Articles
Plant growth regulator effects on physiological disorders of ‘McIntosh’ apples
Article number
1458_34
Pages
259 – 266
Language
English
Abstract
‘McIntosh’ apples are susceptible to preharvest drop, in which fruit abscise before commercial color development has been obtained.
The preharvest plant growth regulators (PGRs) ReTain™ (aminoethoxyvinylglycine; AVG) and, more recently, Harvista® (1-methylcyclopropene; 1-MCP) are used to control drop, as is naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) for emergency stop-drop treatment.
In addition, postharvest 1-MCP is routinely used in the industry to maintain quality, particularly flesh firmness, during storage and the marketing period. ‘McIntosh’ apples are also susceptible to external CO2 injury and flesh browning.
Information about pre- and postharvest PGR treatments on quality and physiological disorders is limited.
Two experiments have been carried out: 1) to investigate the effects of Harvista, ReTain, NAA, and ReTain + NAA on fruit with and without 1-MCP during CA storage for 4 and 8 months; 2) to investigate the effects of Harvista and ReTain, with and without 1-MCP in CA storage with 1, 2.5 and 5% CO2 for 4.5 months.
In general, ReTain and Harvista delayed, and NAA accelerated, maturation and ripening of the fruit, but effects were sometimes inconsistent.
External CO2 injury was higher in Harvista-treated fruit than in fruit from other preharvest treatments.
Postharvest 1-MCP increased injury in fruit from most field treatments, but especially in ReTain-treated fruit.
Higher CO2 concentrations in the storage atmosphere exacerbated CO2 injury.
Flesh browning incidence was significant only in fruit stored for 8 months, but effects were inconsistent.
Postharvest management must account not only for the effects of postharvest 1-MCP, but also interactions with PGRs and susceptibility of fruit to CO2 injury.
The major options available are the antioxidant diphenylamine (where permitted), maintaining low CO2 concentrations in the storage atmosphere, and delaying the application of CA storage.
The preharvest plant growth regulators (PGRs) ReTain™ (aminoethoxyvinylglycine; AVG) and, more recently, Harvista® (1-methylcyclopropene; 1-MCP) are used to control drop, as is naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) for emergency stop-drop treatment.
In addition, postharvest 1-MCP is routinely used in the industry to maintain quality, particularly flesh firmness, during storage and the marketing period. ‘McIntosh’ apples are also susceptible to external CO2 injury and flesh browning.
Information about pre- and postharvest PGR treatments on quality and physiological disorders is limited.
Two experiments have been carried out: 1) to investigate the effects of Harvista, ReTain, NAA, and ReTain + NAA on fruit with and without 1-MCP during CA storage for 4 and 8 months; 2) to investigate the effects of Harvista and ReTain, with and without 1-MCP in CA storage with 1, 2.5 and 5% CO2 for 4.5 months.
In general, ReTain and Harvista delayed, and NAA accelerated, maturation and ripening of the fruit, but effects were sometimes inconsistent.
External CO2 injury was higher in Harvista-treated fruit than in fruit from other preharvest treatments.
Postharvest 1-MCP increased injury in fruit from most field treatments, but especially in ReTain-treated fruit.
Higher CO2 concentrations in the storage atmosphere exacerbated CO2 injury.
Flesh browning incidence was significant only in fruit stored for 8 months, but effects were inconsistent.
Postharvest management must account not only for the effects of postharvest 1-MCP, but also interactions with PGRs and susceptibility of fruit to CO2 injury.
The major options available are the antioxidant diphenylamine (where permitted), maintaining low CO2 concentrations in the storage atmosphere, and delaying the application of CA storage.
Authors
C.B. Watkins, J.F. Nock, Y. Al Shoffe
Keywords
Malus domestica, controlled atmosphere storage, aminoethoxyvinylglycine, 1-methylcyclopropene, external CO2 injury, flesh browning, NAA
Online Articles (67)