Effect of different methods harvesting, drying and harvest time on losses seedless barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.)

Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) is one of the most important minor fruits especially in arid and semi-arid regions in east of Iran. Especially in south- Khorasan Province as a major pole and axis of this valuable fruit. Barberry has various usages in local foods, traditional medicines, and protection of soil and prevention of erosion. Seedless barberry is a native medicinal shrub that has been cultivated in Iran for more than two centuries. In order to study the effects of harvest dates, drying and harvest methods on quantity of seedless barberry fruits, three separate experiments were conducted in Qayenat, Southern Khorasan province, Iran in 2011 and 2012. In the first experiment the effects of different harvest dates (7October, 22 October and 7 November) the effect of picking methods (branch cutting, Impact and berry picking) and drying methods (sun drying, Industrial Drying and shade drying) were studied on quantitative indices of seedless barberry. Results showed that the highest fresh and dry fruit yields were obtained at the final. Generally, results of these experiments showed that berry picking in berry picking and sun drying method are effective ways for improving barberry quantitative indices.