Enhancing Cold Storage Quality of Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Bluecrop’) with Methyl Jasmonate Treatments

A study was conducted to assess the effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatments on post-harvest quality traits of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum cv. ‘Bluecrop’) throughout the cold storage duration. Experimental treatments included a control treatment and different MeJA doses (0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mM). Blueberries immersed in experimental solutions for 3 s were placed in cold storage (0 °C temperature, 90 ± 5% relative humidity [RH]) for 28 days. The 0.1 and 0.4 mM MeJA treatments significantly retarded weight loss. MeJA treatments (except for 0.1 mM) yielded similar respiration rates to the control treatments at the end of storage period and higher firmness values on 14^th day of storage. While L*, chroma and soluble solids content (except for 0.4 mM) values of MeJA-treated blueberries were lower, MeJA treatments yielded higher hue angle, acidity, vitamin C, total phenolics and total flavonoids and antioxidant activity (DPPH assay). As a result, MeJA treatments offered a strategic tool for maintenance of quality traits of blueberries.