EFFECT OF GIBBERELLIC-ACID AND VAPOR GARD ON RIPENING, AMYLASE AND PEROXIDASE-ACTIVITIES AND QUALITY OF MANGO FRUITS DURING STORAGE

Post harvest application of gibberellic acid at 200 mg l-1, Vapor Gard (di-1-p-menthene) at 2.5% and their combination was studied on 'Mallika' mangoes (Mangifera indica L .) stored at ambient temperature (37 +/- 2-degrees maximum and 34 +/- 2-degrees-C minimum) and at 15-degrees-C. Significant delay in the ripening of mango fruits was observed when gibberellic acid was applied with or without Vapor Gard. Gibberellic acid significantly retarded the degradation of ascorbic acid and chlorophyll in the peel, and reduced alpha-amylase and peroxidase activities during storage. Loss of weight decreased following treatment with Vapor Gard either alone or with gibberellic acid during storage at both ambient temperature and at 15-degrees-C. A pronounced retardation of ripening was observed when fruits were treated with gibberellic acid and Vapor Gard and stored at 15-degrees-C. The study thus suggests that mango fruits can be successfully stored for 20 d by application of gibberellic acid (200 mg l-1) in combination with Vapor Gard (2.5%) and stored at 15-degrees-C.