Effect of Preharvest Application of NaHS on Increasing Storage Life and Maintaining Post-harvest Quality of Kiwi Fruit (Actinidia deliciosa L. 'Hayward')

The present research was conducted to investigate the efficacy of preharvest NaHS application as foliar spraying on the quality and antioxidant capacity of kiwifruits cv. Hayward during cold storage. In the present investigation, the effects of a preharvest treatment with H2S donor NaHS in four levels (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mM) at 110, 125, and 140 days after full bloom on nutritional quality and antioxidant capacity of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa 'Hayward') were evaluated during 90 days of storage at 1 °C and 90% relative humidity. Sampling was done to measure the desired traits during four periods of 0, 30, 60 and 90 days after storage. The results showed that NaHS treatment had a significant effect on the evaluated traits. At the end of 90 days of storage, NaHS treatment prevented fruit weight loss and maintained fruit firmness in comparison to the control. The percentage of electrolyte leakage and the amount of accumulated malondialdehyde (MAD) in all concentrations of NaHS was lower in comparison to the control. Preserving ascorbic acid content and increasing the activity of phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL) lead to higher production of total phenol and flavonoids and improve the antioxidant capacity of fruits. NaHS treatment decreased the activity of polyphenol oxidase in comparison to the control. NaHS at 1.5 mM showed the best effect among the applied treatments. According to the obtained results, this concentration can be recommended as a suitable treatment to maintain the quality of kiwifruit cv. Hayward.