Effect of nordihydroguaiaretic acid on grape berry cracking

•NDGA treatment can minimize fruit cracking.•NDGA treatment can decreased the synthesis of endogenous ABA.•NDGA treatment can decreased the berry skin turgor pressure.•NDGA treatment can enhances the peel mechanical properties. Fruit cracking is a phenomenon involving the splitting of the fruit peel, which causes considerable economic losses. The objective of the present study was to determine whether a nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) treatment can decrease the incidence of grape berry cracking in the cracking-susceptible Vitis vinifera cultivar ‘Aishen Meigui’. The results indicated that NDGA can significantly decrease the fruit-cracking rate. There may be two reasons for this observation. Firstly, the NDGA treatment decreased the synthesis of endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) as well as the soluble sugar and total soluble solid contents, which ultimately lowered the osmotic pressure, water absorption capacity, and peel turgor pressure. Second, the decrease in the endogenous ABA content also decreased the pectin methylesterase and polygalacturonase activities, delayed the degradation of pectin, increased the peel protopectin content, enhanced the peel mechanical properties, and increased the resistance to fruit cracking.