Pre- Harvest Foliar Spray of Zinc, Calcium, Chitosan, and Salicylic Acid on Quality Standards of Indian Ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk.) cv. Gola

Aim: The present experiment was designed to find out the effect of a foliar spray of zinc, calcium, chitosan and salicylic acid on the fruit quality of ber.

Place and Duration of Study: This experiment was conducted at Horticulture farm, SKN College of Agriculture, Jobner in the newly established orchard of Indian jujube cv. Gola during the two-consecutive years 2022 and 2023.

Study Design and Methodology: The present experiment is laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications. Factor A consists of 12 level of zinc, calcium, chitosan, and salicylic acid treatments along with the control, and factor B consists three foliar sprays i.e., single foliar spray at pea size stage, color turning stage of fruits and double foliar spray at pea size and color turning stage of fruits (green to yellow). Various quality parameters namely TSS, acidity, ascorbic acid, total, reducing and non-reducing sugars are observed as per standard procedures.

Results: Plants sprayed with ZnSO4 @ 4g/L + CaCl2 @ 2g/L + Chitosan @ 1.5g/L +Salicylic acid @ 1g/L recorded highest TSS (19.05°Brix), minimum acidity (0.415%) TSS: acid ratio (45.93%), ascorbic acid (89.08mg/100g), total sugars (10.25%), reducing sugars (6.68%) and non-reducing sugars (3.39%) were significantly more in the treated fruits in comparison to untreated fruits. These quality parameters were observed maximum with a double foliar spray of nutrients and agrochemicals at the pea size stage and color turning stage (S3).

Conclusion: It is concluded that ZnSO4 @ 4g/L + CaCl2 @ 2g/L + Chitosan @ 1.5g/L +Salicylic acid @ 1g/L is effective in improve the quality of ber fruits.