Biochemical and Anatomical Characters of Snap Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Pods under Furrow and Drip Irrigation System at Harvest and during Postharvest
The biochemical and anatomical analysis of furrow and drip-irrigated pods at harvest and after postharvestwere investigated. Results showed that, furrow-irrigated pods were significantly higher in the concentration of vitaminC, free phenolics, protein and proline as well as superoxide dismutase activity than drip-irrigated ones. On the otherhand, concentration of free amino acids and activity of catalase were higher in drip-irrigated pods by about 4 and 1.7times 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 exceptthat furrow-irrigated pods which showed an increase in the thickness of parenchymatous cells in the pericarp. Duringstorage, furrow-irrigated pods stored at 7±1°C and 85% RH for 25d showed lower % of decay, rot, soggy andshriveling, but showed more water loss than drip-irrigated ones at all storage periods. Drip-irrigated pods maintainedhigh concentration of chlorophylls and carotenoid than furrow-irrigated pods until 20 d of storage. Furrow-irrigatedpods preserve the vitamin C at high concentration at all storage periods. TA (%) and TSS were increased with storage inboth fruit types without any significant differences between them. Both pod types had the same trend in theconcentration of organic compounds and the activity of antioxidative enzymes. Furrow-irrigated pods maintained theirpericarp and symmetric of cells compared to drip-irrigated ones. It could conclude that furrow irrigation was better toproduce visual appearance, high nutritional snap beans with high quality. It can be stored without deleterious effect for25 d at 7±1°C and 85% RH than drip irrigation.