Postharvest physiology
H. Soleymani; M. Aelaei; M. Arghavani
Abstract
Introduction
Rose is one of the important cut flowers, which has different types. Extending the vase life of rose-cut flowers is very important in the floriculture industry. Every year, due to the lack of proper storage conditions after harvesting, the efficiency of rose production decreases. ...
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Introduction
Rose is one of the important cut flowers, which has different types. Extending the vase life of rose-cut flowers is very important in the floriculture industry. Every year, due to the lack of proper storage conditions after harvesting, the efficiency of rose production decreases. Therefore, always using materials that help increase the shelf life of cut flowers is valuable. Today, substances that improve the quality of cut flowers are very important. They include materials such as calcium and silver. Nanoparticles are materials with sizes smaller than 100 nanometers. On the other hand, the important role of calcium and silver in improving quality of the cut flowers is interesting for scientists. In this research, the effect of pre-harvest application of calcium nanoparticles along with the post-harvest application of silver nanoparticles on the morpho-physiological characteristics of rose cut flowers (CV: Classic Cezanne) was investigated.
Material and Methods
The current research was carried out during the year 2021 in a commercial rose production greenhouse in Nazarabad city. calcium nanoparticles with different concentrations (0, 5 and 10 mg.L-1) were sprayed on rose bushes every ten days (two months before harvest). After harvesting the flowers and transferring them to the laboratory, silver nanoparticles were added to the flower preservation solution at different concentrations (0, 5 and 10 mg.L-1). After harvesting, the traits (vase life, flower diameter, fresh weight, vase solution uptake, total protein, malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase) were evaluated on the treated flowers (on days 0, 4, 8 and 12). Experiment was performed as factorial based on completely randomized design, included 9 treatments with 3 replications.
Results and Discussion
Based on the results of analysis of variance of treatment with calcium nanoparticles and silver nanoparticles for the quality of shelf life at the 1% level of Duncan's test, it showed a significant difference. Also, based on the results, the highest amount of vase life is related to the treatment of calcium nanoparticles with a concentration of 10 mg.L-1 with the silver nanoparticle treatment in the time after harvesting was at concentrations of 5 and 10 mg (11 days) and the lowest amount was related to the control treatment (7 days).Vase life increased under the effect of treatment with calcium nanoparticles and silver nanoparticles (10 mg.L-1) and caused an increase of 4 days compared to the control (0 mg.L-1) The treatments decreased the amount of malondialdehyde and also increased the relative amount of absorbed solution, total protein and superoxide dismutase enzyme. Based on the results of this study, calcium and silver nanoparticles improved qualitative traits. The simultaneous treatment of calcium and silver nanoparticles (concentration 10 mg.L-1) compared to the control (0 mg.L-1) caused an increase (14%) in flower diameter, fresh weight (12%), vase solution uptake (46%), superoxide dismutase (21%) and malondialdehyde reduction (37%). Two other important findings emerged from this work: (1) The nanoparticles used in this experiment caused the activation of the enzyme antioxidant system in the treatments (2) The simultaneous treatment of nanoparticles calcium before harvesting and silver nanoparticles treatment after harvesting by activating the antioxidant enzyme system and maintaining the ability to absorb the solution increased the vase life of rose cut flowers. In general, the treatment with calcium nanoparticles at a concentration of 10 mg. L-1 before harvesting and the treatment with silver nanoparticles at a concentration of 10 mg.L-1 after harvesting were the most effective treatments in most traits.
Conclusion
Calcium is one of the most effective factors in increasing the vase life of rose cut flowers. Treatments containing calcium increase absorption of vase solution uptake. The treatment of calcium nanoparticles increases the total protein and superoxide enzyme compared to the control, so that the simultaneous use of silver and calcium nanoparticles increases the vase life of rose-cut flowers compared to the control. Calcium probably activated a chain of reactions by activating the message transmission system and caused the expression of genes involved in the antioxidant system of the samples. silver nanoparticles by affecting the absorption of vase solution uptake and reducing the amount of malondialdehyde and increasing the total protein and superoxide dismutase enzyme compared to the control, increase the vase life of cut flowers. According to the results obtained from the present research, it can be concluded that use of calcium nanoparticles with silver nanoparticles had great effects on most of traits in compared to control treatment. The use of calcium nanoparticles with silver nanoparticles improves the vase life conditions by increasing water uptake and consequently increasing the relative fresh weight.
Postharvest physiology
M. Shahabi; S. Rastegar
Abstract
Introduction Narcissus (Narcissus tazetta) has high demand in flora markets due to its beauty, having a multi-floret flowerhead and delicate fragrance. The appearance quality and vase life of cut flowers decreased after harvest due to flower senescence, loss of petals turgor, reduced water absorption, ...
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Introduction Narcissus (Narcissus tazetta) has high demand in flora markets due to its beauty, having a multi-floret flowerhead and delicate fragrance. The appearance quality and vase life of cut flowers decreased after harvest due to flower senescence, loss of petals turgor, reduced water absorption, transpiration, fresh weight loss, and reduced water potential which reduces the economic and ornamental value of flowers at the consumer. One of the important reasons for the poor postharvest quality of Narcissus tazetta is the loss of turgor and their high sensitivity to browning of the petals. Browning mechanisms are chemically divided into enzymatic and non-enzymatic browning reactions. Enzymatic browning, which causes important reactions and discoloration, is one of the important factors affecting the quality and shelf life of fresh produce. Previous studies have shown that the activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) is positively correlated with browning during the postharvest storage of fruits and vegetables. Nitric oxide (NO) is recognized as a biological messenger in plants. It is a highly reactive gaseous free radical. Optimum NO levels could delay the climacteric phase of many tropical fruits and prolong the post-harvest shelf life of a wide range of horticultural crops by preventing ripening and senescence. Nitric oxide also could prevent the activity of PPO, phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL) and POD, and keep the highest activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD).Materials and MethodsNarcissus (Narcissus tazetta L. cv. Shahla e-Shiraz) cut flowers at their commercial maturity stage (Goose-neck) were harvested from a production field in Farse province and. then they were transported to the laboratory. Healthy and uniform cut flowers with the same number of buds, a similar size and growth status were selected. Cut flowers were subjected to pulsed treatment of sodium nitroprusside for 24 hours on two levels (25 and 50 μM) and then kept in containers. Samples were stored at 20 ± 2 °C, relative humidity of 70-60%, with light cycle of 12 hours light and 12 hours dark. In this experiment, various physiological and biochemical indices including apparent quality (wilting index), cell membrane stability index (%), petal relative water content (%), color index and browning using a colorimeter, relative weight using digital scale (g), flower diameter, PPO and POD were examined. Results and DiscussionSodium nitroprusside treatment reduced the browning process by reducing the activity of POD and PPO enzymes. The effect of sodium nitroprusside was concentration-dependent. Sodium nitroprusside maintains membrane stability by protecting the membrane and preventing lipoxygenase activity and scavenging free radicals that have attacked the membrane. Sodium nitroprusside-maintained flower diameter due to its role in eliminating free radicals, delaying the aging process and maintaining flower quality. Discoloration and browning reactions of cut flowers reduce their appearance quality, leading to economic loss. The browning of the petals due to senescence is one of the important factors limiting the vase life of narcissus. It has been shown that PPO and POD are the key enzymes for the oxidation of the phenolic substrate (especially simple phenols) and the production of the brown compounds. It has also been suggested that the stability index of the cell membrane, which represents the ion leakage of the tissues, is diminished extremely as the longevity is increased. Another effective factor in determining the quality and vase life of cut flowers is the water-holding ability and water balance of the cut flowers petals. Changes in the cut flower fresh weight could also be regarded as one of the most important postharvest physiological disorders that affected the quality, vase life and commercial value of the cut flowers. Fresh weight loss, which is one of the most important reasons for the wilting of the flowers, is due to the less water uptake and more respiration rate.Conclusion Sodium nitroprusside treatment maintained the quality of Narcissus tazetta L. cv. Shahla e-Shiraz by increasing the relative water content of the petals and maintaining the cell stability index, as well as reducing the activity of browning enzymes (PPO and POD).Of course, the concentration used was very important.The best results were observed at lower concentrations (25 μM) of sodium nitroprusside.
Farid Moradinezhad; Sara Hassan Pour; Mohammad Hassan Sayyari Zahan
Abstract
Introduction: Seedless barberry (Berberis vulgaris L. var. asperma) is one of the most important horticultural and medicinal crops and also valuable fruit in South Khorasan province. Fresh barberry fruit has a very short shelf life, due to the sensitive juicy fruit tissue in the ripening stage and decay ...
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Introduction: Seedless barberry (Berberis vulgaris L. var. asperma) is one of the most important horticultural and medicinal crops and also valuable fruit in South Khorasan province. Fresh barberry fruit has a very short shelf life, due to the sensitive juicy fruit tissue in the ripening stage and decay during storage. Hence, most of the harvested fruits are dried traditionally or processed as juice, jam, and other products. However, the quality of both fresh and dried fruit is low due to different environmental stresses such as drought and salt stress and consequently deficiency of minerals during growth and development and also at harvest and during storage. It has been reported that pre-harvest foliar spray of calcium salts and salicylic acid can improve resistance to pathogens before harvest and reduce physiological disorders during handling and storage in many fruits. However, there is no information regarding the effect of calcium and salicylic acid spray as well as storage duration on fresh seedless barberry fruit. The objective of the current study, therefore, was to investigate the effects of the preharvest application of calcium chloride and salicylic acid on physiological attributes and postharvest quality of barberry fruits during long-term cold storage.
Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted as split-plot in time and in a randomized complete block design with five treatments and in three replicates in the Research Orchard of Agricultural Faculty of the University of Birjand during 2014. Fifteen similar and 25-years old trees were used for the experiment. Pre-harvest treatments of foliar spraying were salicylic acid (1 and 3 mM) and calcium chloride (1 and 2%) and distilled water as control. Sprays were applied at 30 and 15 days before harvest. Fruits were harvested at commercial ripening stage, packed in plastic boxes and stored at cold room at 4±0.5 °C and 85±5 RH. Physicochemical and quality evaluations including fruit fresh weight and volume, and juice volumes of 100 berries, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), titrable acidity (TA), ascorbic acid, weight loss, electrolyte leakage of fruit and calcium content of leave and fruit were measured at harvest and after 30, 60 and 90 days of storage. Analysis of data was performed using Gen Stat program (ver 12) and comparison of means was done by LSD test at 5% probability.
Results and Discussion: The analysis of variance showed that the main effects of foliar spray with calcium chloride, salicylic acid and interaction of treatments were significant in storage time. The results showed that 1 mM of salicylic acid increased the fruit fresh weight, fruit volume and fruit juice, pH, total soluble solids, ascorbic acid and titrable acidity compared to other treatments. It has been reported that salicylic acid increases cell division and growth resulting in greater yield. It was also observed that application of salicylic acid at 3mM reduced electrolyte leakage significantly that can be useful to reduce chilling injury. The lowest weight loss was obtained in sprayed fruit with calcium chloride (2%) during cold storage, in agreement with the previouswork on plum. Foliar application of calcium chloride increased the calcium content of leave and fruit, although calcium application was not a significant effect in fruit tissue. Generally, using of chemical treatments increased the physicochemical characteristics of the fruit in seedless barberry, among them calcium chloride 2% and salicylic acid at 1 mM were most effective.
Conclusions: It can be concluded that pre-harvest spraying of seedless barberry shrub with salicylic acid and calcium chloride can improve the quality of fruit as well as extend the storage life. This is because a foliar application with salicylic acid and calcium chloride significantly affected fresh fruit weight, weight loss, fruit volume, electrolyte leakage, pH, TSS, TA and ascorbic acid in treated fruit compared to the control. Salicylic acid at 3 mM significantly decreased electrolyte leakage, which can be used as a useful tool for increasing resistance to chilling injury during long-term storage. However, further studies are needed as the effect of chemical sprays on fruit quality and quantity properties depend on different factors such as tree age and types, environmental conditions during and after the spray and also chemical concentration.
M. Safa; Jafar Hajilou; R. Nagshiband Hasani; M. Ganbari Najar
Abstract
Introduction: Fruits and vegetables have special importance as a very important part of the human food supply. And from the beginnings of life, man has used these products to supply a part of his food. Nowadays, horticultural products are widely used in the diet. Cherry is one of the deciduous trees ...
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Introduction: Fruits and vegetables have special importance as a very important part of the human food supply. And from the beginnings of life, man has used these products to supply a part of his food. Nowadays, horticultural products are widely used in the diet. Cherry is one of the deciduous trees in the temperate regions, which is potassium rich. Use of Oxalic acid significantly reduces frost injury in pomegranate fruits during storage at a temperature of 2° C. In fruit trees, the importance of calcium is due to a delay in fruit ripening process and this way products have better portability.
Materials and Methods: Firmness test was measured using the FT011 model of penetrometer. For determination of titratable acidity, the 0.1 N sodium hydroxide (NaOH) titration method was used. Total Soluble solids content (SSC) of fruit was measured by a digital refractometer (PAL-1). For determination of vitamin C in fruit juices, titration method with the indicator, 2,6-di-chlorophenolindophenol was used. Fruit juice pH was measured using pH meter model HI 9811.In order to investigate the effect of postharvest soaking treatment with Oxalic acid on the qualitative specifications and storage life of single grain sweet cherry fruit a research was conducted. This experience was conducted in a completely randomized design with 3 replications separately for the two materials. In this experiment Oxalic acid, in four levels (0,4,6 and 8 mM) and Calcium chloride in four levels (0, 40, 55 and 70 mM) were applied on the single grain sweet cherry fruit in the form of soaking and sampleswith7-day intervals for a period of 28 days from the fridge out and quanti tate and qualitative traits such as stiffness, weight loss, Titratable acidity, total soluble solids, vitamin C and pH were measured.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that compared with control ones all of the concentrations of Oxalic acid and Calcium chloride caused significant differences in the amount of weight loss, firmness, Acidity, TSS, vitamin C and pH , so that weight loss rate on the fourth week for control samples was 39/79%, for samples treated with 8mM oxalic acid, 22/77%, and for 70 mM Calcium chloride, 21/19%; total soluble solids weight on the fourth week for control samples was 24/53%; for samples treated with 8mM Oxalic acid 21/43% and for 70 mM Calcium chloride 21/13%; and vitamin C weight on the fourth week for control samples was 2/65; for samples treated with 8Mm Oxalic acid 3/06 and for 70 mM Calcium chloride 3/16; also firmness and acidity were more than that of control.
Conclusion:In fruits treated with different concentrations of calcium chloride, the amounts of firmness, acidity and vitamin C were significantly higher than that of control. Also in treated fruits, the amounts of weight loss, total soluble solids and pH during storage were significantly lower than that of control. In fruits treated with different concentrations of Oxalic acid in fruits, the amounts of firmness, acidity and vitamin C were significantly higher than that of control. And in fruits treated with different concentrations of Oxalic acid, the amounts of weight loss, total soluble solids and pH were significantly lower than that of control. According to the results of this test calcium chloride treatment was better when compared with Oxalic acid.
H. Rastegari; Ali Tehranifar; Seyyed Hosein Nemati; M. R. Vazifehshenas
Abstract
To investigate the effect of different concentrations (0, 0.01% and 0.02%) of salicylic acid (SA) on some quantitative and qualitative characteristics of pomegranate fruit cultivar ‘Malase Yazdi’ at ripening,2 and 4month ofstorageat5°C, a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block with ...
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To investigate the effect of different concentrations (0, 0.01% and 0.02%) of salicylic acid (SA) on some quantitative and qualitative characteristics of pomegranate fruit cultivar ‘Malase Yazdi’ at ripening,2 and 4month ofstorageat5°C, a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block with three replications was conducted. Quantitative characteristics including percentage of fruit weight loss, percentage of healthy arils, aril paleness percentage, and fruit quality characteristics including percentage of skin browning and white segments separating the arils (membrane), electrolyte leakage (EL), juice pH, titrable acidity, total soluble solids, antioxidant activity, juice ascorbic acid content and fruit taste index were measured. The results showed that with time until two month of storage, the weight loss of fruit had happened, but then the rate of weight loss reduced. With SA application percentage of healthy arils and aril paleness increased. The lowest and highest percentage of membrane browning was related to concentration of 0.01% of SA after two month of storage (14.8%) and control fruits after four months of storage (96.6%), respectively. SA in 0.02% concentration reduced EL at harvest but with time the EL increased so that SA could not prevent EL increases after 4 month of storage. Also fruit taste index reduced with increasing in SA concentration. Over time and during storage titrable acidity, total soluble solids, juice PH and browning percentage increased significantly while ascorbic acid decreased.
M. Babalar; marjan Hosseini; Mohammadali askari; S. Davarpanah
Abstract
Pears are among the most important fruits in all the temperate regions in about 50 countries of the world. "Shahmiveh" and "Spadona" pears, sprayed at three stages at harvest with different concentrations putrescine (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mM) and post harvest dipping at the same concentrations putrescine and ...
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Pears are among the most important fruits in all the temperate regions in about 50 countries of the world. "Shahmiveh" and "Spadona" pears, sprayed at three stages at harvest with different concentrations putrescine (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mM) and post harvest dipping at the same concentrations putrescine and also dip into heat treatment (40 and 50 °C and control). Fruits were stored at 0±1 °C for 5 month. The factorial experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design of three replications. During the storage period, Sampling were carried out every three weeks and some of the qualitative and quantitative traits such as surface color, weight loss, firmness, pH, titrable acidity, total soluble solids, flavor index and vitamin C were measured. Results showed in Shahmiveh ratio to Spadona cultivar was upper firmness, pH and flavor index. Hue angle, lightness, weight loss, TA and TSS in Spadona cultivar was higher than Shahmiveh cultivar. 1 and 2 mM putrescine treatments showed maximum firmness and minimum pH, TSS and flavor index in both cultivars. Heat treatment at 40 and 50 °C respectively in Shahmiveh and Spadona increased TSS and fruit flavor index. In total, Spadona with suitable quality and quantity properties for the purpose of marketing and keeping in store is better than Shahmiveh.
E. Barzanooni; Mohammad Hosein Aghkhani; A. Maskooki; M.H. Abbaspour Fard
Abstract
Postharvest losses are a limiting factor on storage life of many vegetables and fruits including citrus. Therefore a study was conducted to evaluate the effects of thermal treatments and herbal thyme oil spray on Sanguinello blood oranges in Golestan province in the northern part of Iran. The tests have ...
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Postharvest losses are a limiting factor on storage life of many vegetables and fruits including citrus. Therefore a study was conducted to evaluate the effects of thermal treatments and herbal thyme oil spray on Sanguinello blood oranges in Golestan province in the northern part of Iran. The tests have been performed one day after harvesting, under four different treatments: hot water at 55˚C for 3 minutes, flushing of steam at 100˚C for 30 seconds, and spraying of fruits with two-percent thyme using surfactant. The fruits of each treatment were then kept in some boxes and placed in a cold storage at 8˚C and relative humidity of 85±5 percent, for two months. Results showed that the treatments had no significant effect on the quality parameters of fruits such as acidity, total soluble solid, maturity index and sensory evaluation. However, among all treatments, the steaming treatment had the greatest impact in preventing weight loss during storage.
V. Rabiei; S. Rahmani
Abstract
The effect of hot water treatments [45°C for five minutes, 55°C for 25 seconds and non-treated(control)], salicylic acid in three levels (0, 1 and 2 mM) and calcium chloride in two levels (2% and 4%) on quantitative and qualitative parameters and storage life of pomegranate cv. Meykhosh were investigated. ...
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The effect of hot water treatments [45°C for five minutes, 55°C for 25 seconds and non-treated(control)], salicylic acid in three levels (0, 1 and 2 mM) and calcium chloride in two levels (2% and 4%) on quantitative and qualitative parameters and storage life of pomegranate cv. Meykhosh were investigated. Experiment was conducted as a factorial based on completely randomized design with three replications. Fruits were stored for four months and sampling was performed at the end of storage. Results showed calcium chloride treatment prevents weight loss and fruit softening in comparison with control. Salicylic acid had a significant effect in preventing of TSS content increasing so thatSalicylic acid with 2 mM concentration was more effective than 1 mM, also fruits treated with salicylic acid had less reduction in TA content. Fruits treated with hot water had weight loss percentage less than control fruits and hot water treatment at 45 °C was more effective than 55 °C. Also the use of hot water and salicylic acid treatment increased PAL activity in comparisonwith the control. Survey of triple treatments interaction showed that hot water treatment at45 °C, 2 mM of Salicylic acid and 4% calcium chloride had the best result in pomegranate fruits storage life.
