Good results with exogenous plant compound to enhance some crucial factors in artichoke

Preharvest treatments with exogenous plant compounds are cheaper and socially acceptable for improving plant food production and functionality. For that, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of methyl salicylate (MeSA), methyl jasmonate (MeJA), and oxalic acid (OA) treatments on harvest production, quality properties, respiration rate, antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds (phenolics) of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L), essential vegetable in the Mediterranean Diet. MeJA treatment was the best in terms of production, with the highest number of plants, and weight, number and size of artichokes. With regards to quality parameters after harvest, CIELAB color values were not significantly affected by treatments, as well as the texture of the artichokes. However, the respiration rate of the artichoke fruits (CO2 in mg/kg h) was lower in those treated than in control, which is beneficial to delay ripening. The HPLC-DAD-ESI(-)/MSn analysis of artichokes revealed a wide range of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (caffeic and dicaffeoylquinic acids), and luteolin glycosides, being identified as far as we are aware luteolin 7-O-glucuronide 3-O-glucoside for first time in artichoke. Although no statistical differences were found in phytochemical quantities (hydroxycinnamic acids and luteolins) between control and treatments, a slight increase in the phenolic amounts in the three treatments (MeSA, MeJA and OA) was observed. Moreover, the total hydrophilic antioxidant activity was higher in the treatments than in control, reaching the greatest values in MeJA. Therefore, it can be concluded that these preharvest treatments can enhance some crucial factors in artichoke, like harvest production, respiration rate, phenolic compounds or antioxidant characteristics, being MeJA the best treatment applied among all in these terms. SourcesInfluence of preharvest treatments with naturally-occurring compounds on yield, quality properties and phytochemical compounds in artichoke Daniel Valero, Amadeo Giron?s-Vilaplana, Fabi?n Guill?n, Alejandra Mart?nez-Espl?, M. Emma Garc?a Pastor, Domingo Mart?nez-Romero, Pedro J. ZapataUniversidad Miguel Hern?ndez, Carretera Beniel, km. 3.2, 3312 Orihuela, Spain VIII International Postharvest Symposium; Cartagena, Spain, 21-24 June 2016 Photo provided by?All Recipes