Effects of Different Growth Regulators on the Physicochemical Quality and Short-Term Storage Characteristics of Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cv. Winter Dawn

Abstract

An experiment was performed in 2024-25 at K.L. Chadha Farm, SGT University, Gurugram, Haryana, to evaluate the impact of exogenous growth regulators on physico-chemical properties and shelf-life of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cv. Winter Dawn. Nine combinations of salicylic acid (2.0 and 4.0 mM), triacontanol (5 and 10 μM), ascorbic acid (50 and 100 ppm), humic acid (0.2 and 0.4%), and control were investigated in a randomized block design having three replications. Application of growth regulators significantly affected the quality and storage performance of fruits. The highest juice content (68.14%), total soluble solids (9.13 °Brix), TSS:acid ratio (18.26), total sugars (9.83%), reducing sugars (5.62%), non-reducing sugars (4.21%), pectin (0.89%), ascorbic acid (38.67 mg 100 g⁻¹ pulp) and anthocyanin content (54.51 mg 100 g⁻¹) were recorded in humic acid at 0.4%, while the lowest acidity (0.47%) was observed. In storage, TSS increased in all the treatments, where the maximum TSS (12.63 °Brix) was recorded for humic acid at 0.4% within 48 h, while the minimum was 11.60 °Brix in control treatment. There was progressive increase in weight loss and spoilage in physiological loss, but their rates were considerably lower for growth regulators treated fruits. Humic acid at 0.4% produced the lowest rate of physiological weight loss (2.24%) and spoilage (4.58%) at 48 hours when compared to 20.25% and 48.48% in control, respectively. Therefore, pre-harvest treatment with 0.4% of humic acid proved to be most efficient in the maintenance of physicochemical quality and shelf life of strawberries cv. Winter Dawn.