Vences Cuyno Valleser; Jean L Valleser
Abstract
Ethrel®, which contains ethylene, is used as a ripening treatment for fruits. However, there is no available information on its application as an artificial ripening agent for cacao pods. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of the varying ethephon concentrations (0, 1000, 2500, and 5000 ...
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Ethrel®, which contains ethylene, is used as a ripening treatment for fruits. However, there is no available information on its application as an artificial ripening agent for cacao pods. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of the varying ethephon concentrations (0, 1000, 2500, and 5000 ppm) on cacao ripening in a completely randomized design with three replications. Unripe cacao pods containing fully developed embryos were utilized in this study. Cacao pods treated with 5000 ppm ethephon ripened five days earlier than untreated samples. For 1000 to 2500 ppm ethephon treatments, days to ripening were achieved at 3 days after treatment (DAT). Furthermore, by 7 DAT, 100% of cacao pods treated with 2500 to 5000 ppm ethephon had ripened. The control treatment had the lowest percentage of ripened pods (50%) at 7 DAT. Total soluble solids (TSS) and titratable acidity (TA) of ripened cacao pods at 7 DAT were not altered substantially in response to ethephon concentrations. The highest TSS/TA ratio (29.13) was recorded from cacao treated with 2500 ppm ethephon. In contrast, untreated cacao pods had the lowest TSS/TA ratio (23.49). Our findings suggest that ethephon can be used as a plant growth regulator (PGR) for cacao growers to accelerate the ripening of cacao pods.
Fatemeh Nazoori; Elaheh ZamaniBahramabadi; Seyed Hossein Mirdehghan
Abstract
The efficiency of sulfur in controlling pistachio pests, especially psylla, has been documented in the available literature, but it is essential for pesticides not to affect the quality of the product. In this study, movento (0.5 L/1000 L), confidor (0.4 L/1000 L) and refinery micronized (R) and mineral ...
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The efficiency of sulfur in controlling pistachio pests, especially psylla, has been documented in the available literature, but it is essential for pesticides not to affect the quality of the product. In this study, movento (0.5 L/1000 L), confidor (0.4 L/1000 L) and refinery micronized (R) and mineral (M) sulfur (30 and 60 kg/1000 L in water) were sprayed twice on pistachio trees of the cultivar ‘Ahmadaghaei’ (in mid-May and 50 days thereafter). Pistachios were harvested in late September and were stored at 4 °C for 25 and 50 days to evaluate the effects of pesticides on the quality of hulls and kernels. The taste, aroma, appearance, respiration rate, firmness of hull and kernel, a* (red-green), b* (blue-yellow) and chroma of hull and kernel declined over time, while L* (lightness) and the hue angle of the hull and kernel increased. Ethylene production remained stable over time. Chemical pesticides stimulated hull firmness. Refined micronized sulfur at both concentrations caused higher L* and hue angle, but lower a*, b* and chroma in the hull and kernel (i.e. lighter and yellower in color). All sulfur treatments reduced the firmness of the hull and kernel, while also increasing the respiration rate. R30 preserved the taste and aroma after 50 days. R30 and M30 showed higher ethylene production. The R30 treatment had some positive effects on preserving the taste and aroma of pistachios overtime. Thus, it may be recommended as a reliable treatment, although the ability of sulfur in pest control could be offset by the side effects of sulfur on product quality.Abbreviations:R30: Refined micronized sulfur (30 kg/1000 L); R60: Refinery micronized sulfur (60 kg/1000 L); M30: Mineral sulfur (30 kg/1000 L); M60: Mineral sulfur (60 kg/1000 L)
Fereshteh Kamiab; Sadegh Shahmoradzadeh Fahreji; Elahe Zamani Bahramabadi
Abstract
Increasing quality and vase life of cut flowers play vital role in flower production industry. . Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflora cv. Echo) has short vase life and it has been revealed that ethylene directly affect the initiation and process of senescence of petals. In this study, the effects of ...
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Increasing quality and vase life of cut flowers play vital role in flower production industry. . Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflora cv. Echo) has short vase life and it has been revealed that ethylene directly affect the initiation and process of senescence of petals. In this study, the effects of Silver and silicon nanoparticles with four concentrations of 0, 10, 20 and 40 mg L-1 with 4% sucrose as a support solution were evaluated on post-harvest life of ‘Cinderella Lime’ Lisianthus. The morphological and physiological parameters such as microbial population, flower vase life, relative fresh weight, solution uptake, total chlorophyll, ethylene and total dissolved solids were measured. Results revealed that all treatments extended the flower vase life when compared to control. The most effective treatment was the Highest concentration of nanoparticles (40 mg L-1). The average vase life of flowers was about 5 days in control (without any nano particle treatments) however; it reached to 17 days in flowers treated by 40 mg L-1 of both nanoparticles. Relative fresh weight, solution uptake, total chlorophyll, and total dissolved solids were also increased in the treated flowers, especially at higher concentrations. Microbial proliferations were not observed by application of both nanoparticles (Silver or Silicon) at 40 mg L-1 therefore this concentration was considered as the most effective level for both nanoparticles. Nano silver were more effective than silicon for reducing ethylene content. Overall the results suggest that silicon nanoparticle (40 mg L-1) is applicable as antimicrobial compound in combination with silver nanoparticles (40 mg L-1) as ethylene signaling inhibitor to increase the vase life of Lisianthus flowers commercially.
Seyed Hossein Mirdehghan; Zahra Aghamolaei
Abstract
Two experiments were designed to evaluate the addition of essential oils to preservative solution and subsequent effects on postharvest quality and vase life of Gladiolus ‘Sorati’ cut flowers. In first experiment, the solutions of savory (Satureja hortensis.), ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi) ...
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Two experiments were designed to evaluate the addition of essential oils to preservative solution and subsequent effects on postharvest quality and vase life of Gladiolus ‘Sorati’ cut flowers. In first experiment, the solutions of savory (Satureja hortensis.), ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) were applied at the concentrations of 2, 4, and 6 (mg L−1), distilled water + 2% sucrose were considered as control treatment. In second experiment, the cut flowers pulsed with CaCl2 and AgNO3 for 1 h and then transferred to preservative solution contain 2 mg L-1 of savory, ajowan, thyme and distilled water (control). All cut flowers were kept at 25±2oC for 20 days and qualitative properties were evaluated during postharvest periods. Savory 2 mg L−1 exhibited as the most effective treatment for minimizing dehydration of the gladiolus cut flowers by enhancing the water absorption and flower weight rate than other treatments. The interaction of pulsing with CaCl2 and essential oils could maintain the quality of cut flowers.
