Effect of pre-harvest spray of mineral nutrients on the storage behaviour of guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. L-49 fruits

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of Calcium nitrate (0.5 and 1.0%), Zinc sulphate (0.2 and 0.4%) and Boric Acid (0.4 and 0.6%) on the storage behaviour of guava cv. L-49 fruits. Aquous solutions of these nutrients were sprayed on the plants, one month before harvesting during 15th Nov. of 2019 and 2020 and harvested fruits were stored at 10±1 ºC temperature. The mean of data for both years clearly revealed that pre-harvest spray of zinc sulphate at 0.4 per cent significantly reduced physiological loss in weight (%), spoilage (%), and acidity (%) and improved T.S.S., total sugars and ascorbic acid contents in guava cv. L-49 fruits under 10±1ºC storage during both years.