1Department of Plant Pathology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004
2Punjab Horticultural Postharvest Technology Center, PAU, Ludhiana-141 004
3Punjab Agricultural University Regional Fruit Research Station, Bhadurgarh, Patiala-147 021
Department of Fruit Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004
*E-mail: karanbirgill@pau.edu
Online published on 25 February, 2014.
The present studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of pre-harvest application of salicylic acid, n-propyl gallate, ‘enhanced freshness formulation’ (EFF, patented for inhibition of ‘phospholipase D’) and calcium nitrate on fruit firmness, decay incidence and fungal microflora in winter crop of guava fruits under cold storage. EFF (1.5%) proved to be the best treatment showing minimum deterioration, retained more firmness and yielded less fungal microflora during the course of study. Seven fungi viz. Pestalotia psidii, Colletotrichum psidii, Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizopus oryzae and Penicillium species were found to be associated with guava during post-harvest storage. Strong association between deterioration and firmness was established by Pearson correlation coefficient (−0.85).
Guava, enhanced freshness formulation, pre-harvest sprays, pathogens, deterioration
