Effect of postharvest calcium chloride treatment on the fruit quality and storage life of some Cornelean cherry genotypes (Cornus mas L)

Cornelean cherry is a very perishable fruit that requires proper postharvest management to reduce losses. This study was aimed to increase the postharvest life and marketability of the product using postharvest calcium chloride treatments. The present study was conducted in a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications. Factors included 3 immersion calcium chloride treatments (0, 60 and 80 mM), 4 storage times (0, 10, 20 and 30 days) and two cornelean cherry genotypes. Fruit samples were harvested at maturity (more than 90% of red skin) and immersion treatments were applied on them. During and after the experiment, different physicochemical traits of fruits were studied. The results showed that KKP2 genotype had lower mean firmness and sugar content and higher weight loss percentage than Hir genotype. The results showed that the two genotypes did not show significant differences in terms of pH and titratable acidity. Firmness, titratable acid, ascorbic acid, anthocyanin and phenol decreased over time. Among immersion treatments, the highest and lowest firmness, titratable acid and ascorbic acid belonged to 60 mM calcium and control (distilled water), respectively. The difference between 60 and 80 mM calcium chloride treatments was not significant. The lowest fruit weight loss was obtained in 80 mM calcium chloride treatment.