ASHS 2024 Conference

Persimmon is an important fruit crop gown all over the world due to its unique fruit taste and nutritional quality. The skin color is one of the key attributes in persimmon fruit to determine the harvest maturity. Poor color development in early maturing cultivars causes losses to the growers. The present study was aimed at evaluating the effects of preharvest S-ABA spray application on advancing color development and improving fruit quality at harvest. ‘Yoho’ persimmon trees grown in Western Australia were sprayed with S-ABA (0, 25, 50, 75 mg L-1) two weeks before anticipated harvest. The preharvest spray application of S-ABA showed significant increase in color indicators such as color index, a*, b*, and chroma of persimmon fruit harvested after one and two weeks of spray application. S-ABA (25 and 50 mg L-1) spray application showed significantly higher soluble solids content (SSC), and slightly reduced firmness in harvested fruit. Additionally, the 50 mg L-1 S-ABA spray application markedly increased carotenoids content in fruit harvested after one week, while fruit harvested after two weeks exhibited higher carotenoids in 25 mg L-1 and 50 mg L-1 S-ABA treatments. Moreover, the total phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidants were enhanced by S-ABA treatments as compared to control. In conclusion, the preharvest spray application of S-ABA (50 mgL-1) triggers fruit ripening sharply even after one week, while 25 mg L-1 S-ABA treatment showed significant improvement in color after two weeks of application. A single spray application of S-ABA could be employed for advancing harvest maturity, color development, and promoting overall persimmon fruit ripening quality.