Maintaining postharvest quality of medlar (Mespilus germanica) fruit using modified atmosphere packaging and methyl jasmonate

The study was aimed to assess the effect of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on postharvest biochemical changes and quality loss in medlar fruit (Mespilus germanica cv. 'Istanbul'). Fruit were kept at 0 +/- 0.5 degrees C and 90 +/- 5% RH for 60 d. At the end of storage, as compared with the control, the weight loss, respiration rate and flesh firmness were lower in MAP-treated fruit. The SSC and vitamin C were lower in MAP-treated fruit than the control. The losses of total phenols, total flavonoid and antioxidant activity were significantly delayed by MAP during the storage. At the end of storage, the losses of oxalic acid, ascorbic acid and citric acid were delayed significantly only with the MeJA + MAP as compared with the control; and the losses of malic acid and fumaric acid were also delayed with both MAP and MeJA + MAP. The content of gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, quercetin and chlorogenic acid was higher in MeJA + MAP than the control. As a result, MeJA and MAP treatments could be used as an effective tool for delaying quality loss and maintaining of bioactive compounds in medlar fruit during cold storage.