P.P.S. Gill

Effect of edible surface coatings on the storability of pear fruits

Punjab Beauty is leading variety of semi-soft pear and commercially grown in Punjab. Fruits mature in third week of July, when temperature and humidity are very high, which reduces the shelf-life. An experiment was conducted to extend the post-harvest life of pear fruits using surface coatings such as carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) @ 0.25%, Aloe vera gel (AVG) @ 0.25% and chitosan @ 0.25%. The control fruits were kept uncoated. Coated and control fruits were packed in CFB boxes and kept at 0–1°C and 90–95% relative humidity. Fruits were analysed for various physico-chemical characteristics, viz., PLW, palatability, TSS, acidity, total sugars, total phenolics and pectin methyl esterase activity after 30, 45, 60, 67 and 74 days of storage. Results revealed that all edible coatings had significant effect on quality parameters of fruits during storage period. After 67 days of storage, minimum PLW (5.16%) and highest palatability rating (7.10), total sugars (8.67%), total phenolics (60.3 mg/100 g FW) and PME activity (1.60 ml of 0.02 N NaOH) were recorded in carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) @ 0.25% coated pear fruits. However, after 74 days of storage, fruits from all the treatments were of unacceptable quality. Carboxymethyl cellulose @ 0.25% was found to be the best coating to extend the post-harvest life of pear fruits up to 67 days under cold storage conditions.

Improvement in production and fruit quality of semi-soft pear by girdling

A study was conducted with the objective to improve fruit quality in semi-soft pear and find out the plant part and stage of growth for girdling. In semi-soft pear cultivar Punjab Beauty under sub-tropics of northern India, considerable increase in fruit retention, fruit productivity, fruit weight, size and colour coordinates was noted with girdling treatments, viz., trunk girdling (TG), limb girdling (LG) and sub-limb girdling (SLG) applied at flower initiation (FI), 15 days after flower initiation (15 DAFI) and 30 days after flower initiation (30 DAFI) over control. The fruits with best quality attributes in terms of juice, soluble solids content, SSC/TA ratio, total sugars and low titratable acidity were observed under limb girling performed at 15 DAFI. Girdling treatments also significantly advanced the physiological fruit maturity over the untreated tree.

Influence of Post Harvest Calcium Chloride Treatment and Shrink Film Packaging on Storage Life of Pear Fruits

To enhance the storage life of pear cv. ‘Punjab Beauty ’, fruits were dipped in aqueous solution of calcium chloride (1.5 and 2.5%) for 5 min., packed in corrugated fibre board (CFB) boxes or shrinkfilm trays and stored at 0–1°C with 90–95% RH for 67 days. Untreated fruits were dipped in fresh water only and kept in CFB boxes. The weight loss was appreciably reduced in CaCl2 treated + shrink wrapped fruits. CaCl2 treatment @ 1.5% and shrink film tray packaging proved effective in maintaining the firmness and acid content of fruits. Maximum sensory quality of fruits was recorded after 45 days in fruits treated with CaCl2 @ 2.5% + CFB packing. Soluble solids content in fruit juice was highest after 60 day of storage in all the treatments. Combination of shrink film tray packaging + CaCl2 @ 1.5% treatment was effective in minimizing the physiological loss in weight of fruits and maintaining the fruit quality for 60 days under storage.

Effect of different stionic combinations on fruiting and quality of pear cv. PUNJAB BEAUTY.

The rootstock and/or inter-stock, and in particular their union with the scion, bring about their effects upon the scion by influencing the endogenous hormones, water and mineral elements within the plant. Hence, the effect of various rootstocks and interstocks on growth, fruiting and quality of semi-soft pear cv. PUNJAB BEAUTY was evaluated at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during the year 2013. The results show great variability among different stionic combinations. Double combination of Patharnakh cutting/Punjab Beauty resulted maximum plant height while minimum growth was observed in T10 (Patharnakh cutting/ Patharnakh/ Punjab Beauty) treatment. Rootstock and interstock girth was maximum in T5 (Kainth large fruited/ Sucker/ Punjab Beauty) treatment while T10 combination recorded lowest values of rootstock and interstock girth. Similarly, scion girth of Punjab Beauty pear was maximum when Kainth small fruited was used as rootstock. The fruit number and yield per plant were recorded highest in T5 treatment while T15 combination resulted lowest yield. The fruit weight was maximum from double stoinic combination of Shiara/Punjab Beauty. The fruits from stionic combination of Sucker/ Sucker/ Punjab Beauty were softer, while T4 treatment resulted maximum fruit firmness. Double combination of Kainth small fruited/ Punjab Beauty resulted maximum TSS contents of fruits while the acid content remain unaffected by any treatment.