MELATONIN PRE-HARVEST FOLIAR APPLICATION IMPROVES PEPPER FRUIT YIELD AND POSTHARVEST FRUIT QUALITY
In this study, the effect of pre-harvest melatonin foliar spray on yield and the contents of both nutritive and bioactive compounds in pepper (Capsicum annuum L, cv. Jalapeño) was investigated at harvest-time and after 45 days of storage in 4°C. Treatments were applied at 15-day intervals beginning with the development of the first floral bunch (MT 50, and 100 μM) and untreated plants (control). Pepper fruits were harvested at the commercial ripening stage throughout the growth cycle (September to January), in both seasons. Melatonin treatment increased total yield by 17.44% due to significant increases in single fruit weight and fruit weight per plant. Furthermore, weight loss, firmness, thickness, and diameter of Jalapeño fruit were all significantly affected by Pre-harvest melatonin spraying. In addition, melatonin pre-harvest treatments increased the content of nutritive (reducing and non-reducing sugar) and bioactive compounds (vitamin C and total phenolics), and antioxidant activity at harvest and after 45 days of cold storage. These findings suggested that melatonin treatment could be a useful technique for enhancing crop yield as well as nutritional value and antioxidant properties of peppers at harvest and after fruit storage. Additionally, maintain and extending postharvest shelf life of Jalapeño fruit.
Antioxidant activity; Fruit yield; Jalapeño; Melatonin, postharvest.