Hi, reverse operates on lists:

    reverse LIST
            In list context, returns a list value consisting of the el
+ements
            of LIST in the opposite order. In scalar context, concaten
+ates the
            elements of LIST and returns a string value with all chara
+cters in
            the opposite order.

                print join(", ", reverse "world", "Hello"); # Hello, w
+orld

                print scalar reverse "dlrow ,", "olleH";    # Hello, w
+orld

            Used without arguments in scalar context, "reverse" revers
+es $_.

                $_ = "dlrow ,olleH";
                print reverse;                         # No output, li
+st context
                print scalar reverse;                  # Hello, world
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Add a call to scalar:

#!/usr/bin/perl

use warnings;
use strict;

my $test = '';

$test = "apples";
print scalar reverse $test;
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Hope this helps!