New Approaches in Fig Preservation: Use of Melatonin to Maintain Postharvest Quality of Fig (Ficus Carica L.) Fruit During Cold Storage

The storage and shelf life of the fig, which has a sensitive fruit structure, is short, and this results in too much economic losses. In the study carried out to contribute to the solution of this problem, the effect of postharvest melatonin application at different doses (0, 0.10, 0.25, 0.50 and 1.00 mM) on fruit quality characteristics and biochemical content during cold storage was determined. The weight loss and decay rates that increased with the prolongation of the cold storage period were lower in melatonin-treated fig fruit. Melatonin application delayed fruit softening. The soluble solids content (SSC) ratio in melatonin treated-fruit was lower, and melatonin was effective on titratable acidity (TA), but there were inconsistencies in the effect. It can be said that the effect of melatonin application on the decreasing phenolic compounds during cold storage is limited. The significant differences occurred between applications in terms of antioxidant capacity at the end of the cold storage. The highest values were recorded with the control application and the lowest values with the application of 0.10 mM melatonin. The decrease in the amount of individual phenolic compounds both during and at the end of cold storage was lower with melatonin applications. Melatonin application had an effect on flavonoid compounds during cold storage, but this effect varied depending on melatonin concentration and compound. Melatonin application was effective in the changes in the amount of organic acids during cold storage, and this effect varied depending on the species of organic acid and cold storage time. In the study, it was concluded that melatonin application can be used to maintain postharvest quality in fig.