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Preharvest Application of Oxalic Acid Improved Pomegranate Fruit Yield, Quality, and Bioactive Compounds at Harvest in a Concentration-Dependent Manner

The effects of oxalic acid (OA) applied in preharvest on pomegranate crop yield and quality properties have not yet been investigated. Pomegranate trees were treated with OA at 1, 5, and 10 mM along the developmental growth cycle during 2016, from full blossom until harvest, and the fruit diameter was recorded monthly. The yield was significantly higher in OA-treated pomegranate trees, the on-tree ripening process being promoted in a concentration-dependent manner. With respect to quality traits, OA at 10 mM showed better results in terms of firmness, external color due to a red color enhancement, and respiration rate and sensory attributes. Then, a second-year experiment was performed with OA at 10 mM, and crop yield and fruit quality results were confirmed. In addition, an increase in glucose and total acidity, specifically malic and ascorbic acids, was observed in OA 10 mM-treated pomegranate fruit. Bioactive compounds were also higher in OA-treated fruit than control, the 10 mM concentration being the most effective in increasing total phenolics, total anthocyanins, and total antioxidant activity. Overall, results suggest that OA applied at 10 mM as preharvest treatment could be an effective tool to enhance pomegranate crop and quality and to improve the content of health-related compounds.