ISHS Acta Horticulturae 513: XXV International Horticultural Congress, Part 3: Culture Techniques with Special Emphasis on Environmental Implications, Disease, Pest Control and Integrated Pest Strategies
EFFECT OF PRE- AND POSTHARVEST APPLICATIONS OF ‘BIOFRESH’ COATING ON KEEPABILITY OF APPLE FRUITS |
| Authors: | H. Xuan, J. Streif |
| Keywords: | apple, surface coating, keepability, quality, respiration, gas exchange, ethylene |
| Abstract:
In Germany as in some other countries treatment of fruits with chemicals after harvest is generally not allowed. Fruit coatings such as sucrose fatty acid esters have been demonstrated to extend the shelf-life of fruit. These coatings are normally applied after harvest. Experiments were conducted with various apple cultivars to evaluate the effect of ‘Biofresh’ coating, when applied by preharvest spraying and as a postharvest dip, on the subsequent storage of the fruits. After various durations of refrigerated storage quality attributes, internal atmospheres and gas diffusion were measured. Results indicate that preharvest spraying with 1% ‘Biofresh’-solution can maintain fruit quality in some respects. But it is less effective than postharvest dip. Treatment with Biofresh retarded chlorophyll degradation and the rate of firmness loss but did not influence fruit soluble solid content. Respiration and ethylene production of the fruit were reduced, but the internal ethylene content increased because of reduced gas exchange. Lower gas permeability through the tissue of ‘Biofresh’ treated fruits was measured. The effect of ‘Biofresh’ spraying is dependent on how much of the skin surface will be covered by the coating. Therefore, preharvest spraying of coatings can maintain apple quality during and after storage only when treatment is done very intensively and with high volume of coating solution. | |
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