Postharvest AminoethoxyVinylGlycine (AVG) Treatment Affects Maturity and Storage Life of Plum

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different concentrations (0, 100, 200 and 300 mg L-1) of postharvest AminoethoxyVinylGlycine (AVG) on fruit quality, chilling injury, and bioactive compounds in cold-stored plum fruit (Prunus salicina L. cv Friar). Fruit were stored at 0-1°C with 90±5% Relative Humidity (RH) for 60 days. Weight loss, flesh firmness, Soluble Solids Content (SSC), titratable acidity, total anthocyanin content, total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, respiration rate, and chilling injury were determined at the harvest and during the storage period at 15-day intervals. As compared to the control, AVG treatment delayed ripening and prolonged storage life, as indicated by prevented fruit softening, and retarded the increase in SSC. The 200 and 300 mg L-1 AVG treatments considerably reduced respiration rate and maintained higher bioactive compounds contents than other treatments. The severity of the chilling injury was reduced by AVG treatments compared to the control during storage. The results indicated that postharvest 200 and 300 mg L-1 AVG treatments could be an effective tool for prolonging storage of 'Friar' plums.