Effect of pre-harvest ethylene application on phyto-chemicals and antioxidant activity of sour cherry

The study was carried out to determine the effect of pre harvest ethephone spray on fruit quality and nutritional compounds of ‘Cigany’ sour cherry (Prunus cerasus). Trees were sprayed with 250 ppm ethephon one week before anticipated commercial harvest. Fruits from ethephon-sprayed trees had significantly lower soluble solids concentration (SSC), anthocyanin content, antioxidant activity, and firmness than those from non-sprayed control. Ethephon treatment did not affect antioxidant activity and total phenolic content, although it tended to be higher in fruits from non-sprayed control. Titratable acidity (TA), pH and SSC/TA ratio were not affected by ethephon spray. There was a significantly positive correlation between anthocyanin content and SSC (r = 0.99).