Postharvest application effect of agave fructans on anthracnose disease, defense-related enzyme activities, and quality attributes in avocado fruit.

Abstract

The postharvest application of high degree of polymerization agave fructans (HDPAF) was tested, evaluating anthracnose disease, defense-related enzyme activities, and quality attributes in avocado fruit. Application of a 20% HDPAF solution showed a reduction in anthracnose severity (60%) and incidence (34%) compared to the other concentrations evaluated and the water-treated control. Polyphenoloxidase activity increased 4.6 times more 24h after treatment. In addition, peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase enzyme activity was 4.34 and 1.7 times higher than the control at 0.5h after treatment. HDPAF retrieves the deceleration of both firmness loss and physiological weight loss compared to the control. Regarding quality parameters such as color, pH, total soluble solids, and titratable acidity, no significant differences were observed between treatments compared to the control; therefore, these parameters were not negatively affected by HDPAF treatments, but a positive effect on the induction of the defense system is shown.