Pakistan Journal Of Botany, cilt.53, sa.6, ss.1-10, 2021 (SCI-Expanded)
Present research was carried out with an objective to test the synergism effect of Scolymus maculatus L. plant extracts
and hot water dipping (HWD) on the storability of Valencia oranges. Experiments were conducted with four different
treatments and five replications in each. Each of these replications consisted of five fruits and studies were scheduled to
keep on for 150 days. Quality parameters were measured with 30-days interval. The treatments of current study are: a)
immersing in pure water at 25°C for 5 min. (control); b) HWD at 50°C for 5 min.; c) immersing in pure water at 25°C for 5
min. with 1.0% S. maculatus L. plant extracts (Sm extract); and d) immersing in HWD at 50°C for 5 min. with 1.0% S.
maculatus L. plant extracts (HWD + Sm extract). Results made it possible to understand that the HWD treatment is
successful in slowing respiration rate and prevention of weight loss, controlling postharvest pathogens and preserving visual
quality of the orange fruits. Additional to these expected results, findings of current work made it possible to conclude that
the S. maculatus L. plant extracts have also significant influence on these quality parameters and the combination of both
treatments provides highest efficacy for increasing the storability of orange fruits. Postharvest application of hot water
dipping with 1.0% S. maculatus plant extracts to the Valencia oranges was found to maintain acceptability of the fruits for
150 days of storage at 6.0±1.0°C and 90-95% relative humidity.