Foliar Application of Salicylic Acid at Different Phenological Stages of Peach Fruit CV. ‘Flordaking’ Improves Harvest Quality and Reduces Chilling Injury during Low Temperature Storage
Irfan Ali,
Xiukang Wang,
Mohammad Javed Tareen,
Fahad Masoud Wattoo,
Abdul Qayyum,
Mahmood Ul Hassan,
Muhammad Shafique,
Mehwish Liaquat,
Sana Asghar,
Tanveer Hussain,
Sajid Fiaz,
Waseem Ahmed
Affiliations
Irfan Ali
Department of Horticulture, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi 46300, Pakistan
Xiukang Wang
College of Life Sciences, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
Mohammad Javed Tareen
Agriculture Research Institute, Quetta 87300, Pakistan
Fahad Masoud Wattoo
Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi 46300, Pakistan
Abdul Qayyum
Department of Agronomy, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22620, Pakistan
Mahmood Ul Hassan
Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi 46300, Pakistan
Muhammad Shafique
Department of Horticulture, Sub-Campus Burewala, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Vehari 61010, Pakistan
Mehwish Liaquat
Institute of Hydroponic Agriculture, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi 46300, Pakistan
Sana Asghar
Horticulture Section, Barani Agricultural Research Institute, Chakwal 48800, Pakistan
Tanveer Hussain
Department of Horticulture, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi 46300, Pakistan
Sajid Fiaz
Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22620, Pakistan
Waseem Ahmed
Department of Horticulture, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22620, Pakistan
Peaches are well-liked amongst the stone fruits in Pakistan. The peach industry faces significant losses, from harvesting to marketing. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of foliar sprays of salicylic acid (SA) on the fruit quality of peaches (cv. ‘Flordaking’) at the harvest and postharvest life or stages. Different concentrations of SA (control, 1, 2 and 3 mM) were sprayed on the plants at three growth stages of fruit, i.e., the cell division, cell enlargement and pit-hardening stages. In general, all the SA treatments improved the fruit quality at harvest and maintained higher levels of flesh firmness, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid during storage. However, fruit weight loss, soluble solid contents, membrane leakage, chilling injury, color development, disease and decay incidence and the climacteric peak of ethylene were lowered by SA treatment after six weeks of low-temperature storage. SA at a 3-mM concentration was proven to be the most effective in maintaining the quality for a longer period of time during low-temperature storage. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the application of SA at fruit development stages can improve the harvest quality and storability of ‘Flordaking’ peaches.
