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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp6 (2026): National Conference on “Harnessing Genetic Resources for Food Security: Innovations in Conservation and Utilization for Sustainable Crop Improvement in Northeast Region”

Improving fruit quality and shelf-life of banana (Musa paradisiaca L.) cv. Grand Naine through foliar sprays of nano urea and sulphate of potash

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.14433
Submitted
6 March 2026
Published
06-08-2026

Abstract

Banana (Musa spp.) belongs to the family Musaceae in the order Scitamineae and one of the most important fruit crops. Foliar application of nano-fertilisers and sulphate of potash (SOP) allows direct nutrient absorption through the leaf epidermis, reducing nutrient losses associated with soil application and minimising environmental risks. The experiment was conducted during 2022–23 and 2023–24 to evaluate the effect of foliar application of nano urea and SOP on fruit quality and shelf-life of banana cv. Grand Naine. The study comprised 10 treatments arranged in a randomised block design (RBD) with 3 replications. The treatments under study included SOP, nano urea and combination of nano urea and SOP, along with control (water). The pooled results from tissue-culture and sucker-propagated plants showed that treatment T8 (1.5 % SOP + 0.3 % nano urea) produced the highest values for all major fruit quality parameters such as reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar, total sugar, total soluble solids (TSS) and shelf life. In tissue-culture plants, the treatment T8 exhibited the reducing sugars of 16.01 %, non-reducing sugars of 2.79 %, total sugars of 18.79 %, TSS of 19.89 °Bx, acidity of 0.28 % and a shelf-life of 10.0 days. Corresponding values in sucker-propagated plants were similarly superior, recording 15.64 % reducing sugars, 2.53 % non-reducing sugars, 18.18 % total sugars, 19.45 °B TSS, 0.38 % acidity and a shelf-life of 9.33 days. Combined application of 1.5 % SOP + 0.3 % nano urea produced the most favourable effects on fruit quality and shelf-life of banana cv. Grand Naine under field conditions. Hence, the approach of integrated nutrient management offers substantial potential for enhancing fruit marketability and meeting consumer quality preferences.

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