Vol. 11, Issue 9 (2022)

Author(s):
Ayeeshya Hasansab Kolhar, DL Rudresh, MD Jameel Jhalegar, Raghavendra K Mesta, N Basavaraja, Mallikarjun G Awati and Prakash DP

Abstract:
The effect of chemical Elicitors viz. salicylic acid (2 mM, 3 mM), chitosan (1%, 2%), oxalic acid (10 mM, 20 mM), calcium chloride (2%, 3%) and brassinosteroid (0.1%) on quality attributes and shelf life of papaya cv. Red Lady was investigated. The fruits were harvested at mature green stage with 1 or 2 yellow streaks on the surface, are brought to laboratory and treated with respective elicitor molecules. Further, they are stored at ambient condition and various physiological, physico-chemical properties were analyzed. On 9^th day of storage, the papaya fruits treated with chitosan at 1% (T₃) exhibited minimum physiological loss in weight (PLW) (13.40%), decreased respiration rate (11.55 ml CO₂/Kg), with higher fruit firmness (41.88 N), total soluble solids (12.13%), titratable acidity (0.25%), β carotene content (1.89 mg/100g), lowered instrumental colour values i.e., L* (59.00), a* (13.65) and b* (50.48). In addition chitosan (1%) treated papaya fruits also exhibited minimum Percent disease index (PDI) (13.33%), higher overall organoleptic acceptability (6.94/9.00) with maximum shelf life of 8.33 days.