Document Type : Research paper
Authors
1
Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan,Iran
2
Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
3
Dep. of Horticulture, Faculty of Agric., BuAli Sina University
4
Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
10.22059/ijhst.2024.378388.870
Abstract
Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) has a short postharvest life due to its sensitivity to water loss, relatively high metabolic activity, sensitivity to fungal decay and mechanical damage. Among preservation techniques, use of LED light is considered an effective way to preserve quality and extend the storability of fruits, attracting significant attention in recent years. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effect of various LED light qualities (white, blue, red, blue+red, violet, and darkness as a control) on specific quality characteristics of strawberries stored in a cold room over four storage durations (0, 5, 10, and 15 days). The lowest weight loss (76% less than the control) and the highest fruit firmness were observed in the red light treatment. Also, on the 15th day of storage, the violet light showed the lowest total soluble solids and taste index (TSS/TA) values, while the blue+red light had the highest acidity with a significant difference with the control (p≤0.05). Blue and white lights caused a significant increase in vitamin C, total phenols, and antioxidant activity percentage compared to other lights and control; however, the effects of violet light on fruit flavonoids and total anthocyanins concentration were greater than other treatments. Violet and blue+red lights significantly reduced the percentage of fruit decay (73.91% more than the control). These findings suggest that different LED lights can be utilized to enhance the quality and extend the storage life of strawberries before they are sold. Consequently, these LEDs could potentially replace fluorescent lights in fruit storage rooms.
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