Effect of pre-harvest sprays of calcium, zinc and silver on physio-chemical characteristics of guava. (Psidium gaujava L.) cv. Sardar during storage

The shelf life of guava fruits improved significantly with various pre-harvest chemical sprays as compared to control. Spray of silver nitrate 150 ppm five weeks before harvest and repeated three weeks after first spray increased the shelf life of the guava fruit satisfactorily upto six days as compared to control, where in guava fruit lost its quality traits during third and sixth day of storage at room temperature. The fruit weight, firmness and specific gravity continuously decreased with the advancement of storage period. Total soluble solids, acidity, total sugars and absorbic acid increased up to first three days of storage and thereafter decreased, while TSS/acid ratio, decay loss and physiological loss in weight showed increasing trend after harvest during storage.