Aims: To study the effect different packaging materials on shelf-life and quality of blended fruit leather. Place of Study: The present investigation was carried out at the Department of Post-Harvest Technology and Agri. Engineering, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru. Methodology: Guava variety ‘Allahabad Safeda’ and papaya variety ‘Taiwan Red Lady’ fruit leathers were prepared by blending their pulp at different ratios of 100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, 20:80 and 0:100 respectively. Citric acid at 0.3% and KMS (Potassium meta-bisulphite) at 600 ppm was added to the blended pulp and TSS was adjusted to 20°B. The pulp according to treatments were then dried in a cabinet drier at 55 to 60°C till the desired moisture content (approx. 15%) was achieved. Results: Blended guava-papaya (40:60) leather was found best among the treatments in terms of better nutritional and sensory characteristics at initial and also during the subsequent storage periods. The prepared fruit leathers that were packed in biaxially oriented polypropylene showed better results with better nutrient retention (ascorbic acid 90.1 mg/100 g and carotenoids 947.2 µg/100 g) and higher organoleptic score (70.03 overall acceptability out of 100) to those packed in punnets (ascorbic acid 73.2 mg/100 g, and carotenoids 893.0 µg/100 g) during the storage period of 4 months. The microbial examination also revealed that all the samples were found to be safe from the consumption point of view till the end of four months of storage.  Conclusion: The blended fruit leather can be a good source of various heath promoting phytochemical nutrients with a unique taste and acceptability having a storage stability for safe consumption till 4 months.

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A study was undertaken for two consecutive years to assess the possibility of optimizing rhizome yield ofAcorus calamusL. (sweet flag) by shifting the time of planting (i.e., growing in rainy and autumn seasons), maintaining different spacings, and harvesting in different months. Significantly higher yields of A. calamus were recorded when seeded in autumn (13150 kg ha−1) than rainy (6570 kg ha−1) season. Harvesting of crop after 12 months gave maximum rhizome yields of 16470 kg ha−1and 9370 kg ha−1respectively during autumn and rainy seasons. A similar trend was also noticed in various yield components (i.e., length, width and weight of rhizome). Closer planting (20×20 cm,30×20 cm) gave significantly higher rhizome yield (8620 kg ha−1, 8120 kg ha−1) than wider spacing40×40 cm (7030 kg ha−1). This study illustrated the possibility of optimizing rhizome yield ofA. calamusby manipulation in the time of planting and harvesting as well as maintaining proper plant spacing.

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