Effect of salicylic acid and potassium silicate on shelf life of mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Alphonso

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at farmer’s field, near College of Horticulture, Anantharajupeta, Andhra Pradesh during the year 2017-2018 under Dr. Y.S.R Horticultural University, to assess the effect of potassium silicate and salicylic acid on fruit shelf life in mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Alphonso. The experiment consisted of nine treatments viz. T1 (control), T2 (potassium nitrate @ 1%), T3 (salicylic acid @ 100 ppm), T4 (salicylic acid @ 200 ppm), T5 (potassium silicate @ 0.1%), T6 (potassium silicate @ 0.2%), T7 (salicylic acid @ 100 ppm + potassium silicate @ 0.1%), T8 (salicylic acid @ 0.2% + potassium silicate @ 200 ppm), T9 (paclobutrazol @ 3 ml m-1). Seven years old mango orchard was selected for experiment and planted with spacing 7.5 m in square system. Results revealed that foliar application of salicylic acid @ 200 ppm + potassium silicate @ 0.2% (T8) found to enhance shelf life of fruits (15.10 days), marketable fruits percentage (88.94%), firmness (4.97 kg/cm2) and reduce physiological loss in weight during storage period.