Effect of post-harvest treatments of various chemical and plant growth regulators on chemical characteristics of sapota fruits cv. Kalipatti

Abstract

The mature fruits of sapota cv. Kalipatti were subjected to various post harvest chemical and growth regulator treatments viz. calcium chloride (5000 and 10000 ppm), calcium nitrate (2 and 4 %), gibberellic acid (200 and 400 ppm), benzyl adenine (75 and 150 ppm) and control (distilled water) and stored at ambient temperature. The level of acidity and ascorbic acid decreased with advancement of storage period and titratable acidity was found maximum (0.18 %) in control i.e. fruits treated with distilled water. The TSS, reducing sugars and total sugars were found to be increased up to 9th day of storage and then decreased at 12th day of storage. CaCl2 (10000 ppm) was found to be best since they have the highest amount of TSS (23.81 0Brix), reducing sugars (10.69 %), total sugars (19.18 %) and ascorbic acid (10.08 %).