ISHS Acta Horticulturae 1344: XIV International Symposium on Plant Bioregulators in Fruit Production
Effect of preharvest ethylene inhibitor application on ‘Fuji’ apple on-tree maturation and quality after storage |
| Authors: | L.C. Argenta, R.M. Wood, F. De Angelis Monteiro Terra, D.A. Neuwald |
| Keywords: | Malus × domestica Borkh., ethylene, Harvista, harvest delay, fruit quality, Retain |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1344.32 |
| Abstract:
This study evaluated the efficacy of preharvest 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP; Harvista™) applications to delay the on-tree fruit maturation of ‘Mishima’ apple (‘Fuji’ mutant line) over two consecutive years and two orchards. Harvista treatments were applied at the beginning of the commercial harvest window at the early ripening stage at 75, 125, 175 and 225 mg a.i. L‑1. An aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG; Retain®) application (124 mg a.i. L‑1 applied on the same day as Harvista) and an untreated control (UTC) treatment were also included in the study. Fruit were harvested consecutively every seven days for four weeks following 1-MCP application and subsequently stored under regular air conditions (0.8°C, 21 kPa O2, <0.1 kPa CO2, 94-95% RH) for seven months. At each harvest, ethylene production, firmness, titratable acidity (TA), soluble solid content (SCC), fruit size and total redness did not differ between treatments. However, the Harvista treatments had lower starch index values than the UTC and Retain treatment following 14- and 21-days post spray (DPS) application and a lower watercore index 21- and 28-DPS. After storage, fruit treated with Harvista maintained higher firmness than the UTC and Retain treatment when fruit were harvested 7- and 14-DPS. In addition, fruit treated with Harvista developed less superficial scald than the UTC and Retain treatment when fruit were harvested 7-DPS. In earlier harvest fruit (7-DPS), Harvista application reduced the incidence of core browning compared to the other treatments. These results demonstrate that Harvista application can delay starch degradation and watercore development in later harvest fruit but has no other effects on the on-tree fruit maturation of ‘Mishima’ apple. However, Harvista application can improve the maintenance of ‘Mishima’ physiochemical quality and reduce physiological disorders incidence during storage if fruit are harvested within 7-days of application. | |
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