Impact of Post-harvest Application of Methyl Salicylate and Salicylic Acid on Storage Life and Quality of ‘Kinnow’ Mandarin ( Citrus nobilis Lour × C. deliciosa Tenora) Fruit Under Ambient Storage Conditions

Fruit quality is an essential factor in consumer acceptance of ‘Kinnow’ mandarin fruit. In this regard, an investigation was planned to extend the storage life and to maintain the quality of ‘Kinnow’ mandarin fruit using different concentrations of methyl salicylate (MeSA; 1 mM, 2 mM and 3 mM, respectively) and salicylic acid (SA; 1 mM, 2 mM and 3 mM, respectively) under ambient storage conditions (24 ± 1 °C and 65 ± 5% RH) for up to 20 days. Weight loss, spoilage, firmness, sugars; total soluble solids, total and reducing sugars, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid content, total phenolics, antioxidant activity, total flavonoids, total carotenoids and sensory attributes were estimated. Fruit treated with MeSA (1 mM) significantly delayed the weight loss, spoilage and firmness loss in addition to maintaining higher contents of sugars, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, total phenolics, antioxidant activity, total flavonoids, total carotenoids and sensory attributes compared to control. In conclusion, the post-harvest application of MeSA (1 mM) significantly extended storage life and maintained the fruit quality of ’Kinnow’ mandarin fruit for up to 16 days under ambient storage conditions.