Post-shooting sprays of nutrients for improving fruit quality, antioxidant properties and shelf-life in banana (Musa sp.)

An experiment was conducted during 2018-21 at the research farms of Kittur Rani Channamma College of Horticulture (University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka), Arabhavi, Karnataka to study the effect of post-shooting sprays of nutrients for improving fruit quality, antioxidant properties and shelf-life in banana (Musa sp.). Effects of potassium sulphate (SOP) @20 g/L and micro-nutrients, viz. customised micronutrient mix Arka Banana SpecialTM @5 g/L, zinc sulphate @1 g/L, boric acid @ 2 g/L, ferrous sulphate-EDTA @3 g/L and copper sulphate @2 g/L sprays in different combinations imposed at post-shooting stage were evaluated in terms of fruit quality and shelf-life after ripening in banana cv. Grand Naine. Treatment comprising of SOP @20 g/L and Arka Banana SpecialTM @5 g/L improved pulp TSS (22.300B), TSS: TA ratio (71.26), fruit firmness (5.16 lb), MSI (18.12%) and peroxidase (POD) activity (15.98 Delta A470/min/g). While polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity (120.42 U/ mg protein), peel browning index (1.42), fruit weight loss (12.73%) and titratable acidity (0.31%) were declined. An increase in green life (8.22 days) and yellow life (3.93 days) of fruits by potassium application, enhancing the storage and shelf-life of the fruits. Pulp TSS was positively correlated with total sugars (0.938**), TSS: acid ratio (0.981**), shelf-life (0.955**), fruit firmness (0.931**) and MSI (0.921**), and negatively correlated with TA (-0.980**) and PPO activity (-0.967**).