Marines Batalha Moreno Kirinus

Salicylic acid (SA) addition influences postharvest quality of 'Jubileu' peaches (Prunus persica)

The SA organic elicitor is an alternative to extend the useful life of fruits by inducing the defenses of the plant and decreasing fruit rot. This study aimed at evaluating not only the effects of SA applied after the harvest in the cold storage period, but also the marketing simulation of the maintenance of physicochemical characteristics of ‘Jubileu’ peaches. The experimental design was thoroughly randomized in a double factorial scheme. Fruits were picked at proper maturity, in agreement with the maturity index. In the laboratory, they were submitted to SA doses of 0, 2, 4 and 6 mM and, then, kept in a cold room at 1 ± 1o C, at 90± 5%,for 7, 14 and 21 days. Afterwards, a 3-day shelf life was simulated at 25±5o C. Characteristics under evaluation were fruit mass loss, firmness, color, solids/acidity and rot. Predictive points of the variables under analysis were observed because they are important to determine the interaction between time and dose. Regarding parameters of solids/acidity, the predictive point ranged from 14.88 to 3.51 SA in 11.5 days. SA application decreased mass loss in 11.1 days at2.16 mM and firmness, in 11.3 days at doses of 2.75 mM. The predictive point of rot incidence was 5.96 at3.97 mM SA in 8.48 days whereas the one of color brightness was 68.32 at 1.25 mM SA in 19.7 days. Finally, the one of hue was 87.92 at 2.81 mM SA in 15.3 days. SA was efficient to keep the general quality of ‘Jubileu’ peaches.