A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF THYMOL, METHYL JASMONATE AND SALICYLIC ACID ON POSTHARVEST LIFE AND MAINTAINING QUALITY OF STRAWBERRY FRUIT CV. ‘GAVIOTA’
MAHSA GERANSAYEH *
Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University Tehran, Iran
SADEGH SEPAHVAND
Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University Tehran, Iran
VAHID ABDOSSI
Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University Tehran, Iran
VAHID ZARRINNIA
Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Science and Research, Branch, Islamic Azad University Tehran, Iran
REZA AZIZI NEZHAD
Department of Plants Breeding, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Science and Research, Branch, Islamic Azad University Tehran, Iran
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The postharvest quality of strawberry fruit cv. ‘Gaviota’ after treatment with thymol, methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid and storage was observed. Thymol, methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and salicylic acid (SA) are considered generally recognized as safe (GRAS). Effective control of disease of strawberry fruit requires novel and non-chemical methods. Therefore, thymol at 4 concentration (125, 250, 500 and 1000 µlL-1), MeJA at 3 concentration (10, 30 and 60 µlL-1) and SA at 3 concentration (25, 50 and 100 µlL-1) were used. Several quality characteristics such as weight loss, pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids, vitamin C, anthocyanin, decay percentage and sensory analysis were evaluated. Results showed that fruits that treated with 60 µll-1 of MeJA and 250 µll-1 of thymol had the highest amount of TA. Samples that treated with 250 µll-1 of thymol had the lowest amount of TSS and fruits treated with 100 µll-1 SA had the highest amount of TSS. SA in all concentrations had the highest amount of vitamin C. The highest level of anthocyanin was observed in MeJA treated fruits especially in 60 µll-1 concentration. Treatment with 60 µlL-1 MeJA and 1000 µlL-1 thymol significantly inhibited fruit decay and maintained fruit quality throughout the storage period. These results indicate that MeJA and thymol in highest concentration can effectively reduce fruit decay and improve quality of strawberry fruits compared with SA.
Keywords: Storage, decay resistance, postharvest quality