Author(s)

Kingsly Shikwambana^1*, Tieho P. Mafeo¹, Nhlanhla Mathaba²

¹School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Limpopo, Sovenga, Polokwane, South Africa.
²Postharvest Management and Food Security, School of Agricultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Nelspruit, South Africa.

Poor exocarp colour development is a common postharvest problem for early harvested “Hass” avocado fruit during ripening, which affects fruit quality and consumer preference. Therefore, measures to improve “Hass” avocado fruit colour developments are of great importance in the industry. This study investigated the effectiveness of postharvest methyl jasmonate treatment to improve early matured “Hass” avocado fruit exocarp colour during ripening. The results showed that T1 (10 μmol∙L⁻¹) and T2 (100 μmol∙L⁻¹) MeJA treatment increased visual colour, and decreased objective colour parameters (L*, C* and h˚) during ripening when compared with control fruit. Moreover, MeJA treated “Hass” avocado fruits had lower total chlorophyll content and higher total anthocyanin and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside concentration during ripening. In conclusion, “Hass” avocado fruit post-harvest treated with either T1 (10 μmol∙L⁻¹) or T2 (100 μmol∙L⁻¹) MeJA concentration improved exocarp quality attributes such as colour parameters (L*, C* h˚ and visual colour) and pigments (total anthocyanin and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside) during ripening, therefore, can be recommended for avocado fruit.

Avocado, Colour, Methyl Jasmonate, Anthocyanin, Cyanidin-3-O-Glucoside

Shikwambana, K. , Mafeo, T. and Mathaba, N. (2021) Effect of Postharvest Methyl Jasmonate Treatment on Early-Matured “Hass” Avocado Fruit Exocarp Colour Development during Ripening. Agricultural Sciences, 12, 875-887. doi: 10.4236/as.2021.128056.