Postharvest and Storage Quality of F200 Pineapple Ananas Comosus (L.) Merr as Influenced by Gibberellic Acid Application and Calcium Supplements

The study was conducted to determine the optimum rate of GA3, calcium, and its combination for postharvest quality improvement of F200 pineapple fruits and by determining also the effect on the pineapple fruit chemistry such as brix, acidity, pH, and vitamin C contents. Pineapple fruits applied with GA3 at 100 to 300 ppm resulted in a lesser degree of translucency. The degree of translucency of fruits on calcium-applied plants with or without a combination of GA3, was the same. This explains the role of calcium in cell wall stability. and plant structural strength is predicated on the formation of Ca-pectate. compounds, which stabilize the cellulitic matrix of the middle lamella and “cement” adjacent plant cells to one another that control the translucency of pineapple fruits. The brix of F200 pineapple fruits significantly increased by the application of GA3, at 250-300 ppm than the 100 ppm and untreated control. Significant results were observed on the TA of fruits from plants sprayed with calcium. Higher TA on fruits was observed from plants sprayed with calcium at 10 and 20 ml/l compared to a lower rate of calcium at 5 ml/l. A significant result was observed on the vitamin C. content of the fruit on plants applied with calcium at a higher rate of 20 ml/l. The visual quality of pineapple fruits decreased with storage. On ambient stored pineapple fruit for 7 days, a significant effect was observed only on GA3, application. All pineapple fruits were treated with GA3, at different rates. remained with a better visual quality than untreated fruits. Application of GA3,, particularly at higher rates, maintained a better fruit quality of pineapple than plants without GA3, application. A significant result was also found on the flesh condition of the fruit on GA3,, and calcium application at 1 week after ambient temperature. Future research to validate the result of the present study is highly recommended on the possible performance of different pineapple varieties.