Effects of Modified Atmosphere Packaging and Methyl Jasmonate Treatments on Fruit Quality and Bioactive Compounds of Apricot Fruit during Cold Storage

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) [0.5 and 1.0 mmol L-1] and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) treatments on weight loss, respiration rate, firmness, colour, soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity, vitamin C, total phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant capacity (DPPH and FRAP assay) of apricot fruit (Prunus armeniaca) during cold storage. Fruit were stored at 0 +/- 0.5 degrees C and 90 +/- 5% relative humidity (RH) for 20 days, and analysis and measurements were performed at 5-day intervals. At the end of cold storage, the lowest weight loss was determined in fruit stored with the MAP following MeJA1 application. The lowest respiration rates were determined in fruits stored with the MAP following MeJA1 or MeJA2 treatment. The softening of fruit stored without the MAP or MAP was significantly delayed with the MeJA. The fruit stored without the MAP or MAP following MeJA2 treatment had the highest vitamin C at the end of storage period. MAP treatments had greater total phenolic and total flavonoids and antioxidant capacity than the treatment without MAP regardless of MeJA applications. At the end of storage, the highest total phenolic and antioxidant capacity were determined in fruits stored in the MAP following MeJA2 application. It was concluded that MAP and MeJA2 treatments could be used as an efficient postharvest tool to minimize quality losses throughout the cold storage period.