Effect of Silicon and Seaweed Extract on Physical and Sensory Quality of Papaya cv. Red Lady

A field experiment was conducted at Instructional farm, ACHF, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, India to study the effect of silicon and seaweed extract on physical and sensory quality of papaya cv. Red Lady during the year 2016-17 and 2017-18. Papaya plants were sprayed with different concentrations of silicon (potassium silicate and ortho silicic acid at 0.2 and 0.4 %) and seaweed extract (2 and 4 %) either alone or in combinations at 3, 4, 5 and 6 months after planting. Application of potassium silicate @ 0.4% + seaweed extract @ 4% proved most effective in reducing physiological loss in weight and increasing shelf life with improved fruit firmness in papaya cv. Red Lady. Sensory parameters i.e. color, texture, flavor, taste, general appearance and overall acceptability were significantly better under foliar application of ortho silicic acid @ 0.2% + seaweed extract @ 2%.