Ripening and cold storage of the wild plum cultivar Prunus divaricate Ledeb - a study of physiological parameters
2015
Martinez-Madrid, M. C. | Garcia-Legaz, M. F. | Lopez-Gomez, E. | Sanchez-Bel, P. | Egea, I. | Pretel, M. T.
Prunus divaricata Ledeb is a wild species native to the Hyrcanian floral province which stretches along the south shores of the Caspian Sea and extends from northern Iran to southeastern Azerbaijan. This region is exceptionally rich in wild plants and is considered an evolutionary center for fruit trees worldwide. However, recent human disturbances are increasing, along with a consequent loss of biodiversity. Their edible fruits have been cultivated in family orchards along the coast of the Caspian Sea for years. This wild species has a high potential for domestication, and yet, there are no studies about the ripening and storage of its fruits. This paper addresses the study of the behavior of the P. divaricata fruit during storage. It aims to provide information about the potential of this fruit in the agroindustry and to contemplate its possible inclusion in programs for economic development and the improvement of living conditions in rural areas. Some physiological characteristics were analyzed over a period of five weeks storage at 20 and 5°C. Once exposure to cold was completed and after a period of conditioning to room temperature all the analyses were made to determine the possible appearance of damage from cold. The results obtained show that this plum cultivar has no symptoms of chilling injury. Furthermore, in this study information about ethylene production, firmness and color evolution during cold storage and different periods of reconditioning are presented. These results represent a basis for further studies about the nutritional, metabolic and anti-oxidant characteristics of this fruit. The cultivation recovery of this cultivar would contribute to maintaining the biodiversity and genetic diversity of the agricultural system and its surroundings.
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