Influence of pre-harvest foliar spray on the biochemical and physiological properties of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.)

Abstract

Foliar application of salicylic acid (100 ppm and 200ppm), methyl jasmonate (25 ppm and 50 ppm) and calcium nitrate (0.25% and 0.5%) and its implications on the fruit biochemical and physiological properties viz., TSS, titratable acidity, TSS: acid ratio, fruit firmness, fruit decay, PLW and shelf-life were evaluated. Fruits harvested from the treatment T5 (methyl jasmonate 50 ppm along with RDF) showed the highest total soluble solids content of 7.24 °B, lowest titratable acidity of 0.92% and highest sugar-acid ratio of 7.87 whereas preharvest sprays of salicylic acid at the rate of 200 ppm along with RDF (T3) resulted in higher fruit firmness (2.30 kg/cm2), lower incidence of fruit decay (61.33%), minimum physiological loss in weight (1.20%) and shelf-life (3.60 days).