Lysophosphatidylethanolamine Treatment Delays Leaf Senescence and Improve Fruit Storability in Melon (Cucumis melo L.)

The influence of lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) on anti-senescence of melon leaves and the change in fruit quality during the storage at low temperature were studied. In most of the crops, freshness of leaves is important factor for characteristics of fruits, such as sugar contents, color, and firmness. Melon ($Cucumis$ $melo$ L. cv. Prince) plants were sprayed with LPE at 5 and 3 weeks before commercial harvest. In upper part, LPE treatment showed slight high number of fresh leaf compared to no treatment (None). However, in lower part, LPE resulted in apparent inhibition effect on senescence, showing that lower side of melon plant kept fresh upon LPE application up to about 30%. The SSC of melon treated with LPE was similar to that of fruit from None at harvest. There was no change in soluble solids content (SSC) for all treatment during the storage at $7^{\circ}C$. There were no significant differences in firmness of mesocarp from melons given different treatments at harvest. The firmness of mesocarp from melon treated with LPE was higher than none after 2 weeks storage. The electrolyte leakage means for melon treated with LPE did not differ significantly from the means at initial storage after 2 weeks storage among the treatments. None increased 57% from its initial electrolyte leakage during storage. These results suggest that the application of LPE may have potential to inhibit senescence of leaves and maintain fruit quality during the storage in melon.