Preharvest calcium chloride sprays improving physicochemical quality of mulberries (Morus alba L. ‘Chiang Mai 60’) during refrigeration

The aim of this work was to investigate the efficiency of preharvest CaCl₂ sprays on quality of ‘Chiang Mai 60’ mulberries during refrigeration.
The mulberries at the stage of 40 days after anthesis were sprayed with water (control), 0.5 or 1% CaCl₂. The fruits were then harvested after spraying for 5 days and refrigerated at 5°C for 6 days.
The visual appearance, texture, total soluble solids (TSS) content, total acidity (TA), antioxidant activities and certain secondary metabolites of the mulberries were monitored.
Both CaCl₂ sprays had no effect on the visual appearance during storage.
Both CaCl₂ sprays enhanced fruit firmness and delayed the fruit softening during refrigeration.
Both CaCl₂ treatments delayed the increased TSS content and maintained the TA content.
Total phenols, ascorbic acid and anthocyanin contents of the mulberries were enhanced by the CaCl₂ sprays.
Both CaCl₂ sprays delayed the decreased antioxidant capacity and enhanced the free radical scavenging activity during the refrigeration.
The efficiency of 0.5 and 1% CaCl₂ preharvest sprays on improving postharvest quality of the mulberries was not different.
This indicates that CaCl₂ preharvest sprays improved postharvest quality of the mulberries which 0.5% CaCl₂ is the suggested concentration.

VII International Conference Postharvest Unlimited

S. Supapvanich, P. Sangchan, P. Youryon, A. Junpatiw Ahuja

mulberries, CaCl₂, firmness, secondary metabolites

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2024.1396.67