Abstract: In order to determine the optimal conditions for preserving postharvest strawberry fruits by hot air coupled with methyl jasmonate (MeJA), the effects of different combinatorial treatments on fruit decay and major quality parameters were investigated by response surface methodology (RSM). The results indicated that the optimal preservation conditions were treatment temperature of 45.18 ℃, treatment time of 2.86 h and MeJA concentration of 10.74 μmol/L. Validation experiments indicated that the optimal combinatorial treatment was more effective in inhibiting fruit decay and maintaining quality than hot air or MeJA alone.

Key words: strawberry fruit, preservation, hot air, methyl jasmonate, combinatorial treatment