Abstract:

Postharvest loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindley) fruits were treated with different concentrations of BTH solution and stored at normal temperature (22 ℃) or low temperature (3 ℃) for observing the occurrence of pathogenic diseases and changes in fruit quality. The results showed that BTH reduces the disease index of natural infection of loquats at normal temperature and lesion diameters of loquats inoculated with Colletotrichum acutatum. At the same time, BTH elevates the content of lignin and the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL)in peel of loquat, which implies that BTH activates the defense system of postharvest loquat. Moreover, compared with the control, BTH decreases pulp firmness, increases contents of total soluble solids and titrable acids at both of normal and low temperatures, which indicates that BTH has positive effects on postharvest fruit quality.

Key words: loquat, postharvest disease, quality, benzothiadiazole (BTH)