Influence of preharvest ethephon spray on fruit quality and chemical attributes of ‘cigany’ sour cherry cultivar

Abstract

Influences of preharvest ethephon spray on fruit quality attributes and certain nutritional compounds of ‘Cigany’ sour cherry (Prunus cerasus) were investigated. Trees were sprayed with 250 ppm ethephon one week before anticipated commercial harvest. Fruits from ethephon-sprayed trees had significantly lower soluble solids concentration (SSC), anthocyanin content, antioxidant activity, and firmness than those from non-sprayed control. The ethephon spray did not affect total phenolic content, although its content tended to be higher in fruits from non-treated control. Titratable acidity (TA), pH and SSC/TA ratio were not affected by ethephon spray. There was a significantly positive correlation between anthocyanin content and SSC (r = 0.99).