Effects of the Alternative Postharvest Treatments on ‘Hicaznar’ Pomegranate Fruit Phytochemicals, Organic Acids and Sugar Content

Abstract:

Background: There are many alternative techniques have been used for preserving fruits quality and extent shelf life by reducing metabolic activities which promote their quality changes negatively during storage to understand the metabolic process in fresh fruits. Objective: The main objective of this study was to investigate effects of postharvest treatment of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and oxalic acids (OA) on phytochemicals, organic acid and sugar content of ‘Hicaznar’ pomegranate fruit. Method: The pomegranate arils were immersed external three different concentrations (0, 2.5 and 5 mM) of OA and GABA after minimally process of fruit. Total phenolic, anthocyanin, antioxidant activities, organic acid sugar content of treated and control fruit arils were analysed. Results: The present results were indicated that in general, glucose and sucrose sugar contents of fruit slightly decreased at the end of the storage while fructose and sorbitol content slightly increased. Conclusion: OA treated group showed better antiradical activity than GABA treated arils while TAC was higher in GABA treated arils at the end of storage. Total phenolic contents of pomegranate arils were changed significantly during storage.

Key words: Pomegranate Arils, Oxalic Acid, Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Sugar, Organic Acid.