Effect of post-harvest treatments on shelf life of aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.)
Loading...
Date
2021-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
CCSHAU, Hisar
Abstract
Aonla fruits are highly perishable in nature, necessitating strategies to enhance post-harvest life in order to extend fresh fruit market period. Therefore, the present investigations were conducted in aonla cv. Chakaiya to explore the possibilities of storage at ambient conditions with treatments of gibberellic acid, calcium nitrate, potassium permanganate and bael leaf extract. The fruits harvested at physiological maturity were subjected to the treatments of gibberellic acid (400 ppm, 500 ppm and 600 ppm), calcium nitrate (1.0%, 2.0% and 3.0%), potassium permanganate (1000 mg, 2000 mg and 3000 mg) and bael leaf extract (1.0%, 2.0% and 3.0%), packed in PE bags and stored at ambient conditions. The fruits were analyzed for various parameters on alternate days. All the treatments exhibited potential to maintain the post-harvest life of aonla fruits as compared to control. However, calcium nitrate 1.0% is effective in reducing physiological loss in weight, decay loss and retaining a higher level of fruit firmness, moisture and specific gravity and gibberellic acid 600 ppm is effective in maintaining a lower level of total soluble solids (TSS) and TSS to acid ratio and higher level of ascorbic acid, titratable acidity, colour, organoleptic rating and phenol content, which helps in improving the shelf-life and maintaining acceptable quality of aonla fruits for longer time. Hence, calcium nitrate and gibberellic acid have the potential to enhance the post-harvest life of aonla.