Effects of super absorbent and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) condition on the storage quality of Japanese plum (Prunus salicina cv. Santarosa)

About 75 percent of Iran`s land is arid and semi-arid. Hence, the use of high-efficiency irrigation methods in agriculture will be important. In order to study the effects of both regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) and super absorbent (SA) on the storage quality of Japanese plum fruits (Prunus salicina cv. Santarosa), an experiment was conducted under factorial design with three replicates. Plum trees from the pit-hardening period (seven weeks after full bloom) were exposed to RDI treatments; 100%, 75% and 50% of seasonal crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and four super absorbent treatments including 0, 100, 200 and 300 g (per tree). Harvested fruits at the ripening stage were stored at 4ᵒC in 80% relative humidity for one month, then, some quality characteristics of fruits were evaluated. The firmness of fruits tissues and total flavonoids in RDI treated plants was higher than the control fruits. However, RDI levels and different concentrations of super absorbents did not show significant effects on the TA, SSC and SSC/TA when compared to controls. The interaction of treatments increased fruit juice, total phenol and antioxidant capacity significantly. Fruit juice decreased by RDI and increased due to SA, and while total phenol and antioxidant capacity of fruit under RDI was considerable, SA application could reduce both traits significantly.