Harvest and postharvest quality of sweet cherry are improved by pre-harvest benzyladenine and benzyladenine plus gibberellin applications

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of pre-harvest benzyladenine (BA) and BA plus gibberellin (GA(4+7)) treatments on fruit quality attributes of '0900 Ziraat' cherry at harvest and after cold storage. '0900 Ziraat' cherry trees were sprayed with BA (50, 100, and 150 mg.L-1) and BA + GA(4+7) (12.5, 25, and 50 mg.L-1) when fruit was at their straw-yellow color stage. All of the treated fruit were significantly firmer than control fruit. Fruit treated with 25 and 50 mg.L-1 BA + GA(4+7) and 50 and 150 mg.L-1 BA had significantly higher soluble solids content (SSC) than untreated fruit. Sweet cherry trees treated with the optimum concentration of BA + GA(4+7) (50 mg.L-1) yielded fruit with 15.17% greater weight, 9.0% higher firmness and 13.6% higher SSC. Additional samples were harvested, placed in plastic bags, and stored at 4 degrees C for 30 days. At the end of the cold storage period, fruit treated with 25 and 50 mg.L-1 BA + GA(4+7) and 50 and 150 mg.L-1 BA were significantly firmer than the control. 50 mg.L-1 BA + GA(4+7)-treated fruit had higher SSC than untreated ones. In conclusion, fruit treated with the optimum dose of BA + GA(4+7) (50 mg.L-1) were larger and firmer than untreated fruit at harvest and this concentration had the best effects. Most of the treated fruit maintained a superior firmness and quality to control fruit during cold storage.