Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Abstract

Background and Objectives
Low quality of fruits is one of the most important problems in marketing of apple fruits. Recently the use of organic compounds such as ascorbic acid in order to improve fruit quality has greatly increased. Since little information is available regarding the effects of ascorbic acid on apple fruit quality, the present study was conducted to study the effect of foliar spray with ascorbic acid on some qualitative characteristics of apple fruits.
Material and Methods
In this study, the effect of foliar application with different concentrations of ascorbic acid (0, 200 and 400 mg/L) during summer season, was investigated on some fruit quality properties characteristics and color improvement in Red Spur apple cultivar. The experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with 4 replications (one tree per replication).
Results
The results showed that foliar spray of ascorbic acid at 200 mg/L concentration significantly increased the amount of fruit TSS and anthocyanin compared to the control. Significant increasing in total acidity, vitamin C, total antioxidant content, total flavonoid and PAL enzyme activity were observed with increasing concentration of ascorbic acid. By increasing the concentration of ascorbic acid, fruit pH was significantly reduced.
Discussion
The results of this study showed that foliar spray of ascorbic acid probably due to increased level of TSS as a main substrate in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway and due to increased PAL enzyme activity as a key enzyme involved in flavonoids biosynthesis pathway such as anthocyanin, led to improve fruit color and qualitative characteristics of Red Spur apple cultivar.
 

 
 

Keywords

Main Subjects

  1. Ahmadi-Afzadi, M. 2012. Genetic and biochemical properties of apples that effect storability and nutritional value. Introductory paper at the faculty of landscape planning. Horticulture and Agricultural Science, 120(3): 1-40.
  2. AOAC, 1990. Official methods of analysis of the association of official analytical chemists. 15th. ed. Helrich, K. (ed.). AOAC: Arlington, VA. 703 p.
  3. Asghari, M.R. and Majdi, V. 2010. Effect of ascorbic acid and CaCl2 treatments on quality attributes and shef-life of fresh cut ‘Golden Delicious’ apples. Food Reaserch, 2(2): 24-32. [In Farsi]
  4. Chiou, A., Karathanos, V.T., Mylona, A., Salta, F.N., Preventi, F., and Andrikopoulos, N.K. 2007. Grape (Vitis vinifera) content of simple phenolics and antioxidant activity. Food Chemistry, 102: 516-522.
  5. Dickerson, D.P., Pascholati, S.F., Hagerman, A.E., Butler, L.G., and Nicholson, R.L. 1984. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and hydroxy cinnamate CoA ligase in maize mesocotyls inoculated with Helminthosporium maydis or Helminthosporium Physioly Plant Patholgy, 25: 111-123.
  6. Dixit, V., Pandy, V., and Shyam, R. 2001. Differential antioxidative responses to cadmium in roots and leaves of pea (Pisum sativum). Journal of Experimental Botany, 52: 1101-1109.
  7. Elade, Y. 1992. The use of antioxidants to control gray mould (botrytic cibera) and white mould (Sclerotiorum) in various crops. Plant Pathology, 141(7): 417-426.
  8. Ezz, T.M., Aly, M.A., and Awad, R.M. 2012. Storabgability of mango fruits improvement by some natural preharvest applications. Atiner Conference Paper Series, 2241-2891.
  9. Farag, K.M. and Nagy, N.M.N. 2012. Effect of pre and post-harvest calcium and magnesium compounds and their combination treatments on Anna apple fruit quality and shelf life. Journal of Horticultural Science & Ornamental Plants, 4(2): 155-168.
  10. Farahat, M.M.S., Ibrahim, L.S., and Queesni, E.M.F. 2007. Response of vegetative growth and some chemical constituents of cupressus semper virens to foliar application of ascorbic acid and zinc at Nubara. World Journal of Agricultural Science, 3(4): 496-502.
  11. Fayed, T.A. 2010. Effect of some antioxidants on growth, yield and bunch characteristics of Thompson seedless grapevine. American-Eurasian Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Science, 8(3): 322-328.
  12. Fulcki, T. and Francis, F.J. 1968. Quantitative method for anthocyanins extraction and determination of total anthocyanin in cranberries. Journal of Food Science, 33: 72-77.
  13. Ghorbani, A., Bakhshi, D., Haj Najari, H., Ghasemnezhad, M., and Taghidost, P. 2010. Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of some Iranian and import variant of apple in Karaj. Journal of Horticultural Science, 24(1): 83-90. [In Farsi]
  14. Hafez, O.M., Hamouda, H.A., and Abd- El- Mageed, M.A. 2010. Effect of calcium and some antioxidants treatments on storability of "Le- Conte" pear fruits and its volatile components. Nature and Science, 8(5): 109-126.
  15. He, Q. and Luo, Y. 2007. Enzymatic browning and its control in fresh-cut produce. Stewart Postharvest Review, 3: 123-132.
  16. Hegab, Y.M. 2000. Response of balady mandarin trees to citric acid and ascorbic acid application combined with iron and zinc. Journal of Applied Science, 15(10): 194-208.
  17. Horemans, N., Foyer, C.H., Potters, G., and Asard, H. 2006. Ascorbate function and associated transport system in plants. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 38: 531-540.
  18. Jalili Marandi, R. 2012. Post Harvest Physiology, 276 p. [In Farsi]
  19. Lamikanara, O. and Watson, M.A. 2003. Biochemical changes associated with fresh-cut fruit processing and storage. Freshness and Shelf life of Food, 836: 52-68.
  20. Lancaster, J.E., Grant, J.E., Lister, C.E., and Taylor, M.C. 1994. Skin color in apples influence of co-pigmentation and plastid pigments on shade and darkness of red color in five genotypes. Journal of American Society for Horticultural Science, 119: 63-69.
  21. Laspina, N.V., Groppa, M.D., Tomaro, M.L., and Benavides, M.P. 2005. Nitric oxide protects sunflower leaves against Cd-induced oxidative stress-plant. Plant Science, 169: 323-330.
  22. Ruoyi, K., Zhifang, Y., and Zhaoxin, L. 2005. Effect of coating and intermittent warming on enzymes, soluble pectin substances and ascorbic acid of Prunus persica (Cv. Zhonghuashoutao) during refrigerated storage. Food Research International, 38(3): 331-336.
  23. Shazly, S.M., Eisa, A.M., Moatamed, A.M.H., and Kotb, H.R.M. 2013. Effect of some Agro-chemical pre harvest foliar application on yield and quality of ʻSwellingʼ peach trees. Alexander Journal of Agricultural Research, 58(3): 219-229.
  24. Smirnoff, N. and Wheeler, G.L. 2000. Ascorbic acid in plants: biosynthesis and function. CRC Critical Review in Plant Science, 19: 267-290.
  25. Winkle-Shirley, B. 2001. Flavonoid biosynthesis. A colorful model for genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, and biotechnology. Plant Physiology, 126: 485-493.
  26. Zulaikha, R. 2013. Effect of foliar spray of ascorbic acid, Zn, seaweed extracts force and bio fertilizers on vegetative growth and root growth of olive (Olea europea) transplants cv. Hogblanca International Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 17(2): 79-89.