EFFECTS OF UV¿C ON BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS AND QUALITY CHANGES DURING SHELF LIFE OF SWEET CHERRY GROWN UNDER CONVENTIONAL OR REGULATED DEFICIT IRRIGATION

© 2020 Elsevier B.V.The effect of a UV¿C postharvest treatment (4 kJ m¿2) on physicochemical quality, phenolic contents and total antioxidant capacity of `Prime Giant¿ sweet cherry throughout 20 d at 2 °C (simulated cold storage during transportation period) plus 5 d at 15 °C (additional shelf life period) was studied. Furthermore, the effect of two regulated deficit irrigation strategies, with 36¿39 % water savings, was also studied on such quality parameters. In general, physicochemical quality at harvest (soluble solids content: 16¿18 %; titratable acidity: 11.2¿12.4 g L¿1) was unaffected throughout the storage periods, independently on storage time, regulated deficit irrigation or postharvest treatments. As observed from the darker red colour, cherry skin showed ¿ 9¿10¿fold higher phenolic contents and total antioxidant capacity than cherry flesh. Cyanidin¿3¿rutinoside was the major anthocyanin. Generally, phenolic compounds of cherry skin decreased during storage. However, UV¿C treatment lowered such reductions, even increasing total phenolic content by 21¿36 % after shelf life in fruit grown under regulated deficit irrigation. Conclusively, a UV¿C pre¿treatment can be considered as an excellent postharvest tool to increase sweet cherry phenolic compounds. Furthermore, a UV¿C pre¿treatment can be even combined with regulated deficit irrigation strategies to reduce natural resources consumption without affecting fruit quality, which is particularly interesting in Regions with scarce water availability.