Author(s):

Dr. P. Irene Vethamoni and M Gomathi

Abstract: The effect of pre harvest spraying of growth retardants viz., 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 ppm of cycocel and mepiquat chloride 100, 250, 5000, 750 and 1000 ppm with no spraying control treatments were studied on quality and post harvest losses of multiplier onion var. Co (On)5. Growth retardants were sprayed twenty days before harvesting the bulbs and the harvested bulbs were precured in the field for three days and ten days under shade without removing leaves. After procuring, the leaves were removed leaving 2.0 cm neck space from the bulb and stored in bamboo storage structure and post harvest quality characters and post harvest losses of bulbs were assessed on 30, 60 and 90 days after storage. It was found that pre harvest spraying of onion with growth retardant cycocel at 1000 ppm recorded lowest post harvest losses of bulbs caused by sprouting, rotting and physiological loss in weight with less reduction in quality characters viz., moisture content, TSS, pyruvic acid, ascorbic acid soluble protein and sulphur content. Losses due to rotting, sprouting and physiological loss in weight with high reduction of quality characters were found in no spraying control treatment on 30, 60 and 90 days after storage of bulbs.

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