Effects of methyl jasmonat (MeJA) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) treatments on physico-mechanical and biochemical characteristics of apricot fruit during cold storage

In this study, effects on physico-mechanical and biochemical properties of 'Precoce de Thyrinthe' apricot cultivar of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatments were investigated during cold storage. Fruit were pre-cooled at 24 h, 4±0.5C and 90±5% relative humidity and stored at 0±0.5C for 20 days. For MeJA treatment, 0 (control), 0.5 and 1.0 mmol L-1 doses were applied. Physical properties of apricot fruit such as geometric mean diameter, sphericity, surface area, weight, bulk and fruit density, fruit weight, color properties (L*, chroma and hue angle), mechanical properties such as fruit hardness, puncture-compression forces, friction coefficient, chemical and biochemical properties such as weight loss, respiration rate, pH, solid soluble content, titratable acidity, vitamin C, DPPH and FRAP test antioxidant activity, total phenolic and total flavanoid contents were examined. According to the post-harvest analysis, it was found that the fruit of MAP were better preserved in the physical properties of the apricot than in the non-MAP fruits. The L *, Chroma and Hue angle values of MeJA treated fruit were higher than those of non-MAP fruit. While the hardness of fruit flesh changed at a lower level in the MAP treated fruit, the treatment of MAP delayed the softening of fruit flesh. Increases in pH, soluble solids content (SSC) and vitamin C of fruit reated with MAP were observed. and the highest values were found in the pH and solid soluble content values of MeJA in 0.5 mmol L-1 treatment and the highest values were found in 1.0 mmol L-1 treatment of MeJA in vitamin C. In titratable acidity value, decreases were determined according to the treatments and the lowest values were found in the control group in the MAP applied fruit. As a result, it is recommended to store and treat the apricot fruit with MAP and MeJA in order to maintain the quality of fruit.