Effect of post harvest treatment with γ-irradiation on storage behaviour of guava (Psidium guajava) fruits

An experiment was carried out during 2007-08 at Department of Horticulture, Allahabad Agricultural Institute in collaboration with National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow to see the effect of irradiation on physio-chemical quality and shelf-life of 'Lalit' guava (Psidium guajava L.). The treatments comprised 5 doses of γ-irradiation (0, 50, 75, 100, 125 Gy) and 4 levels of Waxol (0, 4, 6, 8%). All the 20 treatment combinations were laid out in a 5 x 4 factorial randomized block design with 3 replications. Observations were recorded at different interval of storage periods, viz 4, 8, 12, 16 days. The treatment combination G 3 W 2 (100 Gy + 6% waxol) was found better in terms of physiological loss in weight, total soluble solid, acidity, ascorbic acid, reducing sugar and total sugar, i e minimum physiological loss in weight (3.44%), highest TSS (8%), lowest acidity (0.13%), highest total sugar (8.46%) and maximum retention of ascorbic acid (148.56 mg/100 g), reducing sugar (4.64%) respectively, followed by G 2 W 2 (75 Gy + 6% waxol), G 1 W 2 (50 Gy + 6% waxol), G 4 W 2 (125 Gy + 6% waxol), G 0 W 2 (0 Gy + 6% waxol) were recorded after 16 days of storage period at ambient temperature. The amount of γ-irradiation used did not have any residual effect.