Effect of pre-harvest sprays of ethepbon, calcium acetate and carbendazim on rind colour, abscission and shelf-life of Nagpur mandarin (Citrus reticulata).

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in 1994 and 1995 in ambia (spring blossom) crop season on Nagpur mandarin(Citrus reticutata Blanco) to find out the effects of pre-harvest sprays of ethephon, calcium acetate and carbendazim onrind colour, quality, shelf life, yield and fruit and leaf abscission. Ethephon treatments alone effectively advanced rindcolouration (250 and 300 ppm), although its application caused excessive leaf and fruit abscission. Addition of calciumacetate (l%) in ethephon slgniflcantly reduced leaf and fruit abscission. Although fruit firmess and titratable aciditydecreased significantly after 8 days from second application of ethephon but it remained constant thereafter. Yield wasnot adversely affected during subsequent year by any of the treatments, Carbendazim in ethephon reduced fruit decaysignificantly. Treatment with ethephon (250 ppm) + oalcium acetate (1%) + carbendazim (SOO ppm) was found to be thebest for advancing colour in Nagpur mandarin by 20 days with less fruit and leaf abscission, less decay and better favourand overall acceptability during ambient and refrigerated storage