Pre-harvest Micronized Calcium and Postharvest UV-C Treatments Extend the Quality of ‘Crimson Seedless’ (Vitis vinifera L.) Grapes

Abstract

Certain postharvest disorders such as rachis desiccation, weight loss, accelerated softening and biochemical changes limit the postharvest life of table grapes. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of pre-harvest micronized calcium pulverizations, postharvest UV-C treatment and their combined applications on extending postharvest quality of table grapes cv ‘Crimson Seedless’. Pre-harvest micronized calcium pulverization was performed to improve rachis greenness and berry resistance while postharvest UV-C was aimed to induce physiological resistance and delay senescence in grape berries. Ca treatments significantly increased chlorophyll concentrations of rachis while Ca plus UV-C was the best treatment to maintain rachis chlorophyll concentration. UV-C with or without pre-harvest Ca treatment effectively delayed the weight loss during the storage. Ca delayed the increase of SSC during the storage. All the treatments, particularly postharvest UV-C, significantly delayed the berry senescence by delaying the decrease in acidity. UV-C with or without Ca, with the lowest values, significantly retarded the changes in phenols and decreased the berry decay. Ca plus UV-C treatment also effectively maintained the skin rupture force during the storage. Overall, pre-harvest micronized Ca pulverizations plus postharvest UV-C treatment can be recommended to extent the quality of table grapes cv. ‘Crimson Seedless’ up to 120 days at cold storage.