EFFECT OF PRE-HARVEST TREATMENTS OF CALCIUM SALTS ON HARVEST MATURITY IN KINNOW MANDARIN

The present study was undertaken at Punjab Government Progeny Orchard and Nursery, Attari, Amritsar, to judge the efficacy of different levels of Calcium Chloride (CaCl2) and Calcium Nitrate {Ca(NO3)2} for retaining the fruit quality during delayed harvesting. There were six chemical treatments and the experiment was replicated three times. The fruits from the trees were harvested at different stages of maturity (1st January, 15th January, 1st February and 15th February) and were subjected to physico-chemical evaluation. On the basis of two years observation, Calcium Chloride (CaCl2) at 6 per cent and Calcium Nitrate {Ca(NO3)2} at 0.3 per cent proved their effectiveness in delaying the harvest maturity of the fruits. However, the TSS, total sugars and reducing sugars level of these treated fruits was find to be lower in comparison to control. The acidity level was recorded to be higher than control.