Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2026
Impact of pre-harvest methyl jasmonate applications on shelf-life improvement of strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) under semi-arid condition of Bundhelkhand,India
The experiment was conducted to assess the impact of pre-harvest methyl-jasmonate (MeJA) sprays on fruit quality retention and storability of strawberry under semi-arid condition of Bundhelkhand, India. MeJA was sprayed on strawberry plants at 2.5–10 μM concentration during 2023 and 2024 in four different growth phases [45, 45 + 60, 45 + 75 and 45 + 90 days after planting (DAP)]. After harvesting, the fruit were stored at 8°C temperature with 85–90% relative humidity. Two pre-harvest MeJA sprays at 45 + 75 DAP with 5.0–10 μM concentration had minimum physiological weight loss (2.61–2.65%) with least spoilage (10.00%) in the stored strawberry fruit at 9th day of storage. Applications of same concentration of MeJA at 45 + 75 DAP was also found significant for retaining the biochemical attributes of the stored strawberry fruit till 9th day of storage; although a sharp decline in fruit quality attributes were observed in control fruit from 6th day onward. Peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity in the fruit on 9th day of storage was also recorded minimum under two pre-harvest MeJA sprays at 45 + 75 DAP with 5.0–10 μM concentration with maximum catalase and phenylalanine amino-lyase activity. Hence, it can be recommended that pre-harvest applications of 5.0 μM methyl jasmonate at 45 and again at 75 DAP followed by refrigerated storage of ripe strawberry fruit is effective for improving the shelf life of strawberry cv. ‘Winter Dawn’ up to 9 days under semi-arid ecosystem of Bundhelkhand, India.
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