QUALITY ENHANCEMENT AND SHELF-LIFE EXTENSION IN MANGO (MANGIFERA INDICA L.) CV. BANGANAPALLI THROUGH PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS, CHEMICAL SPRAYS AND PRUNING

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to assess the effects of foliar spray of plant growth regulators (NAA, salicylic acid, ethrel and cycocel), chemicals (KNO3 and KH2 PO4 ) and pruning on quality attributes of the mango cv. Banganapalli. The results revealed that, KNO3 @ 1% resulted in maximum shelf life (15 days), enhanced fruit firmness (1.35 kg/cm2 ), higher ascorbic acid content (23.22 mg/100g) and minimum physiological loss in weight (6.02%, 12.12%, 18.00% and 23.96%) at 3, 6, 9 and 12 days after harvest (DAH). While, ethrel @ 200 ppm led to the lowest titrable acidity (0.36%) and the highest TSS (18.63%), brix acid ratio (52.50), total carotenoids (2.18 mg/100g), total sugars (12.02%), reducing sugars (3.54%) and nonreducing sugars (8.48%). Meanwhile, the maximum total phenolic content (51.42 mg/100g) was recorded in the plants treated with salicylic acid @ 100 ppm. KNO3 @ 1% proved beneficial for prolonging shelf life, maintaining firmness, and enriching ascorbic acid with minimal physiological weight loss, while ethrel @ 200 ppm excelled in improving TSS, acidity profile, carotenoid content, and sugar composition.