Biochemical and Anatomical Characters of Snap Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Pods under Furrow and Drip Irrigation System at Harvest and during Postharvest

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Agricultural Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt

Abstract

The biochemical and anatomical analysis of furrow and drip-irrigated pods at harvest and after postharvest
were investigated. Results showed that, furrow-irrigated pods were significantly higher in the concentration of vitamin
C, free phenolics, protein and proline as well as superoxide dismutase activity than drip-irrigated ones. On the other
hand, concentration of free amino acids and activity of catalase were higher in drip-irrigated pods by about 4 and 1.7
times than furrow-irrigated ones, respectively. Both types of pods were similar in chlorophylls, carotenoids, TA (%),
TSS and reducing sugars concentrations. The two pod types were similar in the anatomical parameters studied except
that furrow-irrigated pods which showed an increase in the thickness of parenchymatous cells in the pericarp. During
storage, furrow-irrigated pods stored at 7±1°C and 85% RH for 25d showed lower % of decay, rot, soggy and
shriveling, but showed more water loss than drip-irrigated ones at all storage periods. Drip-irrigated pods maintained
high concentration of chlorophylls and carotenoid than furrow-irrigated pods until 20 d of storage. Furrow-irrigated
pods preserve the vitamin C at high concentration at all storage periods. TA (%) and TSS were increased with storage in
both fruit types without any significant differences between them. Both pod types had the same trend in the
concentration of organic compounds and the activity of antioxidative enzymes. Furrow-irrigated pods maintained their
pericarp and symmetric of cells compared to drip-irrigated ones. It could conclude that furrow irrigation was better to
produce visual appearance, high nutritional snap beans with high quality. It can be stored without deleterious effect for
25 d at 7±1°C and 85% RH than drip irrigation.

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