Use of plant growth regulators in the conservation of grapes “Italy” as aids in post-harvest

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of plant growth regulators on postharvest fine table grapes “Italy”. The grapes were harvested at a commercial vineyard in the city of Canguçu, RS, Brazil and transported to the UNIPAMPA-Campus Dom Pedrito. The treatments were: distilled water (control); 500 ppb of 1-methylcyclopropene [MCP-1 (12 h at 20 °C)]; 10 μM of salicylic acid and; 100 ppm of ethylene. The design was randomized, where each treatment had three replicates, and each replicate consisted of 3 bunches (about 2 kg). The evaluations were performed on the day of harvest (characterization – day zero) and at 7 and 14 days of storage at 18 °C controlled. It was evaluated: browning of stems, loss of fresh bunch weight, percentage of abscission of berries, rot incidence, total soluble solids – SS (° Brix), percentage of dehydration of the stem, titratable acidity – AT (% tartaric acid), gluconic acid, “ratio” (SS/TA) and density. It was found that the application of 10 mM of salicylic acid in postharvest fine table grapes “Italy” can help a smaller abscission of berries and less dehydration of the stem, which may prolong the shelf life of these grapes.