Preharvest treatment of growth regulators influences postharvest quality and storage life of cashew apples

• GA3 improved quality of cashew apples by reducing mass and firmness loss.
• The antioxidant metabolism of cashew apples were not affected by growth regulators.
• Results of AVG treatment on cashew apple physiology and quality were inconsistent.
• GA3 influence was greater on cv. BRS 189 with firmer apples and better appearance.

Growth regulators may influence fruit development and thus, their postharvest quality. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of preharvest treatment with aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) or gibberellic acid (GA3) on postharvest quality and life of apples of two cashew cultivars, CCP 76 e BRS 189, during cold storage. Growth regulators (180 mg L−1) were applied at maturation stage 1 and apples were harvested at stage 7, ripe. Ripe, treated and control, apples were stored at 3 ± 2 °C for CCP 76 and at 5 ± 2 °C, for BRS 189 and evaluated at harvest (0 day) and every 5 days up to 20 days of storage. The influence of growth regulators preharvest treatment on cashew apples differed among cultivars. For BRS 189 apples, GA3 treatment slowed down mass loss, as treated samples lost 0.72% while control lost 0.81%; and avoided the development of undesirable characteristics during storage. GA3-treated samples were statistically firmer, 13.61 N than control, 9.93 N; and together with AVG-treated samples showed a significantly reduced pectin methyl esterase (PME) activity to 1492.88 UA mg−1 P when compared to control 2129.87 UA mg−1 P. For cv. CCP 76, GA3 treatment also slowed down mass loss, as treated samples lost 0.85% and control, 0.99%, however apples were inapt for consumption after 15 days of storage. GA3-treated samples were statistically firmer, 15.40 N than control, 11.38 N. The constituents of the antioxidant metabolism of both cashew apples varieties were mainly affected by storage period, but not by growth regulators. Therefore, results of preharvest AVG treatment on cashew apple physiology and quality were inconsistent. However, GA3 treatment improved postharvest quality of CCP 76 e BRS 189 cashew apples through reduction of mass loss and firmness loss, without any negative impact on physicochemical variables. GA3 exerted a greater influence on BRS 189 apples which showed, besides lower mass and firmness loss, a better visual appearance and lower cell wall hydrolase PME activity, during storage.