Ethrel use for fruit ripening

Ethrel use for fruit ripening

                                                       

 

The use of ethrel for fruit ripening is the easiest and most accurate method, and the disadvantage of applying carbide can be avoided by adding ethereal properly ripened fruit to the diet.

 

Fruit cultivation is one of the best ways to achieve commercial growth in Sri Lanka today and fruit growers have been able to earn a higher income. But it is clear that there are various problems with the production of quality fruits in the market today.

 

Although fruits such as bananas, mangoes, pineapples and papayas are widely marketed through intermediaries at various levels from the village level, consumers complain that the fruits are of poor taste and quality. It has been revealed that this is due to the use of many artificial methods for the instant ripening of the fruit and the selection of unripe fruits which are not sufficient for ripening.

 

Many traders use chemicals such as carbide to artificially ripen fruits, and the medical opinion is that not using them properly is harmful to public health. Therefore, the Department of Agriculture has introduced a new method recommended in research on how to artificially ripen fruit instantly without harming health.

 

Ethylene, a gas naturally produced in fruits, causes the fruit to ripen. Thus, if ethylene gas can be supplied externally, it can ripen the fruit faster. But ethylene gas is not produced as an industry in this country. But a method has been found that can be easily used to produce a chemical called ethylene.

 

All that is required for this is,

- Non-airtight container,

- A box or a room

- One milliliter of ethrel is a solution dissolved in one liter of water and - - 100 g of lime is dissolved in one liter of water.

 

The ripe fruit should be packed in a box or room and left empty by one-seventh (1/7) of its volume. Calculate the volume of the container or room to be used and apply 3 or 4 ml of the prepared ether solution per cubic foot.

 

All that is required is to put the ether solution in a plastic or clay container and place it in the corner of the fruit container or room. Depending on the volume of the jar or room, 5 ml of lime solution per cubic foot should be added to the jar and the jar lid or room door should be closed immediately. After 24 hours the door should be left open and the fruit will ripen naturally within two days.

 

The aroma and taste of artificially ripened fruits are very similar to those of natural ripe fruits. Therefore, it is very important to ripen fruits properly using the recommended quantities when ripening artificially, says Dr. KH Sarananda, Research Officer, Food Research Unit, HORDI, Horticultural Crops Research and Development, Gannoruwa, Department of Agriculture.