G S Rathore’s scientific contributions

One of the most destructive orange fruit diseases is blue mold rot which cause by Penicillium italicum that is responsible for important economic losses across the world and maximum reduction in nutrients. This study was investigated the biochemical changes viz., total soluble solids (TSS), acidity, ascorbic acid and sugar in mandarin orange due to blue mold during 2019-20 and 2020-21. The experiment was conducted by standard procedure and results revealed that the levels of total soluble solids (TSS), acidity, ascorbic acid, total soluble sugar, reducing sugar and non-reducing sugar decreased significantly in the orange fruits with the increase in the severity of blue mould rot. The minimum level of total soluble solids (7.10°Brix), acidity (0.44%), ascorbic acid (3.13 mg/100 ml juice), total soluble sugar (5.46%), reducing sugar (2.02%) and non-reducing sugar (3.27%) recorded at diseases severity more than 75%. The maximum level of total soluble solids (12.00°Brix), acidity (1.11%), ascorbic acid (25.00 mg/100 ml juice), total soluble sugar (8.71%), reducing sugar (4.39%) and non-reducing sugar (4.10%) recorded in healthy fruits served as control during both the years. The infection of the disease reduces the quality and huge economic loss of orange fruits during post harvest.