Abstract
Zizyphus spina-christi L. is one of the wide varieties of plant grown in Al-Ahsa Oasis in Saudi Arabia and known locally as Alnabaq (buckthorn). The objective of this investigation was to study the effects of postharvest calcium chloride applications on fruit quality of buckthorn under cold storage condition at 2°C and 90% RH for 5 weeks.¬¬ Fruits were dipped in calcium chloride at different concentrations (0, 2 and 4% W/V) for 10 min. Weight loss, total soluble solids (TSS), ascorbic acid content, fruit firmness and peroxidase activity were determined after Ca++ treatment and during cold storage every one week. The results revealed that, both the storage periods and treatments significantly affected the postharvest quality of Alnabaq fruits during cold storage condition. A reduction in fruit firmness and ascorbic acid content was observed during storage period. In addition, the results showed that, fruit treated with calcium chloride recorded higher firmness than the control, while lower peroxidase activity was recorded during cold storage at 2°C for 5 weeks. Generally, these results indicated that post-harvest Ca treatments delayed fruit softening and decreased weight loss. Key words: Storage, Ziziphus spina-christi, weight loss, firmness, CaCl2, peroxidase activity, ascorbic acid.
Highlights
Ziziphus spina-christi L. is a subtropical plant known as Alnabaq or Sedr, which is reported to be used as alternative medicine for human (Shahat et al, 2001)
Total soluble solids (TSS), ascorbic acid content, fruit firmness and peroxidase activity were determined after Ca++ treatment and during cold storage every one week
The results revealed that, both the storage periods and treatments significantly affected the postharvest quality of Alnabaq fruits during cold storage condition
Summary
Ziziphus spina-christi L. (family Rhamnaceae) is a subtropical plant known as Alnabaq or Sedr, which is reported to be used as alternative medicine for human (Shahat et al, 2001). Al-Ahsa Oasis in Saudi Arabia is known for its wide varieties of biodiversity including Z spina-christi L. trees, which grows wildly and is widely known locally as knar or Alnabaq, and it tolerates salinity and high heat, but the fruits vary in size and taste, making it undesirable for consumption. Several types of Alnabaq were introduced from China and India, in the form of cuttings and grafted on the local variety (species), including the Chinese Nabq (Ziziphus maruritiana L.), the widespread "Beyuan" cv. These fruits are considered as an economic crop in the arid and semiarid regions.
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