Comparative study on postharvest performance of nectarines grown under regulated deficit irrigation

© 2015 Elsevier B.V.. A comparative study of fresh extra early 'VioWhite 5' nectarines, cultivated under long-term regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies and stored under cold conditions, combined or not with a controlled atmosphere (CA; 3-4kPa O<inf>2</inf> and 12-14kPa CO<inf>2</inf>) or 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP; 1.25¿LL^-1, 24h, 0°C), was performed. These strategies were: (i) non-deficit-irrigation (NDI), irrigated at 110% of maximum crop evapotranspiration (ET<inf>C</inf>) during the whole season; (ii) RDI<inf>1</inf>, irrigated at 110% ETc during critical periods of growth and at 85% of NDI during the rest of the growing season; (iii) RDI<inf>2</inf>, irrigated at 110% ETc during critical periods of growth and at 80 and 60% NDI during the second fruit growth stage in March and late postharvest, respectively. Quality factors and biochemical parameters were monitored. In general, RDI<inf>2</inf> reached higher sensory evaluation scores mainly due to the higher soluble solids content. Weight loss was higher in air-stored nectarines with faster changes in firmness and color. The combination of cold storage with CA or 1-MCP better maintained the initial content of bioactive compounds. This fact highly correlated with soluble phenolic content, showing the involvement of phenolic compounds in the antioxidant activity of nectarines. A correlation between dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) concentration and stress were also found, resulting in the ability of using DHA concentration as a stress biomarker. The cultivation of extra early nectarines under RDI<inf>2</inf> combined with the 1-MCP postharvest treatment was the best method for improving and maintaining overall quality while saving a notable amount of water (2050m³/ha and year).