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Abstract

To determine the effect of postharvest treatments on ripening and quality of date fruits ethephon, sodium chloride, acetic acid and thier combination were applied to the Mazafati date fruits in Our study. Fruits of the Mazafati date cultivar were harvested at the end of khalal stage from a commercial orchard in Barn, Iran. Immediately after harvest, fruits were washed and fumigated by methyl bromide gas and then were treated by ethephon (0, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 ppm), acetic acid (2%), sodium chloride (2%), and combination of the last two compounds (acetic acid 2% + sodium chloride 2%). Fruits were dipped in ethephon and sprayed by other compounds. Treated fruits were stored at 38 to 40 , RH=85 to 90% for 72 hrs. and then transferred to the cold storage (0±1 , RH =85 to 90%) for 3 months. Ethephon significantly increased total soluble solids (TSS) proportional to the concentration of etbephon. Ethephon had no significant effect on other parameters. Sodium chloride, acetic acid both at 2% and their combinations significnantly increased TSS, reduced fruit firmness and moisture content of the fruits. Acetic acid at 2% had better effect on fruit ripening as compared with sodium chloride, but fruits that were treated by sodium chloride had better appearence quality. In both experiments, storage of treated fruits at 38 to 40 , RH=85 to 90% for 3 days significantly induced ripening, increased TSS and decreased fruit firmness. Treated fruits after 3 months of storage at 0±1 , RH85 to 90% had very good edible and appearence quality. Generally it is concluded that treatment of date fruits at the end of khalal stage by sodium chloride at 2% and storage at 38 to 40 c and RH85 to 90% for 3 days is a fast and economical method for artificial ripening of Mazafati dates.

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