Vol. 12, Issue 12 (2023)

Author(s):
Zarna Patel, BN Patelm and SN Saravaiya

Abstract:
The present study was carried out at Regional Horticultural Research Station, ASPEE Collegeof Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari from January 2018 to July 2018 in Sonpari variety. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with factorial concept and repeated thrice with twenty-one treatment combination. The experiment consisted of three planting distance (D) viz., 5 m × 5 m (D₁), 3 m × 3 m (D₂) and 3 m × 2 m (D₃) and seven fruit bagging materials(B) viz., control (B₁) newspaper bag (B₂), brown paper bag (B₃), transparent PP bag (B₄), butter paper bag (B₅), muslin cloth bag (B₆) and non-woven bag (B₇). The fruits were bagged at egg stage (55-60 days after fruit set). The result of present investigation revealed that maximum per cent fruit retention, marketable fruit and minimum fruit fly infestation were recorded in the planting distance of 5 m× 5 m. While maximum fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit volume, pulp weight, stone weight and minimum damage fruits (sun burned or bruised) and anthracnose infected fruits were observed in planting distance of 3 m× 3 m. Maximum fruit firmness and shelf-life at ambient temperature was recorded in planting distance of 3 m× 2 m. Among fruit bagging treatments, maximum per cent fruit retention, fruit firmness, marketable fruits shelf-life and minimum damaged fruits was noticed in fruits bagged with newspaper bag. Fruit fly incidence and anthracnose infestation was not observed in newspaper bag, butter paper bag and muslin cloth bag. While, maximum fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit volume, pulp weight, stone weight was found in fruits bagged with muslin cloth bag and newspaper bags. The interaction between D₂B₆ (3 m × 3 m distance and fruit bagging with muslin cloth bag) recorded maximum fruit volume followed D₂B₂ (3 m × 3 m distance and fruit bagging with newspaper bag). While, minimum damaged fruits and maximum marketable fruits were noted in D₁ (5 m × 5 m) and fruits bagged with B2 (newspaper bag). The highest BCR (3.25) was recorded in the combination of D₁B₂ (5 m× 5 m and fruits covered with newspaper bag) followed by D₂B₂ (3 m × 3 m and fruits bagged with newspaper bag) with benefit cost ratio of 3.23. Owing to the results obtained during this study, it is inferred that fruits bagged with newspaper bag with planting distance of 5 m × 5 m was found better for enhancing the physical quality of mango fruit cv. Sonpari.