On tree nutrients spray and bagging influenced the quality and postharvest physiology of mango (cv. Amrapali) at ambient storage

Extended shelf life of fruits is of prime importance to ensure their availability in the market and facilitate longer-distance transportation. In this case, effective pre-harvest treatments are crucial for managing the climacteric nature of mangoes by reducing post-harvest decay during storage. So, implementing pre-harvest spray of nutrients and bagging is vital to reduce deterioration and improve the quality of mango cv. ‘Amrapali’ in storage. A study assessed various interventions, including bagging, 2% CaCl₂, 1.5% K₂SO₄, and 2% CaCl₂ + 1.5% K₂SO₄ + bagging, in preserving postharvest quality and retarding fruit softening of mangoes at ambient storage (25 ± 3 ºC and 80–85% RH). Several physicochemical attributes and disease incidence at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 days of storage were analyzed. The findings indicated that 2% CaCl₂ + 1.5% K₂SO₄ + bagging treatment appeared superior compared to control in terms of lower weight loss (5.10–10.84, 6.83–17.34%), pH (2.83–5.15, 3.00–5.48), decay incidence (0–9.87, 1.47–41.37%), ethylene production (0.21–0.84, 0.36–1.92 µl kg⁻¹ h⁻¹), respiration rate (2.92–27.03, 4.48–52.76 ml CO₂ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹) while higher in fruit firmness (4.92–2.01, 4.41–1.23 kg cm⁻²), total soluble solids-TSS (11.67–17.60, 11.33–15.66º Brix), ascorbic acid content (39.86–11.26, 35.26–5.56 mg 100 g⁻¹), total sugar (7.96–16.07, 3.82–14.52 mg 100 g⁻¹), carotenoid (173.53–664.33, 67.00–567.00 µg 100 g⁻¹), total phenol (163.53–113.58, 143.61–51.72 mg 100 g⁻¹), DPPH scavenging activity (431.29–305.53, 308.65–228.49 µmol g⁻¹). 2% CaCl₂ + 1.5% K₂SO₄ + bagging treatment also showed better peel and pulp colour of mango fruits with greater values of L* (brightness), a* (redness), as well as b* (yellowness) compared to control. Notably, fruits that were treated with 2% CaCl₂ + 1.5% K₂SO₄ + bagging had the lowest polyphenol oxidase (PPO), while control showed reduced activity of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD). These findings suggest that 2% CaCl₂ + 1.5% K₂SO₄ + bagging might be a successful approach to improving the quality and postharvest physiology of mangoes cv. Amrapali at ambient storage.