Harvest and postharvest quality of sweet cherry are improved by pre-harvest benzyladenine and benzyladenine plus gibberellin applications

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of pre-harvest benzyladenine (BA) and BA plus gibberellin (GA 4+7 ) treatments on fruit quality attributes of ‘0900 Ziraat’ cherry at harvest and after cold storage. ‘0900 Ziraat’ cherry trees were sprayed with BA (50, 100, and 150 mg·L –1 ) and BA + GA 4+7 (12.5, 25, and 50 mg·L –1 ) when fruit was at their straw-yellow color stage. All of the treated fruit were significantly firmer than control fruit. Fruit treated with 25 and 50 mg·L –1 BA + GA 4+7 and 50 and 150 mg·L –1 BA had significantly higher soluble solids content (SSC) than untreated fruit. Sweet cherry trees treated with the optimum concentration of BA + GA 4+7 (50 mg·L –1 ) yielded fruit with 15.17 % greater weight, 9.0 % higher firmness and 13.6 % higher SSC. Additional samples were harvested, placed in plastic bags, and stored at 4 °C for 30 days. At the end of the cold storage period, fruit treated with 25 and 50 mg·L –1 BA + GA 4+7 and 50 and 150 mg·L –1 BA were significantly firmer than the control. 50 mg·L –1 BA + GA 4+7 -treated fruit had higher SSC than untreated ones. In conclusion, fruit treated with the optimum dose of BA + GA 4+7 (50 mg·L –1 ) were larger and firmer than untreated fruit at harvest and this concentration had the best effects. Most of the treated fruit maintained a superior firmness and quality to control fruit during cold storage.