Effect of preharvest sprays of salicylic acid on the shelf life and quality of 'lane late' sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L.) cold storage

Abstract

The plants of 'Lane late' sweet oranges were sprayed ten days before fruit harvesting with salicylic acid (SA) at different concentrations (2, 4, 6, 8 mM). After harvest some fruits were analysed and other fruits were stored at 5°C for 31, 62 and 93 days to investigate the effects of SA on fruit rot, chilling injury and quality relating parameters i.e., fruit firmness as well as sugar and organic acid contents. The results showed that preharvest spray of SA at 8 mM was effective to reduce the fruit rot from 16.93 to 6.06%. This concentration was also very helpful to minimize the incidence of chilling injury. Textural properties relating to fruit firmness force of treated fruits were also significantly higher than those of control. SA also showed effectiveness to maintain the SSC%, TA%, individual sugars and organic acids in long term storage which indicate that SA has anti-senescent effect. It is concluded that citrus industry should use the preharvest spray of SA to minimize the postharvest/storage losses of oranges rather than fungicides.