The Journal "Agriculture and Forestry"
Časopis "Poljoprivreda i šumarstvo"
- Since 1955 -
Year 2014, Volume 60 Issue 2
| Year : | 2014 |
| Volume : | 60 |
| Issue : | 2 |
| Authors : | Sharon ALKALIA-TUVIA, Aviv GOREN, Yaacov PERZELAN, Tamar WEINBERG and Elazar FALLIK |
| Title : | THE INFLUENCE OF COLORED SHADE NETS ON PEPPER QUALITY AFTER HARVEST – A POSSIBLE MODE-OF-ACTION |
| Abstract : | In previous studies, we have found that Pearl and Yellow shade nets significantly reduced pepper fruit rot development after harvest. The significant low decay incidence in fruit harvested under Pearl and Yellow shade nets was explained by the low inoculum level of Alternaria spp. in the field, and inhibition of fungal sporulation, and/or by slowing the fruit ripening during its growth, which reduces fruit susceptibility to fungal infection in the field due to the scattered light, its quality and the ratio between the light spectrum, under those two shade nets (Goren et al., 2011). Therefore, the goal of this research was to shed more light on the influence of Pearl shade net on postharvest quality of two different commercial red pepper bell cultivars (cv. Romans and Vergasa). Evaluation of fruit quality was based on chlorophyll, carotenoids and antioxidant content after prolonged storage and marketing simulation. No significant differences were observed in fruit weight loss, firmness and sugar content of the two cultivars under the different nettings. However, some differences were observed between the cultivars. Fruit from the two cultivars which were grown under Pearl shade net had significantly lower decay incidence compared to fruit harvested under commercial black net, particularly cv. Vergasa. Fruit chlorophyll content under Pearl net was higher than in fruit grown under the black shade net, and was significantly higher in Vergasa than in Romans. The carotenoids content was significantly higher under the commercial black net than under the Pearl net, and was significantly higher in Vergasa than in Romans immediately after harvest, storage and shelf life simulation. Immediately after harvest and after storage and marketing simulation, the antioxidant (AOX) activity in Vergasa was significantly higher than Romans in fruit harvested under both shade nets. A significant increase in AOX activity was measured in Vergasa fruit harvested under Pearl net after storage and marketing simulation in comparison to black net and all Romans fruit harvested. In conclusion, Pearl net's influence on ripening inhibition, in higher AOX activity and carotenoids content, could reduce decay in pepper fruit and maintain better fruit quality after harvest. |
| For citation : | Sharon ALKALIA-TUVIA, Aviv GOREN, Yaacov PERZELAN, Tamar WEINBERG and Elazar FALLIK (2014): Agriculture and Forestry, Vol. 60. Issue 2: 7-19, Podgorica |
| Keywords : | Capsicum annuum, postharvest, shelf life, storage |
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