Introduction:
Fruit bagging is an innovative technology and was first described in litchi by National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur, Bihar and popularized by G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand. In this technique, fruits bunch is bagged on the tree for a specific period to get desired results. It is a physical protection technique, which not only improves fruit visual quality by promoting fruit coloration but can also alter the microenvironment for fruit. Bagging is commonly applied to many fruits and a simple protection technique for improving fruit size, skin colour, taste, decreases cracking, protecting from pests [stone borers (Platypepla sp. and Conogethes sp.) cause dropping of immature fruits, while stalk-end borer (Conopomorpha cramerella) reduces the marketability of harvested fruits.], extreme environmental conditions, and pesticide residues, thus increasing commercial value (Sharma et al., 2014).
Due to its many beneficial effects, fruit bagging has become an integral part of pomegranate, litchi, peach, apple, pear, grape and loquat cultivation in India, Japan, Australia, China and the USA.
Review:
Debnath and Mitra (2008) reported that quality of fruit was significantly improved under cellophane paper bags, with respect to colour development and TSS/acid ratio compared with the unbagged (control) fruits (24.10 vs. 8.20 mg anthocyanin/100 g of peel and TSS/acid ratio of 51.00 vs. 46.41).
Time of bagging:
Bagging experiment, has conducted in early stage of fruitlets at clove size (March) with different colour bags of white, pink polypropylene bags and brown paper bags has used to create microclimate inside the bag to enhance the quality of fruits by increasing colour, TSS.
Conclusion: The present study revealed that quality of fruit was significantly improved under pink polypropylene bags, with respect to colour development and TSS/acid ratio compared with the unbagged (control) fruits.
References:
Sharma, R. R., Reddy, S. V. R. and Jhalegar, M. R. 2014. Pre-harvest fruit bagging: a useful approach for plant protection and improved post-harvest fruit quality – a review. Journal of Horticultural Science & Biotechnology. 89 (2):101–113.
Debnath, S. and Mitra, S. K. 2008. Panicle Bagging for Maturity Regulation, Quality Improvement and Fruit Borer Management in Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.). Acta Hort. 7:73-77.
Article contributed by Kuruba Ajay Kumar, Kosgi Mounika, Konjengbam Ramit Singh (Ph.D scholars, Department of Horticulture, SASRD, Nagaland University) and CS Maiti, Professor, Department of Horticulture, SASRD, Nagaland University.
