Articles
The use of plant growth regulators in preharvest and their influence on the fruit quality of five plum cultivars (Prunus salicina L.)
Article number
1458_14
Pages
107 – 114
Language
English
Abstract
Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are applied in field cultivation to influence both vegetative and fruit growth, thereby affecting quality traits at harvest and after storage.
Plums are among the most appreciated summer fruits, owing to their organoleptic qualities and health-promoting properties.
Small fruit size is one of the limiting factors in marketing fruit of Japanese plums, and the application of PGRs, such as auxins and gibberellins, has been tested to alleviate this problem.
However, the effects on fruit quality depend on the concentration, chemical formulation, and plant developmental stage at the time of treatment.
To evaluate the effects of auxin (NAA) and gibberellin (GA3) applications on the fruit quality at harvest and after one week under shelf life conditions, a study was carried out in the experimental orchard of the National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research (INIAV), in Alcobaça, Portugal, which included early-, mid- and late-season maturing plum cultivars.
The NAA and GA3 treatments delayed fruit maturity, with the effect being more evident after the GA3 application.
The NAA application was evident in preventing premature fruit drop near harvest, thereby contributing to a higher yield at harvest.
The heaviest and largest fruits corresponded to preharvest treatments with GA3, both at harvest and after shelf life, while the use of NAA led to an increased flesh firmness.
PGR treatments did not affect total soluble solids content, but the acidity levels were higher in PGR-treated fruits, especially in GA3-treated plums.
Moreover, preharvest applications of NAA and GA3 induced the lowest fruit weight loss after shelf-life.
Based on our results, preharvest treatments with PGRs can be beneficial not only for preventing preharvest fruit drop but also for improving fruit quality and storage potential.
Plums are among the most appreciated summer fruits, owing to their organoleptic qualities and health-promoting properties.
Small fruit size is one of the limiting factors in marketing fruit of Japanese plums, and the application of PGRs, such as auxins and gibberellins, has been tested to alleviate this problem.
However, the effects on fruit quality depend on the concentration, chemical formulation, and plant developmental stage at the time of treatment.
To evaluate the effects of auxin (NAA) and gibberellin (GA3) applications on the fruit quality at harvest and after one week under shelf life conditions, a study was carried out in the experimental orchard of the National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research (INIAV), in Alcobaça, Portugal, which included early-, mid- and late-season maturing plum cultivars.
The NAA and GA3 treatments delayed fruit maturity, with the effect being more evident after the GA3 application.
The NAA application was evident in preventing premature fruit drop near harvest, thereby contributing to a higher yield at harvest.
The heaviest and largest fruits corresponded to preharvest treatments with GA3, both at harvest and after shelf life, while the use of NAA led to an increased flesh firmness.
PGR treatments did not affect total soluble solids content, but the acidity levels were higher in PGR-treated fruits, especially in GA3-treated plums.
Moreover, preharvest applications of NAA and GA3 induced the lowest fruit weight loss after shelf-life.
Based on our results, preharvest treatments with PGRs can be beneficial not only for preventing preharvest fruit drop but also for improving fruit quality and storage potential.
Authors
F. Queirós
Keywords
auxin, gibberellin, spraying, fruit drop, postharvest quality, shelf life
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