Articles
Putrescine foliar application improves ‘Sunburst’ sweet cherry quality during cold storage
Article number
1396_63
Pages
477 – 482
Language
English
Abstract
Sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.) are one of the most appreciated fruits worldwide for their organoleptic properties and nutritional value.
Moreover, sweet cherries are a good source of bioactive compounds with high antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic activities, mainly due to polyphenols, which can have beneficial effects on human health.
Putrescine is a type of polyamines, which are classified as plant growth regulators (phytohormones). Therefore, putrescine could intervene in a wide range of physiological and biochemical processes, such as cell division, embryogenesis, fruit development and fruit ripening, among others.
Furthermore, putrescine is involved in the defence reaction of plants against biotic and abiotic stress conditions.
The present study was carried out in a commercial plot of sweet cherry in the mountains of Alicante and the main objective was to evaluate the effect of preharvest treatment with putrescine (Put) at concentrations of 0.01, 0.1 and 1 mM on sweet cherry quality, ‘Sunburst’ cultivar, during its postharvest storage.
Treatments were applied by foliar spray at three key moments along fruit growth and ripening cycle, namely, stone hardening, colour changes and four days before harvest date.
Sweet cherries were harvested in accordance with the company’s commercial criteria and were stored for 28 days at 2°C. At harvest and after 28 days of cold storage, the following parameters were evaluated: weight loss (%), firmness (N mm‑1), colour (hue angle), total soluble solids (TSS) content, total acidity (TA), total anthocyanin and phenolic contents.
Regarding the results, weight loss was significantly delayed with the 0.01 mM Put treatment compared to control.
Firmness was higher in cherries treated with Put at 0,01 mM compared to the rest of the treatments and the control.
On the other hand, Put treatment at Put 0.01 mM significantly increased external colour of the fruits, TSS content and TA. Finally, the content of total anthocyanins and total phenolics increased significantly increased in cherries treated with the concentration of 0.01 mM after 28 days of cold storage, compared to the control fruit.
In conclusion, 0.01 mM Put treatment could be an environmentally sustainable tool capable of increasing the shelf-life of ‘Sunburst’ cherries, while improving the organoleptic quality parameters of the fruit and increasing the content of bioactive compounds during postharvest storage.
It is worth highlighting the great importance of this study due to the scarcity of scientific studies focused on the evaluation of the application of exogenous putrescine in preharvest and its effects during cold storage.
Moreover, sweet cherries are a good source of bioactive compounds with high antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic activities, mainly due to polyphenols, which can have beneficial effects on human health.
Putrescine is a type of polyamines, which are classified as plant growth regulators (phytohormones). Therefore, putrescine could intervene in a wide range of physiological and biochemical processes, such as cell division, embryogenesis, fruit development and fruit ripening, among others.
Furthermore, putrescine is involved in the defence reaction of plants against biotic and abiotic stress conditions.
The present study was carried out in a commercial plot of sweet cherry in the mountains of Alicante and the main objective was to evaluate the effect of preharvest treatment with putrescine (Put) at concentrations of 0.01, 0.1 and 1 mM on sweet cherry quality, ‘Sunburst’ cultivar, during its postharvest storage.
Treatments were applied by foliar spray at three key moments along fruit growth and ripening cycle, namely, stone hardening, colour changes and four days before harvest date.
Sweet cherries were harvested in accordance with the company’s commercial criteria and were stored for 28 days at 2°C. At harvest and after 28 days of cold storage, the following parameters were evaluated: weight loss (%), firmness (N mm‑1), colour (hue angle), total soluble solids (TSS) content, total acidity (TA), total anthocyanin and phenolic contents.
Regarding the results, weight loss was significantly delayed with the 0.01 mM Put treatment compared to control.
Firmness was higher in cherries treated with Put at 0,01 mM compared to the rest of the treatments and the control.
On the other hand, Put treatment at Put 0.01 mM significantly increased external colour of the fruits, TSS content and TA. Finally, the content of total anthocyanins and total phenolics increased significantly increased in cherries treated with the concentration of 0.01 mM after 28 days of cold storage, compared to the control fruit.
In conclusion, 0.01 mM Put treatment could be an environmentally sustainable tool capable of increasing the shelf-life of ‘Sunburst’ cherries, while improving the organoleptic quality parameters of the fruit and increasing the content of bioactive compounds during postharvest storage.
It is worth highlighting the great importance of this study due to the scarcity of scientific studies focused on the evaluation of the application of exogenous putrescine in preharvest and its effects during cold storage.
Authors
J. Puente-Moreno, F. Garrido-Auñón, M.E. García-Pastor, F. Guillén, P.J. Zapata, D. Valero, M. Serrano
Keywords
Prunus avium L., 24-epibrassinolide, anthocyanins, colour, phenolics
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