BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN GUAVA FRUITS DURING STORAGE AS AFFECTED BY DIFFERENT METHODS OF HARVESTING FROM DIFFERENT POSITION OF TREE

A study was carried out on the effect of position of the canopy and different methods of harvesting of guava to evaluate its chemical as well as mineral quality at the different period of storage. Matured healthy fruits of guava cv. 'Pant Prabhat' with uniform size were harvested with and without peduncle and with one leaf pair with the help of secateur to analyze the post harvest behaviour of fruit after three and seven days of storage. Time of maturity was influenced by position of fruits. Fruits from lower tree canopy mature earlier than rest of the canopy. There was also a variation in chemical as well as mineral quality between different canopy positions on tree. Calcium and potassium contents were higher in upper canopy positions than lower canopy fruits. Fruits should be harvested lower layer of fruit tree canopy for better quality as well as storage. Therefore, at the time of harvesting guava the pedicel should remain attached to its fruit for better storage quality.