Blue LED Irradiation Induces Scoparone Production in Wounded Satsuma Mandarin ‘Aoshima Unshu’ and Reduces Fruit Decay during Long-term Storage

抄録

In the present study, we examined the effect of blue LED irradiation on production of phytoalexin scoparone in wounded satsuma mandarin fruit as a result of fungal infections, as well as the effect of tape-type blue LED on fruit decay during long-term storage (from December to April) in an actual storage room. The blue LED treatment reduced the rate of fruit decay compared to that of dark treatment in wounded fruits. The decay rate of LED irradiated fruit was 13.3%, while that of non-irradiated fruit was 51.1%. In wounded fruits, blue LED treatment resulted in significantly higher scoparone contents than dark treatment. Intact (non-wounded) fruits had low scoparone contents, irrespective of blue LED irradiation. In an examination of changes in total fruit decay rate during storage using tape type-blue LED, the total decay rate was not significantly different between the LED-treated and untreated fruits until 64 days after storage (36 days after starting LED irradiation). On the other hand, at 92 and 120 days after the start of storage, total fruit decay under blue LED treatment was significantly lower compared to the untreated control. The tape-type blue LED (10 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹) did not affect either the fruit quality analyzed (soluble solid content, titratable acidity, specific gravity, percentage of flesh) or the rind color. These results indicate that blue light induces scoparone production in wounded satsuma mandarin, and because of this, along with other putative factors, tape-type blue LED irradiation reduces mandarin fruit decay during long-term storage.