Abstract:
To present a solution for improving the postharvest storage life of peach, the present investigation entitled, Improvement in storability and quality of peach cv. Flordaprince with post-harvest application of various chemicals was conducted in the laboratory of Department of Horticulture, Khalsa College, Amritsar during the year 2017-18. The fruits were harvested at the commercial ripening stage and were immersed in CaCl
2 (2, 4 and 6 percent), putrescine and salicylic acid (1, 2 and 3 mmol) as well as distilled water (control) for 5 minutes, then after air drying the fruits were packed in corrugated fibre boxes (CFB) and stored at 2
oC and 95% relative humidity for 28 days. The changes in weight loss, spoilage percentage, fruit firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, sugars and carotenoids were estimated after 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days during storage. Present experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design (RBD factorial). The results of the study revealed that the physiological weight loss, spoilage percent, total soluble solids were increased significantly while the fruit firmness, titratable acidity and carotenoids decreased significantly during storage. The salicylic acid 3 mmol reduced significantly the physiological weight loss and retained their firmness, fruit colour and palatability. In this condition, the highest and lowest of sugar contents were observed in treatments of putrescine 3 mmol and control respectively. The data revealed that the quality and storability was improved by the use of salicylic acid and putrescine treatments due to its effect on delaying the ripening processes.