Studies on influence of preharvest bagging of fruits on quality of mango cv. Ratna

An investigation was undertaken to study the effect of different types of bag for pre-harvest bagging on physico-chemical properties of mango cv. Ratna during 2014–2016. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with three replications. The fruits were bagged at marble stage (45 days from fruit set) with different types of bag, which constituted the various treatments, viz., T1 = News paper bag; T2 = Brown paper bag; T3= Scurting bag; T4= Transparent PP bag; T5= Butter paper bag; T6= Muslin cloth bag; T7= Brown paper bag with polythene coating; T8= Black polythene bag; T9= Opaque white polythene bag and T10= control (no bag). Bagging with newspaper bag, scruting bag and muslin cloth bag improved fruit retention, fruit and pulp weight, fruit diameter, total and reducing sugars, ascorbic acid and shelf-life of fruits. Pre-harvest bagging with different types of bag did not change the sensory qualities of ripe fruits. The per cent spotted fruits; incidence of diseases and pests was significantly reduced by pre-harvest bagging. The newspaper bag, scurting bag and muslin cloth bag were found to be meritorious among the various bags tried.