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POSTHARVEST QUALITY OF FEIJOA FLOWERS TREATED WITH DIFFERENT PRESERVATIVE SOLUTIONS AND 1-METHYLCYCLOPROPENE

QUALIDADE PÓS-COLHEITA DE FLORES DE GOIABEIRA-SERRANA TRATADAS COM SOLUÇÕES CONSERVANTES E 1-METILCICLOPROPENO

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to assess the postharvest quality preservation of feijoa(Acca sellowiana Berg) flowers in response to treatments with different preservative solutions and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). Recently opened feijoa flowers were harvested in the morning (between 8h and 10h) and immediately after pulsed with preservative solutions of salicylic acid, ascorbic acid and sucrose, all at doses of 0 (control), 2, 5 or 10%, and treated with 1-MCP at doses of 0 (control), 250, 500 or 1,000 nL L-1. Each trial with preservative solutions or 1-MCP treatment was a distinct experiment conducted in a completely randomized design with four replicates, each replicate with four flowers. After the treatment, the flowers were stored for 12 days at 10±1 oC and 85±5% RH. At every two-days intervals the flower petals were visually evaluated for wilting and darkening according to a hedonic scale varying from 1 (less intense) to 5 (more intense). Petal color was ranked from 1 (intense pink) to 5 (white). The 1-MCP at 500 nL L-1 and the salicylic acid (regardless of the dose) delayed the changes of petal color for up to eight and six days of storage, respectively. Flowers treated with salicylic acid, 1-MCP or ascorbic acid had a more substantial delay in petal wilting. Flowers treated with salicylic acid had wilting rank of 2 after six days of storage when treated with doses of 5% or 10%, and after eight days when treated with the dose of 2%, while flowers treated with 1-MCP at 500 and 1,000 nL L-1 and ascorbic acid at 2% and 5% had wilting rank of 2 after four days of storage. The most substantial delay of petal darkening (until the fourth day of storage) was achieved with 1-MCP at 500 nL L-1.

Index terms
Acca sellowiana Berg.; edible flowers; petal wilting; petal browning; petal color

RESUMO

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a manutenção da qualidade pós-colheita de flores de goiabeira-serrana (Acca sellowiana Berg), em resposta ao tratamentocom soluções conservantes e 1-metilciclopropeno (1-MCP). As flores recém-abertas de goiabeira-serrana foram colhidas no início da manhã (entre 8 e 10 h) e submetidas a “pulsing” com soluções conservantes de ácido salicílico, ácido ascórbico e sacarose, todas nas doses de 0 (testemunha), 2, 5 e 10%, e aplicação de 1-MCP nas doses de 0 (testemunha), 250; 500 e 1.000 nL L-1. Cada ensaio com solução conservante ou de tratamento com 1-MCP consistiu em experimento distinto, segundo delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições, cada repetição com quatro flores. Após o tratamento, as flores foram armazenadas durante 12 dias a 10±1 oC e 85±5% UR, e as pétalas avaliadas visualmente, em intervalos de dois dias, quanto a murcha e escurecimento, em uma escala de 1 (pouco acentuado) a 5 (muito acentuado), e de cor, numa escala de 1 (rosa intenso) a 5 (branco). O 1-MCP na dose de 500 nL L-1 e o ácido salicílico, independentemente da dose, prolongaram a manutenção da cor das pétalas por oito e seis dias de armazenamento, respectivamente. A murcha das pétalas também foi menor nos tratamentos com ácido salicílico, 1-MCP ou ácido ascórbico; flores tratadas com ácido salicílico passaram para 2 na escala evolutiva, no sexto dia nas doses de 5 e 10%, e no oitavo dia na dose de 2%; enquanto em flores tratadas com 1-MCP nas doses de 500 e 1.000 nL L-1 e ácido ascórbico nas doses de 2 e 5%, isto ocorreu no quarto dia de armazenamento. O maior retardo no escurecimento das pétalas (até o quarto dia de armazenamento) foi obtido com 500 nL L-1 de 1-MCP.

Termos para indexação
Acca sellowiana Berg.; flor comestível; murchamento de pétalas; escurecimento de pétalas; cor de pétalas

INTRODUCTION

The feijoa [Acca sellowiana (Berg.) Burret, synonymous Feijoa sellowiana (Berg.)], also known as pineapple guava, “goiabeira-serrana” (in Brazil) and “guayabo del pais” (in Uruguay), belongs to the Myrtaceae family and it is native to the Brazilian southern plateau and northeastern Uruguay (THORP; BIELESKI, 2002 THORP, T. G.; BIELESKI, R. L. Feijoas: origins, cultivation and uses. New Zealand: David Bateman Publishing, 2002. 87 p. ). In southern Brazil, the specie is well acclimated to wintry climates with occurrence predominating at altitudes above 800 m in wooded areas and in Araucaria forests (HICKEL; DUCROQUET, 2000 HICKEL, E. R.; DUCROQUET, J. P. J. Polinização entomófila da goiabeira serrana, Feijoa sellowiana (Beg), em Santa Catarina. Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura, Jaboticabal, v.22, n.1, p.96-101, 2000. ). It is a shrub or small tree, which features ornamental characteristic by the elegance of blue-green canopy and beauty of its flowers, which can be used in urban or residential ornamentation. In addition to the fruits, the petals of the flowers can be consumed (decoration of dishes, salads, sweets) since they have a pleasant taste and intense color. The flowers consist of four to six fleshy petals, rose-colored in the inside and waxy on the outside, with scarlet stamens reaching up to 2 cm above the flower, and slightly thickened stigma (HICKEL; DUCROQUET, 2000 HICKEL, E. R.; DUCROQUET, J. P. J. Polinização entomófila da goiabeira serrana, Feijoa sellowiana (Beg), em Santa Catarina. Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura, Jaboticabal, v.22, n.1, p.96-101, 2000. ; BELOUS et al., 2014 BELOUS, O.; OMAROV, M.; OMAROVA, Z. Chemical composition of fruits of a feijoa (Feijoa. sellowiana) in the conditions of subtropics of Russia. Scientific Journal for Food Industry, Nitrianske Hrnciarovce, v.8, n.1, p.119-123, 2014. ).

In southern Brazil, the feijoa plant blossoms between October and January (DUCROQUET; HICKEL, 1991 DUCROQUET, J.P.H.H.; HICKEL, E.R. Fenologia da goiabeira serrana (Feijoa sellowiana Berg) no Alto Vale do Rio do Peixe. Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura, Jaboticabal, v.13, n.3, p.313-321, 1991. ) and petal taste changes according to the different stages of anthesis (SAZIMA ; SAZIMA ,2007 SAZIMA, I.; SAZIMA, M. Petiscos florais: pétalas de Acca sellowiana (Myrtaceae) como fonte alimentar para aves em área urbana no Sul do Brasil. Biota Neotropica, São Paulo, v.7, n.2, p.307-311, 2007. ). The flowers for direct or indirect (dish decoration) human consumption should be harvested at the time when the petals are entirely colored (wide open and exposing the numerous anthers and the stigma) (THORP; BIELESKI, 2002 THORP, T. G.; BIELESKI, R. L. Feijoas: origins, cultivation and uses. New Zealand: David Bateman Publishing, 2002. 87 p. ; ). With DUCROQUET; HICKEL, 1991 DUCROQUET, J.P.H.H.; HICKEL, E.R. Fenologia da goiabeira serrana (Feijoa sellowiana Berg) no Alto Vale do Rio do Peixe. Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura, Jaboticabal, v.13, n.3, p.313-321, 1991. senescence, the petals of feijoa flowers lose their color, switching from intense rose to purple and, ultimately, turning white and not being appropriate anymore for consumption.

Birds feed on feijoa petals promoting flowers pollination (SAZIMA;SAZIMA, 2007 SAZIMA, I.; SAZIMA, M. Petiscos florais: pétalas de Acca sellowiana (Myrtaceae) como fonte alimentar para aves em área urbana no Sul do Brasil. Biota Neotropica, São Paulo, v.7, n.2, p.307-311, 2007. ), but little is known about the benefits of human consumption of the flowers. Flowers of many species are primarily used for therapeutical and/or medicinal purpose, such as Tropaeolum majus, Calendula officinalis, Rosa spp., Viola odorata, Viola tricolor, Taraxacum officinale, Sambucus nigra, Borago officinalis, Robinia pseudoaccacia, Malva sylvestris, Tagetes erecta, Cosmos sulphureus, Antigonon leptopus, Bouganvillea glabra, Salvia splendens, Camelia japonica, Bauhinia purpurea and Allamanda cathartica (SANGALLI et al., 2007 SANGALLI, A.; SCALON, S. de P.Q.; CARVALHO, J.C.L. de. Perda de massa de flores de capuchinha após armazenamento. Horticultura Brasileira, Brasília, v.25, n.3, p.471-474, 2007. ; KAISOON et al., 2011 KAISOON, O.; SIRIAMORNPUN, S.; WEERAPREEYAKUL, N.; MEESO, N. Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities of edible flowers from Thailand. Journal of Functional Foods, Dallas, v.3, n.2, p.88-99, 2011. ,MLCEK; ROP, 2011 MLCEK, J.; ROP, O. Fresh edible flowers of ornamental plants - A new source of nutraceutical foods. Trends in Foods Science & Technology, Amsterdam, v.22, n.10, p.561-569, 2011. ; LI et al., 2014 LI, A.; LI, S.; LI, H.; XU, D.; XU, X.; CHEN, F. Total phenolic contents and antioxidant capacities of 51 edible and wild flowers. Journal of Functional Foods, Dallas, v.6, n.1, p.319-330, 2014. ).

The flowers in general are highly perishable and longevity has a relevant role in determining their marketing value (MANSOURI, 2012 MANSOURI, H. Salicylic acid and sodium nitroprusside improve postharvest life of Chrysanthemums. Scientia Horticulturae, Amsterdam, v.145, n.2, p.29-33, 2012. ).Shelf life of flowers can be extended by providing sugars (to replace carbohydrates consumed by the respiration) (ELHINDI, 2012 ELHINDI, K.M. Evaluation of several holding solutions for prolonging vase-life and keeping quality of cut sweet pea flowers (Lathyrus odoratus L.). Saudi Journal of Biological Science, Riyadh, v.19, n.2, p.195-202, 2012. ), by refrigeration (to reduce physiological activity of tissues and pathogen development, consequently prolonging storage period) (MATTIUS et al., 2010 MATTIUZ, C.F.M.; RODRIGUES, T.J.D.; MATTIUZ, B.; MARTINS, R.N. Armazenamento refrigerado de inflorescências cortadas de Oncidium varicosum ‘Samurai’. Ciência Rural, Santa Maria, v.40, n.11, p.2289-2293, 2010. ), or by treatment with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP, an inhibitor of ethylene action) (PIETRO et al., 2010 PIETRO, J. de; MATTIUZ, B.; MATTIUZ, C.F.M. Influência do 1-MCP na conservação pós-colheita de rosas cv. Vega. Ciência e Agrotecnologia, Lavras, v.34, n.5, p.1176-1183, 2010. ).

Postharvest treatments with 1-MCP (PIETRO et al., 2010 PIETRO, J. de; MATTIUZ, B.; MATTIUZ, C.F.M. Influência do 1-MCP na conservação pós-colheita de rosas cv. Vega. Ciência e Agrotecnologia, Lavras, v.34, n.5, p.1176-1183, 2010. ; KOU et al., 2012 KOU, L.; TURNER, E.R.; LUO, Y. Extending the shelf life of edible flowers with controlled release of 1-methylcyclopropene and modified atmosphere packaging. Journal of Food Science and Technology, Mysore, v.77, n.5, p.188-193, 2012. ; BURANA et al., 2014 BURANA, C.; KUROKURA, T.; YAMAKI, Y.; YAMANE, K. Modified atmosphere (MA) and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) combination treatment extends the postharvest life of carnations. Environmental Control in Biology, Tokyo, v.52, n.3, p.131-136, 2014. ), sucrose (SANGALLI et al., 2007 SANGALLI, A.; SCALON, S. de P.Q.; CARVALHO, J.C.L. de. Perda de massa de flores de capuchinha após armazenamento. Horticultura Brasileira, Brasília, v.25, n.3, p.471-474, 2007. ; MONERUZZAMAN et al., 2010 MONERUZZAMAN, K.M; HOSSAIN, A.B.M.S.; AMRU, N.B.; SAIFUDIN, M.; IMDADUL, H.; WIRAKARNAIN, S. Effect of sucrose and kinetin on the quality and vase life of Bougainvillea glabra var. Elizabeth Angus bracts at different temperatures. Australian Journal of Crop Science, Inala, v.4, n.7, p.474-479, 2010. ), ascorbic acid (SANGALLI et al., 2007 SANGALLI, A.; SCALON, S. de P.Q.; CARVALHO, J.C.L. de. Perda de massa de flores de capuchinha após armazenamento. Horticultura Brasileira, Brasília, v.25, n.3, p.471-474, 2007. ) and salicylic acid (HATAMZADEH et al., 2012 HATAMZADEH, A.; HATAMI, M.; GHASEMNEZHAD, M. Efficiency of salicylic acid delay petal senescence and extended quality of cur spikes of Gladiolus grandiflora cv. “wing’s sensation”. African Journal of Agricultural Research, Nairobi, v.7, n.4, p.540-545, 2012. ; BAHRAMI et al., 2013) BAHRAMI, S.N.; ZAKIZADEH, H.; HAMIDOGHLI, Y.; GHASEMNEZHAD, M. Salicylic acid retards petal senescence in cut lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum 'Miarichi Grand White') flowers. Horticulture, Environment and Biotechnology, North Jeolla Province, v.54, n.6, p.519-523, 2013. have been applied to extend shelf life of cut flowers. However, as far as we know, there are no reports concerning the evaluation of such treatments to preserve feijoa flowers after harvest.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of different doses of sucrose, ascorbic acid, salicylic acid and 1-MCP on postharvest quality maintenance of feijoa flowers under refrigerated storage at 10±1 oC and 85± 5% RH.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Feijoa flowers were harvested at the germplasm bank located in the Estação Experimental de São Joaquim, from Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária e Extensão Rural (EPAGRI), state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil (28°16’40”S and 49°56’09”W, at an altitude of 1.400 m) in 2012, in the early morning (between 8h and 10h).

Flowers recently opened (phenological stage F1) (DUCROQUET; HICKEL, 1991 DUCROQUET, J.P.H.H.; HICKEL, E.R. Fenologia da goiabeira serrana (Feijoa sellowiana Berg) no Alto Vale do Rio do Peixe. Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura, Jaboticabal, v.13, n.3, p.313-321, 1991. ) were harvested, stored in trays containing water and immediately transported to the laboratory where the pedicels were cut to an uniform length.

The flowers were submitted to pulsing treatments with preservative solutions in polyethylene trays covered with transparent PVC film (total of four flowers/tray), with flowers pedicels maintained dipped in the preservative solutions of ascorbic acid, salicylic acid or sucrose, all of them at doses of 0 (control), 2, 5 and 10%, for six hours at ambient conditions (20±2 oC and 70±5% RH). Subsequently, the pulsing solutions in the trays were replaced by distilled water (to avoid desiccation). The trays with the flowers were stored for 12 days at 10±1 o C (determined in a preliminary study as the most adequate temperature to preserve feijoa flower quality) and 85±5% RH.

For treatment with 1-MCP, the flowers were maintained in polyethylene trays covered with a transparent PVC film (total of four flowers/tray) with the pedicels in contact with distilled water.

The flowers were exposed to 1-MCP (SmartFresh®) in 7.6 L hermetic chambers for six hours at ambient condition (20±2 oC and 70±5% RH), at concentrations of 0 (control), 250, 500 and 1,000 nL L-1. After treatment with 1-MCP, the trays with the flowers were stored for 12 days at 10±1 oC and 85±5% RH.

Six hours after the pulsing with the preservative solutions and treatment with 1-MCP, regarded as day zero of storage, flowers all the treatments received the first visual quality evaluation, as well as at every two days for up to 12 days of storage. Flowers were assessed for color, wilting and darkening of the petals with a hedonic scale varying from 1 to 5. Color was assessed on the adaxial (upper) face considering the following scale: 1) 100% pink; 2) 50% pink and 50% purple; 3) 100% purple; 4) 50% purple and 50% white and 5) 100% white.

Wilting and darkening of the petals were assessed considering the following scores: 1) none; 2) up to 25% of the petals with symptoms; 3) 26% to 50% of the petals with symptoms; 4) 51% to 75% of the petals with symptoms; and 5) more than 76% of the petals with symptoms.

Each trial with preservative solutions or 1-MCP treatment was considered a distinct experiment. The experiments followed a completely randomized design, with four replicates, each replicate with four flowers. Data were submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the SAS software (SAS INSTITUTE, 2002), and treatment means were compared by the Tukey’s test (p<0.05).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Flowers quality loss generally involves wilting, darkening, lesion caused by fungal infections and collapse/necrosis of petal tissues. At the beginning of the trials (day zero), petals exhibited a natural variation in color, but all treatments were scored as 1 for wilting and darkening of the petals (Figure 1 to Figure 4).

Changes in feijoa petals color are indicative of postharvest quality losses. Flowers are inappropriate for consumption after reaching a petal color close to white.

Sucrose and ascorbic acid treatments did not delay changes of petals color in comparison to the control (Figure 1A and Figure 2A).

Treatment with salicylic acid, regardless of concentration, delayed petal color change up to the sixth day of storage in comparison to the control (Figure 3A). In lysianthus, salicylic acid treatments prolonged flower quality by maintaining high activity of peroxide dismutase and reducing the activity of lipoxygenase (the enzyme that promotes lipid peroxidation), thus maintained color and turgidity of the flowers (BAHRAMI et al., 2013 BAHRAMI, S.N.; ZAKIZADEH, H.; HAMIDOGHLI, Y.; GHASEMNEZHAD, M. Salicylic acid retards petal senescence in cut lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum 'Miarichi Grand White') flowers. Horticulture, Environment and Biotechnology, North Jeolla Province, v.54, n.6, p.519-523, 2013. ). Therefore, color preservation in feijoa petals treated with salicylic acid might be related to the preservation of tissue antioxidant system.

Treatment with 1-MCP at 500 nL L-1 delayed petal color change for up to eighth day of storage in comparison to the control (Figure 4A).In roses cv. Vega, 1-MCP at 500 nL L-1 prolonged the red color of the petals and shelf life of the flowers for up to 19 days (PIETRO et al. 2010 PIETRO, J. de; MATTIUZ, B.; MATTIUZ, C.F.M. Influência do 1-MCP na conservação pós-colheita de rosas cv. Vega. Ciência e Agrotecnologia, Lavras, v.34, n.5, p.1176-1183, 2010. ). Color change of the petals in flowers is affected by the presence of either endogenous or exogenous ethylene. Therefore, 1-MCP binding to ethylene receptor inhibits the action of the phytohormone, delaying color changes of the petals.

Feijoa petals have an intense rose color (BELOUS et al., 2014 BELOUS, O.; OMAROV, M.; OMAROVA, Z. Chemical composition of fruits of a feijoa (Feijoa. sellowiana) in the conditions of subtropics of Russia. Scientific Journal for Food Industry, Nitrianske Hrnciarovce, v.8, n.1, p.119-123, 2014. ), which is an important visual characteristic to take in account since vivid and bright colors are preferred by the consumers, and loss of color devaluate the product quality. According to Mlcek and Rop (2011) MLCEK, J.; ROP, O. Fresh edible flowers of ornamental plants - A new source of nutraceutical foods. Trends in Foods Science & Technology, Amsterdam, v.22, n.10, p.561-569, 2011. , sensorial attributes such as size, aroma and color are the key quality criteria of edible flowers. According to the authors, anthocyanin and carotenoid produce vibrant colors, and these components have a high correlation with antioxidant activity in flowers.

Treatments with salicylic acid, ascorbic acid and 1-MCP delayed wilting of feijoa petals (Figure 2B,Figure 3B and Figure 4).

Salicylic acid at 2, 5 or 10% had the most significant effect to reduce petal wilting in comparison to the control along the entire evaluation period (Figure 3B). Flowers treated with salicylic acid had wilting score 2 after six days of storage when treated with doses of 5% or 10%, and after eight days when treated with 2%, while the control had score 2 on the fourth day.

The content of salicylic acid increases in the tissues under stress, and this compound acts as a signaling molecule inducing a series of reactions inherent to the defense systems in plants, triggering physiological responses such as increments in the activity of cyanide resistant oxidase (CRO) in the electron transport chain. The CRO is active when electron flow across the conventional electron chain is constrained by impairment of cytochrome c oxidase (cyanide sensitive) activity. CRO also reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) formed when the tissues are under stress (NIE et al., 2015 NIE, S.; YUE, H.; ZHOU, J.; XING, D. Mitochondrial-derived reactive oxygen species play a vital role in the salicylic acid signaling pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana. PloS One, San Francisco, v.10, n.3, p.1-25, 2015. ).

Salicylic acid also retards senescence in some plant species by the inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis and/or ethylene action, suppressing the activities of ACC synthase and ACC oxidase (HATAMZADEH et al., 2012 HATAMZADEH, A.; HATAMI, M.; GHASEMNEZHAD, M. Efficiency of salicylic acid delay petal senescence and extended quality of cur spikes of Gladiolus grandiflora cv. “wing’s sensation”. African Journal of Agricultural Research, Nairobi, v.7, n.4, p.540-545, 2012. ). Salicylic acid also reduces dehydration and respiratory activity, therefore reducing fresh weight losses of cut flowers. According to Hatamzadeh et al. (2012) HATAMZADEH, A.; HATAMI, M.; GHASEMNEZHAD, M. Efficiency of salicylic acid delay petal senescence and extended quality of cur spikes of Gladiolus grandiflora cv. “wing’s sensation”. African Journal of Agricultural Research, Nairobi, v.7, n.4, p.540-545, 2012. , pulsing with 0.15% salicylic acid reduced water loss and delayed senescence of gladiolus flower stalks. In chrysanthemum, salicylic acid at low concentrations (0.01% and 0.1%) prolonged vase life by preserving membrane stability and reducing lipid peroxidation (MANSOURIS, 2012 MANSOURI, H. Salicylic acid and sodium nitroprusside improve postharvest life of Chrysanthemums. Scientia Horticulturae, Amsterdam, v.145, n.2, p.29-33, 2012. ).Similar effect of low fresh weigh loss was reported in anthurium cv. Cheers also treated with low doses of salicylic acid and stored at 4 oC (PROMYOU et al., 2012 PROMYOU, S.; KETSA, S.; DOORN, W.G.V. Salicylic acid alleviates chilling injury in anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum L.) flowers. Postharvest Biology and Technology, Amsterdam, v.64, n.1, p.104-110, 2012. ).

In feijoa flowers, the wound caused by the harvest and their storage at low temperature represent a stress condition, and the exogenous supply of salicylic acid might potentialize the CRO activity, keeping cellular homeostasis and therefore delaying senescence.

Treatments with 1-MCP at the doses of 500 and 1,000 nL L-1 delayed petal wilting, with scores remaining below 2 for up to the fourth day of storage (Figure 4B). PIETRO et al. (2010) PIETRO, J. de; MATTIUZ, B.; MATTIUZ, C.F.M. Influência do 1-MCP na conservação pós-colheita de rosas cv. Vega. Ciência e Agrotecnologia, Lavras, v.34, n.5, p.1176-1183, 2010. reported similar results, with reduced fresh weight loss and preservation of flower turgidity in roses treated with 1-MCP at 500 nL L-1. According to Hastenreiter et al. (2006) HASTENREITER, A.F.; VIEIRA, Z.G.J.; FARIA, T.R.; Longevidade pós-colheita de flores de Oncidium varicosum (Orchidaceae). Ciências Agrárias, Londrina, v.27, n.1, p.27-34, 2006. , turgescence is required for bud flower development and to maintain flower metabolic activity after harvest.

In carnations and snapdragons, the combined effects of treatment with 1-MCP and storage under modified atmosphere (MA) reduced fresh weight loss during 14 days of storage at 5 oC (KOU et al., 2012 KOU, L.; TURNER, E.R.; LUO, Y. Extending the shelf life of edible flowers with controlled release of 1-methylcyclopropene and modified atmosphere packaging. Journal of Food Science and Technology, Mysore, v.77, n.5, p.188-193, 2012. ).

This was attributed to the reduction of ethylene action and respiration as result of the lower partial pressure of oxygen and higher partial pressure of carbon dioxide under MA.

Treatments with ascorbic acid at the doses of 2% and 5% delayed feijoa petal wilting up to the sixth day of storage (Figure 2B). The most noticeable petal wilting delay during this period was achieved at the dose of 5%, with wilting score below 3. Bedour and Rawia (2011) BEDOUR, A.A.; RAWIA, A.E. Improving gladiolus growth, flower keeping quality by using some vitamin aplication. Journal of American Science, New York, v.7, n.3, p.169-174, 2011. reported preservation of relative water content and prolonged vase life of gladiolus treated with ascorbic acid at 0.2%. Ascorbic acid is an enzymatic cofactor, an antioxidant and an electron donor/receptor at the plasmalemma and internal membrane of chloroplasts. High endogenous levels of ascorbic acid support the antioxidant system and protects the tissues from oxidative damages (CHERUTH, 2009 CHERUTH, A.J. Changes in non enzimatyic anti oxidation and ajmalicine production in Catharanthus roseus with different soil salinity regimes. Botany Research International, Dubai, v.2, n.1, p.1-6, 2009. ).

Treatments with sucrose did not prevent petal wilting, and even increased wilting at the highest doses of 5% and 10% in comparison to the control (Figure 1B). Treatment with sucrose might have no effect or even can cause an adverse effect on flowers quality preservation (SANGALLI et al., 2007 SANGALLI, A.; SCALON, S. de P.Q.; CARVALHO, J.C.L. de. Perda de massa de flores de capuchinha após armazenamento. Horticultura Brasileira, Brasília, v.25, n.3, p.471-474, 2007. ). In flower of Viburnum tinus, the treatment with sucrose at doses of 1-2% plasmolyzed the cells and caused collapse of flower tissues (DARRAS et al., 2010 DARRAS, A.I.; AKOUMIANAKI-IOANNIDOU, A.; POMPADAKIS, N.E. Evaluation and improvement of pos-harvest performanceof cut Viburnun tinus inflorescence. Scientia Horticulturae, Amsterdam, v.124, n.2, p.376-380, 2010. ).

Therefore, future work should test lower doses of sucrose (<2%) to preserve feijoa flowers without affecting the water relations in the petals.

Treatments with sucrose, ascorbic acid and salicylic acid did not delay darkening of petals in comparison to the control (Figure 1C, Figure 2C and Figure 3C).

Feijoa flowers treated with ascorbic acid and sucrose (regardless of doses) had higher petal darkening scores in comparison to the control until the fourth and eighth days of storage, respectively. Only 1-MCP at 500 nL L-1 delayed petal darkening until the fourth day of storage. Similar results were reported by Pietro et al. (2010) PIETRO, J. de; MATTIUZ, B.; MATTIUZ, C.F.M. Influência do 1-MCP na conservação pós-colheita de rosas cv. Vega. Ciência e Agrotecnologia, Lavras, v.34, n.5, p.1176-1183, 2010. , with roses treated with 1-MCP at 250 and 500 nL L-1.

Petal darkening might be caused by several factors, such as oxidation of phenolic compounds (especially anthocyanins), water stress (PIETRO et al., 2012 PIETRO, J. de; MATTIUZ, B.; MATTIUZ, C.F.M.; RODRIGUES, T.J.D. Qualidade de rosas de corte tratadas com produtos naturais. Ciência Rural, Santa Maria, v.42, n.10, p.1781-1788, 2012. ) and electrolyte leakage (PHETSIRIKOON et al., 2012 PHETSIRIKOON, S.; KETSA, S.; DOORN, W.G. VAN. Chilling injury in Dendrobium inflorescences is alleviated by 1-MCP treatment. Postharvest Biology and Technology, Amsterdam, v.67, n.1, p.144-153, 2012. ). Electrolyte leakage results from ethylene action impairing membrane selective permeability after harvest, leading to darkening of tissues caused by the action of polyphenoloxidases (PPOs) on polyphenols, and finally cell death (PHETSIRIKOON et al., 2012 PHETSIRIKOON, S.; KETSA, S.; DOORN, W.G. VAN. Chilling injury in Dendrobium inflorescences is alleviated by 1-MCP treatment. Postharvest Biology and Technology, Amsterdam, v.67, n.1, p.144-153, 2012. ).

1-MCP might reduce electrolyte leakage.

Snapdragons and carnations stored under MA and treated with 1-MCP had lower electrolyte leakage after 14 days of storage in comparison to the control and to flowers stored under MA without treatment with 1-MCP (KOU et al., 2012 KOU, L.; TURNER, E.R.; LUO, Y. Extending the shelf life of edible flowers with controlled release of 1-methylcyclopropene and modified atmosphere packaging. Journal of Food Science and Technology, Mysore, v.77, n.5, p.188-193, 2012. ). In inflorescences of Dendrobium stored at 5 oC, the treatment with 1-MCP at 100 nL L-1 reduced electrolyte leakage in flower buds as well in open flowers.

Flower petals have a high surface/volume ratio and therefore are highly sensitive to dehydration (KOU et al., 2012 KOU, L.; TURNER, E.R.; LUO, Y. Extending the shelf life of edible flowers with controlled release of 1-methylcyclopropene and modified atmosphere packaging. Journal of Food Science and Technology, Mysore, v.77, n.5, p.188-193, 2012. ). The treatment with 1-MCP at 500 nL L-1 was the most effective to preserve cell turgidity and therefore delaying petal darkening by reducing water stress. Positive effects of 1-MCP in darkening delay might be also associated to the reduction of phenolic compounds oxidation, which takes place under stress conditions (DOORN; WOLTERING, 2008 DOORN, W.G.V.; WOLTERING, E.J. Physiology an molecular biology of petal senescence. Journal of Experimental Botany, Oxford, v.59, n.3, p.453-480, 2008. ).

FIGURE 1
Effects of different concentrations of sucrose on color attributes (A), wilting (B) and darkening (C) of feijoa petals during refrigerated storage at 10±1 oC / 85±5% RH. Bars in the figures indicate minimal significative differences calculated by Tukey test at p<0.05.
FIGURE 2
Effects of different concentrations of ascorbic acid on color attributes (A), wilting (B) and darkening (C) of feijoa petals during refrigerated storage at 10±1 oC / 85±5% RH. Bars in the figures indicate minimal significative differences calculated by Tukey test at p<0.05.
FIGURE 3
Effects of different concentrations of salicylic acid on color attributes (A), wilting (B) and darkening (C) of feijoa petals during refrigerated storage at 10±1 oC / 85±5% RH. Bars in the figures indicate minimal significative differences calculated by Tukey test at p<0.05.
FIGURE 4
Effects of different concentrations of salicylic acid on color attributes (A), wilting (B) and darkening (C) of feijoa petals during refrigerated storage at 10±1 oC / 85±5% RH. Bars in the figures indicate minimal significative differences calculated by Tukey test at p<0.05.

CONCLUSIONS

Feijoa flowers treated with 1-MCP at 500 nL L-1 and salicylic acid at 2, 5 and 10% have a better preservation of petals rose color during cold storage.

Treatments with salicylic acid at 2%, 1-MCP at 500 nL L-1, and ascorbic acid at 5% delay feijoa petal wilting during cold storage. The treatment with 1-MCP at 500 nL L-1 is the most effective to delay petal darkening of feijoa flowers.

AKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), the Santa Catarina State Rural Extension and Agricultural Research Enterprise (EPAGRI)/ Experimental Station of São Joaquim, and the Federal Institute of Santa Catarina, for financial support of this research.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    2016

History

  • Received
    16 Apr 2015
  • Accepted
    09 Sept 2015
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