Red fruits are very healthy and are characterized by their high antioxidant capacity thanks to its composition and especially its polyphenol content, a topic we already addressed in Previous Cultinews.
Figure 1. Improves post-harvest life in berries with SPIRALIS Long Life.
Despite its high content of phenolic compounds, red fruits are very perishable, that is, they have a very short post-harvest life. For example, cranberries have a maximum shelf life of 2 to 4 months, depending on handling and storage conditions; blueberries have a shelf life of 1 to 2 weeks; strawberries have a shelf life of 7 to 10 days; and raspberries and blackberries have a shelf life of 2 to 5 days. Furthermore, these fruits are characterized by their high susceptibility to mechanical damage and invasion by certain pathogens.
These factors contribute to potential post-harvest losses, so Its optimal conservation is very important, especially if it is for the fresh market.
Figure 2. Symptoms of rot caused by Botrytis cinerea in blueberry and raspberry (left and center) and by Rhizopus stolonifer in strawberry (right).
It is very important to harvest the berries in their optimal state of consumption, as they are non-climacteric fruits, with the exception of blueberries. That is, they are fruits that are unable to continue ripening once harvested.
Another important characteristic of berries is that they are insensitive to cold damage after harvesting, so It would be convenient to extend your life post-harvest, keep them at low temperatures (above freezing point) in order to control possible rotting.
The main causes of deterioration of this type of fruit are physical and mechanical damage, rot caused by pathogens (especially by Botrytis cinerea y Rhizopus stolonifer), water loss and damage caused by extreme concentrations of gases such as CO2 (used for preservation in chambers).
From the Cultifort Technical Department we want to offer a solution to improve life post-harvest en berries, recommending the use of Spiralis Long Life o Spiralis ECO Long Life, prior to harvesting. It is a biostimulant that activates self-defense mechanisms natural protection of plants against different types of stress (biotic and abiotic) and accelerates the lignification processes of tissues (physical barrier), significantly improving life post-harvest and protecting the fruits from rot. In addition, Spiralis also can be used for preventive control against possible attacks by pathogens, such as powdery mildew in strawberries and rust in raspberries, among others.
Its mode of action is based on the activation of systemic resistances in the plant, increasing the synthesis of callose and lignin, to reinforce the cell wall, as well as phytoalexins and PR proteins, such as β-1,3-endoglucanases and chitinases, whose enzymatic activity is aimed at degrading the cell wall of the invading pathogen.
Spiralis Long Life y SPIRALIS ECO Long Life is a natural product, composed mainly of organic acids and selected peptide complexes, related to green and red algae. It is not a phytosanitary product, it is found residue-free and is exempt from safety period.
