Systemic resistance induction in ‘Ortanique’ tangor

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the quality of ‘Ortanique’ tangor, in the post-harvest and refrigerated storage after application of pre-harvest resistance inducers, in the 2015 and 2016 crops. The experimental design in the field was in completely randomized blocks, in a single factorial scheme. The treatment factor was composed of the following resistance inducers [without inducer, selenium (Se), silicon (Si), acibenzolar-s-methyl (ASM), methyl jasmonate (MeJa), thiamethoxam (TMT) and imidacloprid (IMI)]. In the laboratory, the design used was the same as that established in the field, but in a two-factorial scheme, where factor A was composed of the same inducers and factor B, for the storage period [zero (fruits that were not submitted to storage) and 30 days (Cold chamber 5±1°C, relative humidity 85 to 95%)], with simulation of the commercialization time (7 days at 20±1°C). The following analysis were performed: coloration (L *, a *, b * and hue), fresh mass loss, rot index, soluble solids (SS), pH, titratable acidity (TA), SS/TA ratio, ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity. The application of resistance inducers reduces the percentage of fresh mass loss and fruit rot after 30 days of refrigerated storage. Inducers keep phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity, both in pulp and fruit peel, over the storage period. The inducers Si, MeJa and IMI provide phytochemicals improvement, when compared to the control.