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Preharvest application of methyl jasmonate increases crop yield, fruit quality and bioactive compounds in pomegranate ‘Mollar de Elche’ at harvest and during postharvest storage
Author(s) -
GarcíaPastor María E,
Serrano María,
Guillén Fabián,
Giménez María J,
MartínezRomero Domingo,
Valero Daniel,
Zapata Pedro J
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.10007
Subject(s) - preharvest , methyl jasmonate , postharvest , aril , ripening , horticulture , chemistry , yield (engineering) , ascorbic acid , cold storage , crop , food science , biology , agronomy , biochemistry , materials science , metallurgy , gene
Abstract BACKGROUND Previous reports have addressed the effectiveness of postharvest methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatments on maintaining quality properties of pomegranate fruit during storage. However, there is no literature regarding the effects of preharvest MeJA treatments on pomegranate ‘Mollar de Elche’ crop yield, fruit ripening, quality attributes and bioactive compounds content (at harvest or after long‐term storage), which were evaluated in this research. RESULTS Preharvest MeJA treatments (1, 5, and 10 mmol L ‐1 ) increased pomegranate crop yield. MeJA at 1 and 5 mmol L ‐1 accelerated the on‐tree ripening process, while it was delayed with 10 mmol L ‐1 . Losses in fruit weight, firmness and organic acids during storage at 10 °C were delayed in MeJA treated fruit, leading to quality maintenance. In addition, MeJA treatments improved arils colour due to increased concentration of total and individual anthocyanins, at harvest and during storage. Total phenolic and ascorbic acid contents and total antioxidant activity [hydrophilic (H‐TAA) and lipophilic (L‐TAA) fractions] were also higher in arils from treated pomegranate fruits than in controls. CONCLUSION Preharvest treatments with MeJA could be a promising tool to improve pomegranate crop yield, fruit quality and its content in bioactive compounds at harvest and during storage. The higher effects were obtained with MeJA at 5 mmol L ‐1 dose, which could be the selected treatment for practical application purposes. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry