Ethrel-Induced Enhancement of Sugar Accumulation and Postharvest Quality in Early-Harvested Cantaloupe Melons.

Abstract

Melon (Cucumis melo L. var. Cantaloupe) is classified as a climacteric fruit, which means its quality deteriorates quickly after harvest. Early-harvested melons often exhibit inferior color quality and lower sugar content but have a longer shelf life than those harvested later. This study aims to improve the postharvest quality of early-harvested cantaloupe melons by evaluating the effect of Ethrel treatment on their sweetness and overall quality throughout the storage period. The melons were immersed in an Ethrel solution at 0 (control), 25, 50, and 100 ppm concentrations. After treatment, the melons were air-dried and stored in a controlled environment at 28°C ± 1°C with 80% ± 5% relative humidity for 21 days. The results indicated that treating the melons with Ethrel at a concentration of 25 ppm significantly enhanced their quality and shelf life. This concentration increased sweetness levels and sugar content (sucrose), which measured 2% higher than the other treatments after 7 days of storage. Additionally, the 25 ppm Ethrel treatment improved the melons' color to a vibrant orange and helped retain their hardness, titratable acidity, and vitamin C content. Furthermore, this treatment resulted in minimal fruit damage and extended the melons' shelf life for up to 21 days during storage. In conclusion, Ethrel at a concentration of 25 ppm is considered the optimal treatment for improving sugar content and maintaining the quality of early-harvested cantaloupe melons.