1Project Directorate for Farming Systems Research, Modipuram, Meerut-250110
2Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Durgapura, Jaipur
Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology, Abohar-152116, Punjab
*Corresponding author's E-mail: vjy_meena@yahoo.com
Online published on 17 April, 2013.
The ber (Zizyphus mauritiana L.) fruits of cv. Gola were subjected to various treatments of naphthalene acetic acid (NAAI) and ferrous sulphate to determine their effect on physico-chemical characteristics and shelf life of fruits. NAA @ 0, 50, 75 and 100 ppm and ferrous sulphate @ 0, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4% were applied alone as well as in combination form during fruit development stage (pea size). The results revealed that 100 ppm NAA and 0.4% FeSO4 was found most effective in significantly increasing the fruit weight (18.35 & 22.95%), fruit length (23.11 & 27.95%) and fruit width (20.15 & 17.9%) respectively over the control. Though, the TSS of fruits was slightly reduced. The application of 75 ppm NAA and 0.3% FeSO4 helped in maintaining the marketability and also reduced the fruit weight loss (2.19 and 2.41%) and fruit decay loss (10.37 and 9.81%), respectively over the control. Application of 100 ppm NAA and 0.4% FeSO4 was found most economical than the other treatments.
Ber, NAA, ferrous sulphate, shelf-life, fruit quality
