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**Preharvest Foliar Salicylic Acid Sprays Reduce Cracking of Fig Fruit at Harvest**  
**[PERSON] 1, [PERSON] 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,12,14,19,16,18,17,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,20,22  
growth rates of pulp and peel in some fruit, superficial skin fractures commonly appear during maturation and ripening [5,6]. Cracking incidence in figs depends mainly on cultivar [7] and orchard conditions [8]. These fractures (cracks) may be localized on the fruit side and usually in parallel to the axis either between pedicel and ostiole, starting from the ostiole, or both. When these fractures around the ostiole become intense, they penetrate into the flesh (ostiole-end splitting) [2]. These fruit skin disorders could be collectively termed as cracking [3]. The cracking intensity is a primary quality grading standard of fruit. The absence of cracking (sound fruit) corresponds to quality class extra, while fruit with slight side cracks is assigned to class I [9]. In this perspective, strategies that reduce cracking incidence and intensity will considerably improve fruit quality, storage potential, and shelf life. Auxin treatment [10], soil potassium and calcium fertigation [11], preharvest potassium spray [12], postharvest calcium chloride treatment [13], or regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) [2] can reduce peel cracking, although the last technique may reduce the fruit weight and for this reason some farmers are reluctant to use it. Salcirylates, salicylic acid (SA, ortho-hydroxy benzoic acid) and its derivatives, acetyl salic acid (ASA) and its methyl ester (MeSA), belong to phenolic compounds. Salicylic acid is synthesized and metabolized in plants and comprises a key molecule that directly or indirectly regulates many aspects of plant growth and development. Lately, these compounds have received much attention since they mediate in signaling responses to abiotic and biotic stresses, inducing immunity both locally and in the whole plant by the systemic acquired resistance (SAR) against biotrophic pathogens [14]. Triggering the antioxidant enzymes activity for reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification and maintenance of redox homeostasis by salicates has been presented in a number of research works for prevention of fungal decay, as in cherries [15] and goji berries [16]. Salicylates also effectively mitigate chilling injury symptoms [17,18], which are not relevant to the species under study. In other crops, exogenous application of salicates during cultivation has been associated with improved fruit quality. For instance, they alleviated chilling injury symptoms [19] and peel russeting [20] in pomergnate, and prevented wax loss in blueberry [21]. Furthermore, salicate application increased anthocyanin synthesis and total antioxidant capacity, as in plum [22] and grape [23], although not apparent in tomato under certain conditions [24]. In line with these results, salicate application stimulated the activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and other enzymes involved in the phenylpropanol biosynthesis method away in blood orange [25], cherry [15], and goji bery [16], but not in pomergnate [26]. PAL sets the interface between primary and secondary metabolism, towards the production of a diverse range of metabolites (including anthocyanins), which are essential in orchestrating stress responses [27]. For instance, their upregulation has been associated with alleviation of oxidative damage [28]. In pomergnate, salicate application has also been related to adverse effects, including color development delay [19]. [PERSON] et al. [29] reduced cracking of pomergnates after spraying with SA solution along with nutrients, but the effect was minimal after only SA treatment. In this two-year field study, the potential of spraying SA during cultivation to decrease fig fruit cracking incidence and severity was investigated. Additionally, critical external (peel color) and internal (flesh total soluble solids, titratable acidity, and pH) quality features were assessed.