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Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is involved in multiple functions in plants. However, its role in some metabolic pathways and exogenous application’s effect on fruits is still unclear. Furthermore, the effects of pre-storage melatonin treatment on sensory traits and consumer acceptance of cherries have yet to be studied. For this reason, the early sweet cherry cultivar ‘Samba’ harvested at the commercial ripening stage was treated with different melatonin concentrations (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 mmol L−1) and stored for 21 days under controlled cold temperature and humidity. The standard quality, respiration rate, postharvest aptitude, sensory quality, phenols, and antioxidant systems (non-enzymatic and enzymatic) were analysed at 14 and 21 days of storage. Postharvest treatment with melatonin 0.5 mmol L−1 improved firmness and reduced weight loss and non-commercial fruit percentage while increasing respiration rate, lipophilic antioxidant activity, and ascorbate peroxidase enzyme activity. Furthermore, the treated cherries showed better sensory qualities, such as uniformity of colour and skin colour, as well as being sourer and showing better consumer acceptance and liking after 14 days of storage. Therefore, we conclude that the 0.5 mmol L−1 concentration is effective on the standard, sensory, and bioactive quality of early sweet cherries and can be considered an eco-friendly tool for maintaining the postharvest quality of early cherries.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the fruit development, the quality at harvest and the shelf-life changes of three apricot cultivars—‘Spring Blush’, ‘Robada’, and ‘Kioto’—produced in the conditions of the Southwest Iberian Peninsula. Pomological characteristics and global quality (colour, firmness, total soluble solids, and total acidity) were weekly evaluated during fruit growth and ripening. Apricots were harvested at commercial ripening, and six and three days before, were tested for each harvest on the harvesting day and after three and five days of shelf-life at 20 °C, evaluating chlorophyll and carotenoids content and sensory quality. ‘Spring Blush’ was the earliest cultivar with a small calibre, and the change in colour was found to depend more on the evolution during the shelf-life than on the harvest date; although the panellists rated it well, it presented a significant lack of firmness for successful marketing. ‘Robada’ was the cultivar with the lowest evolution of colour, sugar and acid content, and it was the worst valued by tasters. In ‘Kioto’, differences in soluble solids, acidity, and colour were of high importance in the last days of development on the tree. ‘Kioto’ was the cultivar that showed the largest fruit size and colouring during the ripening on the tree, as well as the one with the highest overall quality that improves during shelf-life.

Plum is one of the most produced stone fruits worldwide. Melatonin is an environmentally eco-friendly substance that, in low concentrations, activates defence systems against biotic and abiotic stresses. This substance is considered a tool that could increase fruit quality. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different preharvest foliar applications with different melatonin concentrations (0.1, 0.3, 0.5 mmol L−1) to enhance melatonin content and shelf life of ‘Primetime’ plum. To this purpose, two and three applications were carried out at different critical stages of fruit growth. Different quality characteristics such as size, colour, titratable acidity, total soluble solids, ripening index, respiration rate, ethylene production rate, anthocyanins and total antioxidant activity, as well as endogenous melatonin content, were tested at harvest and after 40 days of cold storage. Results showed that ‘Primetime’ plums that received 3 applications of 0.5 mmol L−1 enhanced endogenous melatonin content at harvest and showed less softening, delayed darkening, higher anthocyanin concentration and total antioxidant activity after 40 days of storage. Therefore, the concentration of 0.5 mmol L−1 melatonin in 3 applications was effective in improving the quality of ‘Primetime’ plums.

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