Response of Nagpur mandarin fruit to pre-harvest sprays of gibberellic acid and carbendazim

Effect of pre-harvest application of GA₃ (10, 15 and 20 ppm) was studied on physico-chemical characteristics of Nagpur mandarin during holding of fruit on the tree as well as on losses during post-harvest storage at ambient and refrigerated conditions. GA₃ treatments (10, 15 and 20 ppm) delayed rind colour development and fruit softening and minimized fruit drop and puffiness during on-tree storage without adverse effect on TSS/acid ratio and fruit productivity in subsequent years. Fruit weight loss was reduced in storage by GA₃ treatment, however, results were inconsistent with respect to decay. The pre-harvest treatment with 10 ppm (twice at colour break with 15 days interval) was found to be optimum for on-tree storage upto 1 month beyond normal harvest. Combination of GA₃ with carbendazim further reduced fruit drop and storage decay.