Articles
Optimizing preharvest treatments and postharvest methods to preserve apricot maturity during storage
Article number
1458_43
Pages
325 – 332
Language
English
Abstract
The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of combining pre- and postharvest treatments in reducing fruit maturation during storage and the shelf life of apricot cultivar ‘NS-4’. Two foliar preharvest treatments, urea (46% N in amide form) and calcium (Ca – Wuxal®Calcium), applied three times during the growing season, and postharvest treatments included modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), applied to chilled fruits (IAD index 0.4-0.8) were compared.
Measurements of fruit weight loss, chlorophyll content (IAD index), and loss of firmness were conducted at harvest (0 days), after 15 days of cold storage, and after 3 days of shelf life (15+3). The urea treatment exhibited lower fruit weight loss and a lower DA index after 15+3 days compared to other foliar treatments; however, it negatively affected fruit firmness retention during cold storage.
Combining foliar treatments with MAP reduced the loss of fruit firmness and DA index after cold storage and shelf life. 1-MCP treatment showed superior efficacy in reducing fruit firmness loss compared to MAP after shelf life (15+3 days). These findings show the potential of combining specific pre- and postharvest treatments to preserve apricot fruit quality during storage and shelf life.
Measurements of fruit weight loss, chlorophyll content (IAD index), and loss of firmness were conducted at harvest (0 days), after 15 days of cold storage, and after 3 days of shelf life (15+3). The urea treatment exhibited lower fruit weight loss and a lower DA index after 15+3 days compared to other foliar treatments; however, it negatively affected fruit firmness retention during cold storage.
Combining foliar treatments with MAP reduced the loss of fruit firmness and DA index after cold storage and shelf life. 1-MCP treatment showed superior efficacy in reducing fruit firmness loss compared to MAP after shelf life (15+3 days). These findings show the potential of combining specific pre- and postharvest treatments to preserve apricot fruit quality during storage and shelf life.
Authors
M. Milović, N. Magazin, J. Mastilović, . Kevrean, B. Milić, R. Kovač, A. Bajić
Keywords
foliar treatment, calcium, nitrogen, weight loss, chlorophyll, firmness, cold storage, shelf life
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