Retention of functional and sensory qualities after harvest by application of combination of pre- and post-harvest treatments on snow queen nectarine (Prunus persica var. nucipersica Schneid.) fruits

Abstract

Snow Queen is a mid-season variety among the nectarines fruit grown in the “Peach Ball of Asia”. Being a climacteric fruit, it can’t be stored for long therefore present study was conducted to retain the quality after harvest by the application of combination of pre- and post-harvest treatments of nutrients, growth regulators and plant extracts. The pre-standardized four treatments of preharvest sprays of CPPU@15 ppm, Salicylic acid@3000 ppm, [email protected]% and [email protected]% is combined with five pre-standardized postharvest treatments of 1-MCP fumigation750 ppb, water dip @ 55 °C for 5 minutes, 5 Min dip in 0.15% Neemazal at 55 °C, Starlight Coating @ 50% and Mint leaf extract @ 30% which was compare with water treated fruits i.e. control. All the treatments found to effective in protecting the physico-chemical and antioxidant compounds viz. ascorbic acid and total phenols content. Sensory and PCA analysis for overall acceptability of Snow Queen nectarine fruits generally improved with the advancement of storage period. Among all the combinations of pre- and post-harvest treatments, fruits treated with 1.5 per cent CaCl2 at the preharvest stage combined with postharvest applications of 750 ppb 1-MCP treatment (T11) proved to be most effective in maintaining fruit quality and minimizing deterioration during 28 days storage of nectarine fruit cv. Snow Queen at 3 ±1 oC.