Impact of Pre-harvest Fruit Bagging on Physical and Organoleptic Qualities of Guava var. Lucknow 49 under Ultra High Density Planting

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate how various pre-harvest bagging materials impact the physical and sensory qualities of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) variety Lucknow-49 under Ultra-High-Density Planting (UHDP). Study Design: The research utilized a Randomized Block Design (RBD). Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted from February to June at SRM College of Agricultural Sciences in Chengalpattu. Methodology: Guava trees were planted at 4 × 2 meter spacing with drip irrigation. Eight bagging treatments were tested: T1 (brown paper bag), T2 (double-layered bag), T3 (transparent bag), T4 (white non-woven bag), T5 (butter paper bag), T6 (yellow polythene bag), T7 (white polythene bag), and T8 (unbagged control). Each treatment was applied to five trees, and fruits were bagged at the marble stage and harvested at around 85% maturity. We measured various physical attributes, including weight, size, firmness, and seed count, along with sensory qualities using a hedonic scale rated by a panel. Data was analyzed using ANOVA at P ≤ 0.05. Results: Among the treatments, T4 (white non-woven bag) significantly outperformed others in fruit weight, firmness, specific gravity, pulp weight, pulp thickness, total soluble solids (TSS), and sensory scores for taste, texture, colour, and aroma. Furthermore, T4 reduced seed count and enhanced the pulp-to-seed ratio, highlighting its commercial benefits over unbagged fruits. Conclusion: Pre-harvest bagging, especially with white non-woven bags, significantly improves the quality and marketability of guava, while also minimizing seed load and blemishes. This technique offers an effective and sustainable approach to enhance guava production within UHDP systems.