Effect of pre-harvest application of plant growth regulators (GA₃, NAA and CCC) on post-harvest quality of guava (Psidium Guajava L.) cv. sardar

Senescence process was slower in treated fruits as compared to control. The fruit size, weight, firmness and specific gravity recorded continuous decrease with the advancement of storage period. All other quality parameters viz. TSS, acidity, total sugars and ascorbic acid increased upto first three days of storage and thereafter decreased continuously, while TSS/acid ratio, decay loss and physiological loss in weight followed a continuously increasing trend. Maximum fruit size, weight and specific gravity with lowest acidity were recorded with 90 ppm GA₃ as compared to control. Maximum TSS, total sugars, TSS/acid ratio were recorded with 60 ppm NAA, while reducing sugars and ascorbic acid content were maximum in 120 ppm GA₃ and 90 ppm GA₃ respectively. 600 ppm CCC resulted in lowest physiological loss in weight, decay loss and maximum fruit firmness.