Effect of Postharvest Aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) Application on Fruit Quality of Asian Pear (Pyrus Pyrifolia cv. Hosui) During Cold Storage

The study conducted in order to assess the effect of the physiological regulator aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) as a post-harvest treatment on 'Hosui' Asian pear fruits during storage period. Fruits were dipped in AVG aqueous solutions (0, 100 and 200ppm) for 120s, allowed to dry, and stored at 0-1(o)C and 90 +/- 5% relative humidity for 120 days. Assessment of pear quality was carried out at 30 day intervals by evaluating the following quality parameters: weight loss, flesh firmness, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid content, total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, respiration rate and internal browning rate. AVG treatment delayed ripening and prolonged storage life as indicated by prevented weight loss and delayed loss of acidity, soluble solids content and flesh firmness. At the end of the storage, both doses of AVG application reduced respiration rate and maintained a level of greater bioactive compounds than control fruits. Results indicated that internal browning in 100ppm AVG treated fruit was significantly less than control after 120 days of storage. It can be concluded that 'Hosui' pear treated with AVG can be stored commercially up to 120 days at 0-1(o)C and 90 +/- 5% relative humidity.