PRE-HARVEST ETHREL SPRAYING EFFECTS ON POST-HARVEST QUALITY OF SOUR CHERRY FRUITS

Abstract

Ethrel (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) was used properly for reducing fruit removal force and to facilitate the harvesting process. In this research, the effect of preharvest ethrel application on the quality of sour cherry during the storage period at modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and 0°C temperature was examined. The quality of sour cherry fruits after spraying by Ethrel under modified atmosphere packaging was investigated. Modified atmosphere packaging was used with 10, 15 and 75% O 2 , CO 2 and N 2 respectively. This composition of gas by being held at 0°C caused the postharvest shelf life of fruits to increase. Fruit samples were evaluated at harvest date and after 6 weeks of being kept in storage. Weight loss, skin colour, pH, soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), SSC/TA ratio, firmness of fruits were monitored. The ethrel concentration influenced the increase in soluble solids content, SSC/TA ratio and L* value and the decrease in titratable acidity at harvest date. Fruits' colour became darker after 6 weeks of being kept in storage.