Abstract:

The objective of this work was to improve storage characteristics and develop a safe and environmental friendly
method for biological preservation of plum fruits (Prunus salicina). Jiang’an plums were immersed in aqueous secondary metabolic
compounds of Liquidambar formosana leaves before storage at 6 ℃ and measured for quality and physiological parameters
such as decay index, soluble solid content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), cell membrane permeability, malondialdehyde (MDA)
content and peroxidase (POD) activity at 5-day intervals during the storage. The results showed that different concentrations of the
secondary metabolic compounds effectively maintained the storage characteristics of plum fruits. After storage for 25 days, the
decreases in SSC, TA, relative SSC/TA ratio and fruit hardness were significantly inhibited as compared with those of the control,
and the increases in fruit decay index, cell membrane permeability, MDA content and POD activity were effectively controlled so
that the function and activity of the cell membrane could be maintained well. When the storage period was extended to 25 d, a significant
difference in all the tested parameters between the treatment and control groups (P ＜ 0.05), but no significant difference in most
of the parameters among different concentration groups were observed.

Key words: Liquidambar formosana leaves, secondary metabolic compounds, Pruns salicina, physiological properties