Effects of postharvest salicylic acid dipping on Alternaria rot and disease resistance of jujube fruit during storage. (29th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cao, Jiankang; Yan, Jiaqi; Zhao, Yumei; Jiang, Weibo
• Is Part Of: Journal of the science of food and agriculture. Volume 93:Number 13(2013:Oct. 15)
• Page Start: 3252
• Page End: 3258
• Publication Date: 2013-05-29
• Subjects: Food -- Periodicals; Agriculture -- Periodicals; 664
• DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.6167
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-5142

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jsfa6167-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p> <bold>Considerable postharvest losses caused by <italic>Alternaria alternata</italic> often occur in Chinese jujube fruit, and synthetic fungicides have been widely used to protect the fruit from <italic>Alternaria</italic> rot. However, the potential harmfulness of fungicide residues to human health and the environment cannot be ignored. This study was conducted to develop an alternative approach for controlling postharvest disease by inducing fruit resistance with salicylic acid (SA) dipping</bold>.</p> </sec> <sec id="jsfa6167-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p> <bold>Disease incidence and lesion area in the jujube fruit inoculated with <italic>A. alternata</italic> were significantly inhibited by 2 and 2.5 mmol L<sup>−1</sup> SA dipping. Naturally infected decay rate and index in jujubes were also significantly reduced by SA dipping during long‐term storage at 0°C. SA enhanced activities of the main defense‐related enzymes including phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase, peroxidase, chitinase and <italic>β</italic>‐1, 3‐glucanase in the fruit during storage. SA strongly decreased catalase activity but increased superoxide dismutase activity and ascorbic acid content in jujubes</bold>.</p> </sec> <sec id="jsfa6167-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p> <bold>The beneficial effects of SA on fruit protection may be due to its ability to activate several highly coordinated defence‐related systems in jujubes, instead of its fungicidal activity. The findings indicated that application of SA would offer an alternative approach that helps to control postharvest disease and maintain storage quality in fruits. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry</bold> </p> </sec> </abstract>