Comparative physico-chemical properties of fresh and gummosis affected peach (Prunus persica) var. red June grown in Uttarakhand

Peach cultivar red June grows well under temperate conditions of Kumaun hills and favoured for its attractive fruits possessing captitative taste, aroma, nutritional value and a source of livelihood for the people of region. the fruits of peach cv. red June as fresh and gummosis affected were harvested at physiological maturity, i.e., colour break stage from the High density Peach orchard block of central Institute of temperate Horticulture-regional Station, Mukteshwar. Six types of grading were used for physical and bio-chemical analysis of peach fruits. total soluble solids (9.05 ⁰B) and reducing sugars (2.55%) were found significantly higher in highly infected gummosis diseased fruits as compared to all other grades in ascending order including healthy fruits (grade 1) respectively. the acidity (0.60%), ascorbic acid (1.30 mg/100g), total sugars (2.91%), total antioxidant (15.19 mMte/L) and carotenoids (65.64 μg/100gm) were found to decrease significantly due to infection of gummosis as compared to all other grades in ascending order including healthy fruits (grade 1). From the present study it can be concluded that the fresh peach fruits (grade 1) were significantly better in physical and bio-chemical characters including storage and marketability for 2–3 weeks as compared to gummosis affected fruits (grade 2–6) having poor nutrition, unmarketable and very low storage life.