RÉSUMÉ
Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of different pre-sowing treatments on germination characteristics of strawberry guava (Psidium cattleainum Sabine).Study Design: The experiment consisted of eleven treatments and three replications laid out in a Completely randomized design (CRD).Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Orchard Nursery, Department of Fruit Science, Horticulture College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during April-June 2023.Methodology: Seeds of Psidium cattleainum (strawberry guava) were collected from guava germplasm from an orchard and treated with different pre-sowing chemicals. After pre-sowing treatment, the seeds were sown and various germination characteristics and growth parameters were observed and recorded.Results: The seeds treated with GA3 500 ppm for 30 minutes took minimum days to germinate (20), with higher germination percentage (79.33%), maximum vigour index I, and vigour index II (708.6 and 584.23). The growth parameters such as seedling height, stem girth,and number of leaves, primary root length, number of lateral roots were recorded higher in GA3 500 ppm followed by Thiourea 1%.The biomass production of seedlings was also higher in seeds treated with GA3 500 ppm.Conclusion: The seeds treated with GA3 500 ppm for 30 minutes recorded higher germination characteristics, growth parameters and biomass production. So for quicker propagation of strawberry guava to be used as rootstock, seeds can be treated with 500 ppm GA3 to obtain the large number of seedlings for the use of rootstock.
RÉSUMÉ
Aim: Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is the second most consumed fruit which belongs to the family Anacardiaceae. Ripening in mango (climacteric fruit) is hastened by application of ethrel. The experiment was conducted to study the effect of different temperatures during ethrel treatment on shelf life and quality of mango cv. Alphonso.Study Design: The experiment consisted of three treatments and seven replications laid out in Completely randomized design (CRD).Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Department of Fruit Science, Horticulture College and research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during 2022-2023. Methodology: Mango cv. Alphonso was subjected to ethrel treatment in three different ripening chambers having different temperatures viz., T1 – silpaulin chamber (33°C), T2 – zero energy cool chamber (26°C), T3 – cold chamber (22°C) for a period of 24 hours. After ethylene treatment, the fruits were stored at ambient temperature to study the ripening behaviour. Shelf life and quality parameters were observed and recorded. Results: The days taken for ripening was lesser (6 days) and the rate of conversion of quality attributes were higher in fruits subjected to ethrel treatment in silpaulin chamber. The quality attributes like TSS (22°Brix), acidity (0.25 %), TSS : acid ratio (88) were significantly higher in fruits treated in silpaulin chamber on the day of ripening. The physiological loss in weight was found to be significantly lesser in fruits subjected to ethylene treatment in cold chamber (6.56 %) and were on par with fruits treated in zero energy cool chamber (6.71%) whereas the firmness and shelf life were found to be significantly higher in cold chamber treated fruits (2.35 N, 15 days respectively) but firmness was on par with fruits subjected to ethylene treatment in zero energy cool chamber (2.21 N) on ripening. The overall acceptability of fruits in sensory evaluations was significantly higher in fruits treated in zero energy cool chamber (8.3) which was on par with fruits treated in cold chamber (8.1).Conclusion: The fruits treated in silpaulin chamber had better TSS, acidity and TSS: acid blend. The fruits treated in cold chamber were superior in shelf life and sensory score which was also on par with fruits treated in zero energy cool chamber. Hence zero energy cool chamber can be used as an alternative to cold chamber for ethrel treatment which would be cost effective, environment friendly and can be used by small traders and farmers.