Effect of pre harvest fruit bagging on the physico-chemical properties of litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) CV. rose scented

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken at Horticulture Research Centre, Pattharchatta, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand to see the effect of different bagging materials (white polypropylene and pink polypropylene bags) with varied perforations (0, 5 and 10%) and bagging dates (45, 35 and 30 days before harvest) on the physico-chemical properties of litchi during the year 2018. Among the various bagging materials of different perforations used, white polypropylene bag with 5% perforation had most effectively improved the physical and the chemical attributes of litchi viz. fruit retention, fruit cracking, fruit weight, fruit volume, pulp weight, pulp to seed ratio, TSS, total sugars, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars, ascorbic acid and fruit peel anthocyanin content. However, higher fruit diameter and TSS: Acidity ratio with lower sun burn were obtained in fruits bagged with white polypropylene bags without any perforation. On the other hand, fruits bagged 30 days before harvest gave significant results for all the parameters. The economics calculated for all the treatments showed that bagging of fruits 30 days before harvest with white polypropylene bags having five per cent perforation showed feasibility in litchi cultivation as the net return per rupee was Rs. 2.88.