Vol. 11, Issue 8 (2022)

Author(s):
N Priyanka Tejaswini, Veena Joshi, D Lakshminarayana, J Shankara Swamy and R Purnima Mishra

Abstract:
The present research entitled "Effect of pre-treatment with coconut sugar and different drying methods on quality of dried fig (Ficus carica L.) Cv. Brown Turkey" was carried out during 2020-21 at Post Harvest Technology Laboratory, College of Horticulture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana. The main objective of the investigation was dehydration of figs and estimation of quality characteristics and storage stability of dried fruit. The experiment was carried out in factorial randomized block design with 3 replications and twelve treatment combinations. The different levels of drying methods (4 levels) are D₁- Sun drying, D₂-Solar drying, D₃-Hot air oven drying and D₄-Tray drying and Pre-treatment with coconut sugar (3 levels) C₁-Coconut sugar 30 °brix, C₂-Coconut sugar 40° brix, C₃-Coconut sugar 50° brix were tried, the results were recorded and summarized. Quality parameters like highest TSS (55.15OBrix, 55.16 ⁰Brix, 51.58 ⁰Brix, 51.83 ⁰Brix and 51.84 ⁰Brix), reducing sugars (38.21%, 37.93%, 37.94%, 38.10% and 38.12%) and total sugars (42.46%, 42.47%, 42.48%, 42.49% and 42.50%) were recorded in drying level D₄ (Tray drying) whereas maximum titratable acidity (0.080%, 0.081%, 0.082%, 0.083% and 0.084%) observed in D1 (Sun drying) at after drying, 15, 30, 45 and 60 DAS. Highest TSS (47.59 ^OBrix, 47.60 ⁰Brix, 46.35 ⁰Brix, 47.59 ⁰Brix and 46.61 ⁰Brix) and total sugars (36.64%, 36.66%, 36.67%, 36.68% and 36.68%) were recorded in coconut sugar level C₃ (Coconut sugar 50° brix), whereas maximum reducing sugars (32.45%, 31.03%, 31.05%, 31.24% and 31.26%) was noticed in C₂ (Coconut sugar 40° brix) and higher titratable acidity (0.064%, 0.066%, 0.067%, 0.068% and 0.069%) was reported in C₁ (Coconut sugar 30° brix) at after drying, 15, 30, 45 and 60 DAS. The treatment combination TSS (56.58 ⁰Brix, 56.59 ⁰Brix, 56.78 ⁰Brix and 57.03 ⁰Brix), reducing sugars (38.27%, 38.29%, 38.31% and 38.44%) and total sugars (43.56%, 43.57%, 43.52% and 43.53%) was found to be significant in treatment combination D₄C₃ (Tray drying, Coconut sugar 50° brix) at after drying, 15 DAS, 30 DAS and 45 DAS and titratable acidity (0.084% and 0.086%) was found to be significant in treatment combination D₁C₂ (Tray drying, Coconut sugar 50° brix) at 15 DAS and 45 DAS.