Department of Horticulture, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, 263 145, Uttarakhand.
*Corresponding author's: E-mail: deeyasawant@gmail.com
1Instt. of Agril. Sciences, BHU, varanasi.
An investigation was undertaken to find out the effect of micronutrients (Cu, Fe and Zn) on ber yield, fruit quality and storage-life at ambient conditions. Treatments consisted of various concentrations of micronutrients, i.e. Cu, Fe and Zn (0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4% each). All the treatments had marked influence on yield and quality of fruits. Maximum yield (94.5 kg/tree) was recorded with application of 0.4% ZnSO4, while minimum (62.25 kg/tree) was recorded with control. All the treatments increased fruit weight. Fruits stored at ambient conditions were fresher in respect of different parameters. Gradual loss in the fruit weight, volume and specific gravity were recorded in all the treatments with the advancement in the storage period. Micronutrient sprays were found effective in reducing the physical loss in weight compared to control. At the end of storage period, higher volume and specific gravity of fruits were observed in ZnSO4, followed by FeSO4 and CuSO4 treatments. The TSS and total sugars content continued to increase up to 6 days of storage period in all the treatments. The ascorbic acid content showed decreasing trend during storage in all the treatments.The reduction in ascorbic acid content was low due to CuSO4, FeSO4 and ZnSO4 (0.4%) treatments, whereas lowest ascorbic acid content was observed in control. Out of three micronutrients (Cu, Fe and Zn), ZnSO4 at 0.4% conspicuously enhanced yield and post-harvest quality of ber.
Ber, micronutrients, yield, fruit quality, storage-life, biochemical changes
