Effect of pre-harvest calcium and fungicide sprays on post harvest quality and shelf life of Red Delicious apple

Abstract

The study was conducted to retain postharvest quality and enhance shelf-life by pre-harvest sprays of calcium nitrate and calcium chloride (1%) after 60 days from full bloom (DFFB) followed by fungicide (0.3%) (Ziram-27% SC and Captan 50% WP) individually 30 days prior to fruit harvest in plants of Red Delicious apple in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. The fruits were evaluated for quality attributes after 14, 28 and 42 days of storage intervals. Lesser physiological loss in weight (PLW) and high firmness was observed in calcium chloride than calcium nitrate sprayed fruits during shelf-life of 42 days, irrespective of fungicide. Whereas fungicide (0.3%) spray of Captan-50%WP was found to maintained better quality characteristics of fruits than Ziram-27% SC. SSC increased with increase in storage interval up to 42 days in calcium sprayed fruits irrespective of compound. Fruits sprayed with 1% calcium chloride after 60 DFFB followed by fungicide (0.3%) Captan-50% WP before 30 days from fruit harvest had significantly high fruit firmness and low PLW up to 42 days of storage period.