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Postharvest salicylic acid (SA) treatments can decrease the fungal decay of horticultural crops by affecting the ethylene biosynthesis and inducing the systemic resistance during cold storage. In the present study, effects of SA and modified atmosphere packages (MAP) on the postharvest quality maintenance of fruits of peach cv 'J. H. Hale' were investigated. After harvest at commercial maturity, half lot of each of the fruits was subjected to 1 mM SA for 5 min and was packed with or without MAP. The remaining lot was not subjected to SA but was also stored with or without MAP. All the fruits were stored at 1°C and 90% relative humidity for 60 d. Weight loss, color of flesh and skin, firmness, total soluble solid, titratable acidity, total phenolic and total antioxidant analyses were performed with 15 d intervals to compare the effectiveness of treatments. SA treatment had positive influences on the postharvest quality maintenance of the fruits. In particular, the combined use of SA and MAP was more effective than their individual use in maintaining the firmness of the fruits, delaying the biochemical changes in the flesh and alterations in the skin color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]