Influence of Post Shooting Spray and Bunch Bagging on Per Day Productivity and Fruit Quality of Banana (Musa paradisiaca L.)

Aims: To determine the effect of post shooting spray and bunch bagging on per day productivity and quality of banana (Musa paradisiaca L.)”

Study Design: Completely Randomized Design (Factorial) with three repetitions.

Place and Duration of Study: Experiment was carried out at the Horticultural Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, B. A. College of Agriculture, AAU, Anand during the year 2017-18 and 2018-19

Methodology: The experiment comprises of twenty four treatment combinations involving two varieties viz. Grand Naine and William with six levels of post shooting sprays namely; control, humic acid 2 %, 2, 4-D 30 mg/l, gibberellic acid (GA3) 100 mg/l, CPPU 4 mg/l and sulphate of potash (SOP) 2 % with two bunch bagging viz., non- woven material bag covering and blue colour polyethylene sleeve (6 % perforated) bag covering. Post shooting sprays were given twice i.e. 1st spray after complete opening of inflorescence and 2nd spray after 30 days of first spray with covering the bunch immediately after second spray.

Results: The results indicated that the Grand Naine variety recorded significantly minimum harvest days, maturity days. Whereas, William variety was recorded significantly shelf life and fruit appearances. In case of per day productivity is concerned, both the varieties were equally important. The post shooting spray of GA3 100 mg/l recorded significantly improves per day productivity and fruit appearances. Whereas, post shooting spray of SOP 2 % recorded minimum harvest day and maturity days. While, post shooting sprays of CPPU 4 mg/l showed significantly maximum shelf life. The non-woven material bag covering was significantly better among all quantitative and qualitative parameters as compared to blue colour polyethylene sleeve bag covering. While, post shooting spray of CPPU 4 mg/l with non-woven material bag covering showed significantly expand the shelf life of fruit.

Conclusion: Grand Naine variety recorded significantly minimum harvest and maturity days. Whereas, William variety was recorded significantly shelf life and fruit appearances. The post shooting spray of GA3 100 mg/l was improved per day productivity and fruit appearances. Whereas, post shooting sprays of CPPU 4 mg/l showed significantly enhancing the shelf life. The non-woven material bag covering on banana bunches was found significantly better among all quantitative and qualitative parameters.