Exogenous Application of Melatonin and Methyl Jasmonate as a Pre-Harvest Treatment Enhances Growth of Barhi Date Palm Trees, Prolongs Storability, and Maintains Quality of Their Fruits under Storage Conditions
Fresh date palm fruits (cv. Barhi) have received much attention due to their sweet taste and popularity in marketing. There is a critical need to prolong their storability, as well as maintain their quality during the postharvest and marketing periods. In this study, the effects of spraying date pal...
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/1/96 |
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| author | Waleed M. E. Fekry Younes M. Rashad Ibrahim A. Alaraidh Taha Mehany |
| author_facet | Waleed M. E. Fekry Younes M. Rashad Ibrahim A. Alaraidh Taha Mehany |
| author_sort | Waleed M. E. Fekry |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fresh date palm fruits (cv. Barhi) have received much attention due to their sweet taste and popularity in marketing. There is a critical need to prolong their storability, as well as maintain their quality during the postharvest and marketing periods. In this study, the effects of spraying date palm trees with melatonin (Mt) and/or methyl jasmonate (Mj) at 10, 20, and 50 ppm, on their growth and yield were investigated. In addition, impacts on quality and storability of the fruits were also studied. In general, application of Mt was mostly more effective than that of Mj, even at 50 ppm, with regard to all evaluated parameters. However, the dual treatment at 50 ppm recorded the highest relative chlorophyll and nutrient content in date palm leaves, as well as the yield and its components. Regarding the date palm fruits stored at 4 °C for 28 days, this dual treatment recorded the lowest weight loss and fruit decay values (0.14 and 2%, respectively), the highest firmness (6 g·cm<sup>−2</sup>), total soluble solids content (36 °Brix), total sugar content (32.5 g/100 g fresh weight), and the lowest total acidity (0.16 g citric acid/100 mL juice). Moreover, the highest total phenolic content and activity of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase enzymes in the stored fruits were also recorded for the dual treatment. In contrast to the untreated fruits, scanning electron microscopy observations showed that the sprayed fruits had a very good microstructure, showing intact and thick exocarp tissue with a dense layer of epicuticular wax. The mesocarp tissue showed a normal and clear cellular framework with well organized and arranged cells, after 28 days storage at 4 °C. Based on these results, we can conclude that application of the dual treatment (Mt + Mj) at 50 ppm is a promising way to prolong the storability of date palm fruits and maintain their quality during storage periods. |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:26:15Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-a1aa9c6e9f674b7d8964d3d0a4ab538e2023-11-23T12:07:37ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472021-12-011119610.3390/plants11010096Exogenous Application of Melatonin and Methyl Jasmonate as a Pre-Harvest Treatment Enhances Growth of Barhi Date Palm Trees, Prolongs Storability, and Maintains Quality of Their Fruits under Storage ConditionsWaleed M. E. Fekry0Younes M. Rashad1Ibrahim A. Alaraidh2Taha Mehany3Department of Plant Production, Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, New Borg El-Arab City 21934, Alexandria, EgyptPlant Protection and Biomolecular Diagnosis Department, Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab City 21934, Alexandria, EgyptDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 2455, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Chemistry, University of La Rioja, C/Madre de Dios 51, 26006 Logroño, La Rioja, SpainFresh date palm fruits (cv. Barhi) have received much attention due to their sweet taste and popularity in marketing. There is a critical need to prolong their storability, as well as maintain their quality during the postharvest and marketing periods. In this study, the effects of spraying date palm trees with melatonin (Mt) and/or methyl jasmonate (Mj) at 10, 20, and 50 ppm, on their growth and yield were investigated. In addition, impacts on quality and storability of the fruits were also studied. In general, application of Mt was mostly more effective than that of Mj, even at 50 ppm, with regard to all evaluated parameters. However, the dual treatment at 50 ppm recorded the highest relative chlorophyll and nutrient content in date palm leaves, as well as the yield and its components. Regarding the date palm fruits stored at 4 °C for 28 days, this dual treatment recorded the lowest weight loss and fruit decay values (0.14 and 2%, respectively), the highest firmness (6 g·cm<sup>−2</sup>), total soluble solids content (36 °Brix), total sugar content (32.5 g/100 g fresh weight), and the lowest total acidity (0.16 g citric acid/100 mL juice). Moreover, the highest total phenolic content and activity of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase enzymes in the stored fruits were also recorded for the dual treatment. In contrast to the untreated fruits, scanning electron microscopy observations showed that the sprayed fruits had a very good microstructure, showing intact and thick exocarp tissue with a dense layer of epicuticular wax. The mesocarp tissue showed a normal and clear cellular framework with well organized and arranged cells, after 28 days storage at 4 °C. Based on these results, we can conclude that application of the dual treatment (Mt + Mj) at 50 ppm is a promising way to prolong the storability of date palm fruits and maintain their quality during storage periods.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/1/96date palmmelatoninmethyl jasmonatepostharveststorage |
| spellingShingle | Waleed M. E. Fekry Younes M. Rashad Ibrahim A. Alaraidh Taha Mehany Exogenous Application of Melatonin and Methyl Jasmonate as a Pre-Harvest Treatment Enhances Growth of Barhi Date Palm Trees, Prolongs Storability, and Maintains Quality of Their Fruits under Storage Conditions Plants date palm melatonin methyl jasmonate postharvest storage |
| title | Exogenous Application of Melatonin and Methyl Jasmonate as a Pre-Harvest Treatment Enhances Growth of Barhi Date Palm Trees, Prolongs Storability, and Maintains Quality of Their Fruits under Storage Conditions |
| title_full | Exogenous Application of Melatonin and Methyl Jasmonate as a Pre-Harvest Treatment Enhances Growth of Barhi Date Palm Trees, Prolongs Storability, and Maintains Quality of Their Fruits under Storage Conditions |
| title_fullStr | Exogenous Application of Melatonin and Methyl Jasmonate as a Pre-Harvest Treatment Enhances Growth of Barhi Date Palm Trees, Prolongs Storability, and Maintains Quality of Their Fruits under Storage Conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exogenous Application of Melatonin and Methyl Jasmonate as a Pre-Harvest Treatment Enhances Growth of Barhi Date Palm Trees, Prolongs Storability, and Maintains Quality of Their Fruits under Storage Conditions |
| title_short | Exogenous Application of Melatonin and Methyl Jasmonate as a Pre-Harvest Treatment Enhances Growth of Barhi Date Palm Trees, Prolongs Storability, and Maintains Quality of Their Fruits under Storage Conditions |
| title_sort | exogenous application of melatonin and methyl jasmonate as a pre harvest treatment enhances growth of barhi date palm trees prolongs storability and maintains quality of their fruits under storage conditions |
| topic | date palm melatonin methyl jasmonate postharvest storage |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/1/96 |
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