(2): 97-119.

4. Desai, V.N. 2016. Influence of pre-harvest spraying treatments of chemicals and plant growth regulators on quality parameters and shelf life of sapota [Manilkara achras (Mill.) Forsberg] fruits cv. Kalipatti. M.Sc. Thesis, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat.

5. Domínguez, I., Ferreres, F., Riquelme, F.P., Font, R. and Gil, M.I. 2012. Influence of preharvest application of fungicides on the postharvest quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Postharvest Biol. Technol. 72: 1–10.

6. Hussain, M.A., Mahdy, E.L. and Ibrahim, T.K. 2001. Effect of calcium chloride and gibberellic acid treatments on ‘Anna’ and ‘Dorset’ Golden apples during storage. Assiut J. Agric. Sci. 32:185-200.

7. Ismail, O.M., Abd El-Moniem, E.A.A., Abd-Allah, A.S.E. and El-Naggar, M.A.A. 2010. Influence of some post-harvest treatments on guava fruits. Agric. Biol. J. North Am. 1(6): 1309-1318.

8. Karemera, N.U. and Habimana, S. 2014. Effect of pre-harvest calcium chloride on postharvest behavior of mango fruits (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Alphonso. Universal J. Agric. Res. 2(3): 119-125.

9. Kumar, L.S.S. and Abraham, A. 1943. The papaya its botany, culture and uses. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 5(7): 45-49.

10. Lal, S., Kumar, D., Singh, D., Ahmed, N., Kumar, R. and Dar, G. 2011. Effect of pre-harvest application of calcium chloride and gibberellic acid on shelf-life and post-harvest quality of apricot (Prunus americana L.) cv. Harcot. J. Hort.Sci. 6(1): 46-51.

11. Lara, I. 2013. Preharvest sprays and theireffects on the postharvest quality of fruit. Stewart Postharvest Review. 3: 1-12.

12. Mason, J.L., Jasmin, J.J. and Granger, R.L. 1975. Softening of McIntosh apples reduced by postharvest dip in calcium chloride solution plus thickeners. Hort. Sci. 10: 524-525.

13. Moor, U., Toome, M. and Luik, A. 2005. Effect of different calcium compounds on postharvest quality of apples. Agron. Res. 4(2): 543-548.

14. Panse, V.G. and Sukhatme, P.V. 1985. Statistical methods for Agricultural workers, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, 381 p.

15. Patel, H.A., Patel, M.J., Vasara, R., Patel, N.G.and Sutariya, N.K. 2017. Effect of pre-harvest spray of calcium on bio-chemical parameters of sapota [Manilkara achras (Mill.) Forsberg] Fruits cv. Kalipatti. J. Pharmacogn. Phytochem. 6(5):712-715.

16. Selvaraj, Y., Pal, D.K., Subramaniam, M.D. and Iyer, C.P.A. 1982. Changes in the chemical composition of four cultivars of papaya during growth and development. J. Hort. Sci. 57: 135-143.

17. Singh, A.K., Singh, C.P. and Chauhan, P. 2012. Effect of pre-harvest chemical treatments and mulching on quality and marketability of Dashehari mango. Indian J. Hort. 69(4): 462-466.

18. Singh, P., Kumar, S., Maji, S., Kunar, A. and Yadav, Y.D. 2012. Effect of calcium chloride on postharvest changes in papaya fruits. Asian J. Hort. 7(1): 113-117.

19. Wills, R.B.H., McGlasson, W.B., Graham, D., Lee, T.H. and Hall, E.G. 1989. Postharvest: an introduction to the physiology and handling of fruit and vegetables, 3rd edn., NSW University Press, Kensington.

20. Wojcik, P. 2001. ‘Jonagold’ apple fruit quality as influenced by fall sprays with calcium chloride at high rates. J. Plant Nutr. 24: 1925-1936.

21. Zhu, Y., Yu, J., Brecht, J.K., Jiang, T. and Zheng, X. 2016. Pre-harvest application of oxalic acid increases quality and resistance to Penicillium expansum in kiwi fruit during postharvest storage. Food Chem. 190: 537–543.

22. Zoffoli, J.P., Latorre, B.A. and Naranjo, P. 2009. Preharvest applications of growth regulators and their effect on postharvest quality of table grapes during cold storage. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 51: 183–192.

Similar Articles

<< < 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.