Abstract

ALVAREZ-ARMENTA, Rosario et al. Preharvest application of gibberellic acid and wax at postharvest in fruit of mexican lime. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2010, vol.1, n.1, pp.95-100. ISSN 2007-0934.

This work was conducted during 2006 in a commercial orchard located in Tecomán, Colima, Mexico, in order to determine the effect of preharvest application of gibberellic acid (GA₃) to mexican lime fruits. Sprays with 10 mg L^-1 gibberellic acid, were made 3, 2, 1 and 0 times to developing fruits at 64, 78 and 92 days after anthesis. In addition, a day after harvest, a carnauba wax cover was applied to half of the fruits from each treatment. The effect of the growth regulator and carnauba wax on lemon fruits was evaluated at the end of the period of refrigerated storage at 9 °C for 35 days and exposure for 7 days at 20 °C to simulate marketing conditions. The parameters used to determine the action of exogenous growth regulators were: color index, total soluble solids (ºBx), acidity, ascorbic acid and weight loss. Our results showed that treatment 30 mg L^-1 GA₃ + wax, maintained better quality characteristics of the lemon fruits at the end of two storage periods. So, the regulatory and wax combination delayed senescence, mainly during the first 35 days of storage under refrigeration. After this period, all treatments showed a reduction in vitamin C and marked changes in the fruit coloration.

Keywords : Citrus aurantifolia Swingle (Christm); carnauba wax; gibberellic acid; postharvest life; refrigeration.

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