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 (15.98ΔA470/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**).