Effects of foliar application of micronutrients on shelf life of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out to study the influence of different micronutrients on physiological loss of weight and spoilage at room temperature in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) fruit. Fifteen different treatments which was control, boric acid 100 ppm (T1), zinc sulphate 100 ppm (T2), ammonium molybdate 50 ppm (T3), copper sulphate 10 ppm (T4), ferrous sulphate 100 ppm (T5), manganese sulphate 100 ppm (T6), mixture of all i.e. (T1 +T2 + T3 + T4 + T5+ T6 = T7), multiplex 100 ppm (T8), mixture of all without zinc sulphate (i.e. T1 + T3 + T4 + T5+ T6 =T9), mixture of all without ammonium molybdate (i.e. T1 +T2 + T4 + T5+ T6 =T10), mixture of all without copper sulphate (i.e. T1 +T2 + T3 + T5+ T6 = T11), mixture of all without ferrous sulphate (i.e. T1 +T3 + T4 +T6 =T12), mixture of all without manganese sulphate (i.e. T1 +T3 + T4 + T5 =T13) and multiplex @ 4 ml/ litre (T14) sprayed at 30, 40 and 50 DAS (Days after sowing) at weekly interval for three times. Out of fourteen treatments, the application of mixture of all micronutrients and boric acid @100 ppm enhanced the shelf life of fruits.