Pabitra Joshi, Bishnu Raj Ojha and Arun Kafle

Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan,
Vegetable Crops Development Centre, Khumaltar, Lalitpur
Corresponding author’s email address: pabitrajoshi77@gmail.com

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3126/nh.v14i1.30603

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted during January to April 2018 to evaluate the effect of different post-harvest treatments on maintaining quality and shelf life of mandarin. Laboratory experiment was conducted under Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with four replications and seven treatments (T1 = Control i.e. dipped in distilled water, T2 = Cinnamon oil @2%, T3 = Eucalyptus oil @2%, T4 = Calcium chloride @1%, T5 = Bavistin @0.1%, T6 = Paraffin Wax @10%, T7 = Paraffin Wax @ 10% + Bavistin @0.1%). Data were recorded in every 2 days interval and the final data was taken in 13 days interval because of the limited destructive sample. Postharvest treatment with wax @10% in combination with Bavistin @0.1% had minimum physiological loss in weight (6.61%) and maximum juice recovery percentage (43.72%) which was statistically at par with wax (10%), Bavistin (0.1%), Cinnamon oil (2%), Eucalyptus oil (2%) and Calcium chloride (1%) treated fruits. Also at the end of storage period the highest Total soluble solute (TSS) content (15.45°Brix) was recorded in Calcium chloride (1%) treated fruits which were statistically at par with control, Eucalyptus oil (2%), Bavistin (0.1%) treated fruits. The pH was found non-significant throughout the storage period whereas postharvest life was found the maximum (73 Days) in fruits treated with wax (10%) in combination with Bavistin (0.1%) while it was only 46 days in control.