Preharvest fruit bagging material influence on physical attributes and pest incidence in two dragon fruit varieties
1Department of Fruit Science, ASPEE College of Horticulture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, India. 2Department of Education, NAU, Navsari, Gujarat, India. 3AES, NAU, Pariya, Gujarat, India. Corresponding e-mail: vipashaddangariya@gmail.com
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2026.v28i01.30
The present investigation was conducted at Regional Horticultural Research Station, ASPEE College of Horticulture, NAU, Navsari, Gujarat, India to evaluate the impact of preharvest fruit bagging material on physical attributes and pest incidence in two dragon fruit varieties. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design using a factorial concept comprising sixteen treatment combinations: two varieties and eight bagging materials, and replicated three times. Results showed that fruit bagged with butter paper water-resistant white bag required fewer days to harvest after bagging and minimum peel weight in Red Flesh variety. In addition, the best results were obtained in White Flesh variety for key growth metrics such as maximum fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, flesh weight, flesh: peel ratio and edible portion. The results show that the fruit bagged seven days after anthesis with a butter paper water-resistant white bag generally improved most measured traits rather than all parameters.
