Postharvest treatments for the control of physiological and pathological alterations in lemon fruit

This study evaluated the effect of innovative post-harvest chemical treatments. The chemicals used in this study were supplied by PRODUCTOS CITROSOL S.A. (Valencia, Spain). Physiological and pathological disorders of lemons (Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck) are the main causes of quality losses during commercial life, leading to large economic losses. Materials and methods30s dips were carried out to control rot, chilling injury and red blotch in lemons. The following products and their combinations were used: - Fortisol Ca (35.5% of a mixture of water-soluble salts of calcium (CaO), potassium (K2O) and phosphorus (P2O5), - Fortisol Ca Plus (29.3% of a mixture of water-soluble salts of calcium (CaO), sodium (Na2O) and phosphorus (P2O5)). - Philabuster 400 SC (PHI; Imazalil 20% w/v + Pyrimethanil 20% w/v) - Orthocil (ORT; 2-phenylphenol 10% w/v). The influence of a pre-harvest application of Fortisol Ca (1%) on the trees was also studied. Lemons washed with drinking water were used as control fruit (CTRL). The lemons were stored for 33 days at 7 °C, which simulated a long storage and transport period, followed by 5 days at 22 °C retail period, then simulating a long shelf life. ResultsThe PHI + ORT treatment completely prevented pathological disorders after both shelf-life periods. FoCa and FoCaPlus reduced chilling injury and red blotch. The incidence of such physiological disorders was even further reduced when combined treatments of FoCa and FoCaPlus with PHI + ORT were used. In particular, the combination of PHI + ORT + FoCaPlus completely prevented the incidence of chilling injury and red blotch. ConclusionsA combined postharvest treatment of PHI + ORT with FoCa / FoCaPlus reduced or even prevented physiological disorders (chilling injury and red blotch), minimising weight losses in lemons during long storage and transport and retail periods, extending their shelf life. SourceGinés Martínez H.;Francisco Artés H.;Francisco Artés: Post-harvesting and Refrigeration Group, Department of Agronomic Engineering, Polytechnic University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Murcia, Spain. Ginés Martínez H.; Francisco Artés H.; Perla Gómez; Francisco Artés: Institute of Plant Biotechnology, Polytechnic University of Cartagena, Campus Muralla del Mar, Cartagena, Murcia, Spain. Jorge Bretó; Benito Orihuel I: Productos Citrosol S.A., Potríes, Valencia, Spain. Ginés Martínez H.; Francisco Artés H.; Perla Gómez; Jorge Bretó; Benito Orihuel I.; Francisco Artés. (2020) Revista de Citricultura Eureka, 1(1).