Pre-harvest bagging of fruits using covering bags for quality fruit production in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) Cv. Nucellar

Abstract

Current study was conducted at Sweet Orange Research Station, Badnapur during academic year 2023-24 with an aim to investigate the effect of types of bags on fruit development and quality parameters of sweet orange. The experiment was laid out in Randomised Block Design (RBD) with seven treatments and four replications. The treatments distinguished as T1-control, T2- polypropylene bag (white colour), T3-polypropylene bag (red colour), T4- polypropylene bag (green colour), T5- butter paper bag, T6- polythene bag (black colour), T7- polythene bag (transparent). Among all the treatments, T7 i.e. polythene bag (transparent) appeared to be the most significant treatment showing maximum effect on length of fruit (8.2 cm), diameter of fruit (8.47 cm), fruit weight (264.67 g), juice percentage (64.90%), TSS (11.82° Brix), TSS: Acid ratio (25.99), ascorbic acid (58.92 mg/100g pulp), reducing sugars (4.42%), total sugars (8.32%), non-reducing sugars (3.89%), and shelf life of fruit (30.95 days); while it gave minimum values for other parameters. Highest peel/rind thickness (4.37 mm), peel percentage (17.62%), titrable acidity (0.59%), shelf life of fruit (physical loss in weight) (11.36%), and temperature inside bag (39.5 °C) was observed in T6 i.e. polythene bag (black colour).