Fruit growth and development of peach cv. Shan-e-Punjab under edaphic and environmental conditions of Meghalaya

The physical characters (fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit volume and pit weight) and chemical characters (TSS, TSS: acid ratio, ascorbic acid and total sugars) were studied from 47–96 days old fruits of peach cv. Shan-e-Punjab. The developing fruits that were collected 47 days after fruit set registered the minimum values for most of the characters. The fruits that were collected 82 days after fruit set recorded best fruit weight (32 g), fruit length (33 mm), fruit diameter (33 mm), fruit volume (36.67 ml), TSS (12.13%), titrable acidity (0.67%), TSS: acid ratio (18.37), ascorbic acid (226 mg/100 g) and total sugars (5.43%). Beyond 82 days after fruit set, there was no significant progress in yield and quality characters. Hence, it is advisable to harvest peach fruits of Shan-e-Punjab 82–86 days after fruit set under edaphic and environmental conditions of Meghalaya.