Effect of GA3 and fungicide at colour-break stage for extension of bearing period and shelf-life in Khasi mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco.)

Abstract

The effect of GA3 of different concentrations along with fungicide was investigated on ten year old trees of Khasi mandarin to study the extension of bearing period and its post harvest shelf life the year, 2014-2015. Fruits on the tree at colour break stage were sprayed with seven concentrations of 10, 15, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 ppm of GA3 each along with the fungicide (Carbendazim 1g/L of water) and the control (no GA3 and fungicide). Among the different treatments, optimum fruit retention (237 fruits/tree) was observed in T5 (GA3@30ppm + fungicide i.e Carbendazim 1g/L of water) as compared to control (162 fruits/tree) and also extended the harvesting period for about 18.3 days in T7 (GA3@45ppm + fungicide i.e Carbendazim 1g/L of water) which is at par with T5 and T6 (18 days). Besides, imposition of GA3 and fungicide at colour break stage also minimized the physiological loss in weight, spoilage loss, shriveling and thus, extended the post harvest shelf life of the fruits of about one week as compared to control under the room temperature.