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Textural softening is a major factor that limits the storage potential of fruit. Fresh produce markets incur severe financial losses due to excessive fruit softening. The application of preservation strategies aimed at mitigating fruit softening is crucial for optimising the marketability of fruit. Proposed preservation strategies include ecofriendly treatments, namely, hexanal, edible coatings, heat treatments, ozone and UV-C irradiation. These treatments optimise firmness retention by targeting the factors that affect fruit softening, such as ethylene, respiration rates, enzymes and pathogens. This review discusses the mechanisms by which ecofriendly treatments inhibit fruit softening, providing insights into their effect on ethylene biosynthesis, cell wall metabolism and disease resistance. Although ecofriendly treatments offer a promising and sustainable approach for delaying fruit softening, the optimisation of treatment application protocols is needed to improve their efficacy in retaining fruit firmness. Studies reporting on the molecular mechanisms by which ecofriendly treatments inhibit fruit softening are limited. Future studies should prioritise proteomic and transcriptome analyses to advance our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms by which ecofriendly treatments delay the fruit-softening process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of water regimes on plants is crucial for integrating bush tea (Athrixia phylicoides DC.) into strategies in Sub-Saharan Africa to tackle food and nutritional insecurity by considering physiological aspects, nutritional yield, nutritional water productivity, and metabolite composition. The objective of the study was to determine the physiological aspects, including leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence, nutritional yield, nutritional water productivity, and metabolite composition of bush tea under varying water regimes. The tunnel experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with treatments consisting of three water regimes: 100% of crop water requirement (ETa), 30% of ETa, and a control (no irrigation), all replicated three times. The morphological aspects were recorded on a weekly basis. However, yield, nutrient content, nutritional water productivity (NWP), and phytochemical composition were determined at harvest. The phytochemical analysis by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS), coupled with visualization of the detected chemical spaces through molecular networking, indicated Athrixia phylicoides DC. to be rich in various bioactive compound derivatives, including methyl chlorogenate, flavonoids, tartaric acid, caffeoylquinic acid, and glutinane. The results showed that 30% ETa enhanced plant growth, nutrient content, and nutritional water productivity compared to other water treatments. Nevertheless, 100% ETa yielded more (95.62 kg ha−1) than 30% ETa (60.61 kg ha−1) and control (12.12 kg ha−1). The accumulation of chlorogenic acids was higher under 30% ETa compared to 100% ETa and control. Therefore, this study is the first to determine the accumulation of various bioactive compounds in bush tea leaf extracts under varying water regimes. This confirms that in areas with low water availability, bush tea is well adapted for production without limiting nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethephon is a plant growth regulator that triggers diverse responses in plants, such as fruit ripening, leaf senescence, hull senescence, stem elongation, and nut abscission. This study examined how the preharvest application of ethephon 480 SL® affects selected biochemical components and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity in two macadamia nut cultivars: '788' and 'Beaumont'. Ethephon was applied to the trees via a Cima mist blower at rates of 13.33 mL/L per hectare for the '788' cultivar and 16.67 mL/L per hectare for the 'Beaumont'. Following harvest, the nuts were stored at 25 °C for 72 days, and samples were taken at 18-day intervals. Standard procedures were used to assess the following: total phenolics, total flavonoids, 2,2,-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, Ferric reducing ability power (FRAP) assay, sucrose, total protein, and PPO activities. This evaluation was carried out across a total of four treatments: ethephon-treated nuts from the orchard floor (ED), ethephon-treated nuts from the tree (ET), untreated nuts from the orchard floor (CD), and untreated nuts from the tree (CT). The evaluation's outcomes were analyzed using a principal component analysis (PCA), a correlation matrix heat map (CMHM), and a graphical assessment. The results unveiled significant correlations and associations among the assessed parameters. The correlation matrix heat map analysis highlighted a strong positive correlation (0.97) between the sucrose and the PPO activity in the 'Beaumont' cultivar, supported by the PCA analysis identifying the ED treatment as the most influential. At the storage period's conclusion, the ED treatment had the highest sucrose content (18.63 mg/g) and polyphenol oxidase activity (1.06 U g−1). In the '788' cultivar, a close relationship emerged between the phenolic content, the PPO activity, and the Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)'s antioxidant activity. Consistently, the CT treatment (untreated nuts) demonstrated positive correlations with several key parameters in both cultivars, displaying heightened phenolic content and antioxidant activities. Consequently, our findings indicate that the CT treatment, involving tree-harvested nuts without ethephon application, could be the preferred option for sustaining macadamia nuts' quality and shelf life compared to other methods. Moreover, our study underscores the significance of proper storage conditions for maintaining the desired biochemical parameters of macadamia nuts. By comprehending the effects of distinct treatments and harvesting techniques, producers and processors can devise strategies to optimize storage conditions and uphold macadamia nut quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of ethephon, designed to stimulate nut detachment, initiates the release of ethylene, a well-established regulator of postharvest shelf-life in various agricultural products. This study aimed to assess the impact of ethephon application on individual fatty acids and dietary indicators in two macadamia nut cultivars, namely '788' and 'Beaumont,' during postharvest storage. Nuts that naturally abscised and those detached through ethephon treatment were divided into two groups: the ethylene-treated group (ED) and the control group (CD). Nuts were stored at 25 °C and sampled at 0, 36, and 72 days for fatty profile analysis. Our findings indicated a significant increase in stearic acid content in ED nuts (24,622 µg/g) compared to CD nuts (16,764 µg/g) at the end of the storage period for the 'Beaumont' cultivar. Additionally, unsaturated fatty acids (USFAs), such as eicosatrienoic acid + erucic acid (C20:3n3 + C22:1) and eicosatrienoic acid + alpha-linolenic acid (C20:1 + C18:3n3), were notably reduced. Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed positive correlations between ethylene treatment and saturated fatty acids (SFAs) in both 'Beaumont' (0.78) and '788' (0.80) cultivars. This also coincided with an increase in atherogenic indices, thrombogenic index, and saturation index and a decrease in the hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio and arachidonic acid (C20:4n6) within the ED group of the 'Beaumont' cultivar, collectively potentially impacting nutritional quality negatively. Furthermore, our findings indicated that the PUFA:SFA ratio was higher in CD (0.51) compared to ED (0.45) on day 72 for the 'Beaumont' cultivar, revealing differences in fatty acid compositions between the two treatment groups. Conversely, for '788', both ED and CD had a PUFA:SFA ratio below 0.45, indicating an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. These results suggest that ethephon treatment increases SFA levels and reduces USFA levels in the 'Beaumont' cultivar, while the response to ethylene varies between the two cultivars. Thus, the study provides insight into the significant role of modifying ethephon treatment methods and careful cultivar selection in the attainment of optimal nutritional value and shelf-life of macadamia nuts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depending on the temperature regime used during roasting, the biochemical and sensory characteristics of macadamia nuts can change. 'A4′ and 'Beaumont' were used as model cultivars to examine how roasting temperatures affected the chemical and sensory quality of macadamia nuts. Using a hot air oven dryer, macadamia kernels were roasted at 50, 75, 100, 125, and 150 °C for 15 min. The quantity of phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidants in kernels roasted at 50, 75, and 100 °C was significant (p < 0.001); however, these kernels also had high levels of moisture content, oxidation-sensitive unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), and peroxide value (PV), and poor sensory quality. Low moisture content, flavonoids, phenols, antioxidants, fatty acid (FA) compositions, high PV, and poor sensory quality—i.e., excessive browning, an exceptionally crunchy texture, and a bitter flavor—were all characteristics of kernels roasted at 150 °C. With a perfect crispy texture, a rich brown color, and a strong nutty flavor, kernels roasted at 125 °C had lower PV; higher oxidation-resistant UFA compositions; considerable concentrations of flavonoids, phenols, and antioxidants; and good sensory quality. Therefore, 'A4′ and 'Beaumont' kernels could be roasted at 125 °C for use in the industry to improve kernel quality and palatability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of nitrogen availability in soil result from the net amount of organic and inorganic inputs undergoing decomposition, mineralization, and immobilization. This varies with soil type, climate, and cropping system management practices. Hence, the interaction of these factors in a specific environment is important for nitrogen management and availability in any cropping system. This study evaluated the concentration of nitrate (NO3−) and ammonium (NH4+) in a maize monocropping system in a long-term trial under different tillage practices, i.e., no-till (NT), conventional tillage (CT), and rotational tillage (RT), and with different nitrogen (Urea) fertiliser application rates (0, 100, and 200 kg/ha N). The experimental area was a split plot with randomized tillage strips as the main plots, with the nitrogen fertiliser application rates forming the subplots. The results found the highest concentration of NO3− (7.728 mg/kg) and NH4+ (0.762 mg/kg) under the NT (p < 0.05) compared to the other treatments. CT recorded the lowest amount of NH4+ (0.648 mg/kg) (p < 0.05) compared to RT (0.758 mg/kg), while the concentration of NO3− (6.755 mg/kg) under the CT was relatively higher than under the RT (4.720 mg/kg). The results also showed that the 0–10 cm depth had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher concentration of NO3− (6.787 mg/kg) and NH4+ (0.851 mg/kg), followed at the 20–30 cm depth with 6.229 mg/kg NO3− and 0.832 mg/kg NH4+. Soil samples taken at 10–20 cm depth recorded the lowest NO3− (6.188 mg/kg) and NH4+ (0.485 mg/kg). The study also found the highest NO3− concentration (0.452 mg/kg) with 200 kg/ha N (p < 0.05), while the highest concentration of NH4+ (0.954 mg/kg) was found with 0 kg/ha N. The lowest concentrations of both NO3− (6.333 mg/kg) and NH4+ (0.561 mg/kg) were found with 100 kg/ha N. the no-till also had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher NO3− (8.518 mg/kg) concentration with 200 kg/ha N compared to the CT (6.005 mg/kg) and RT (4.833 mg/kg). On the other hand, more NH4+ (1.478 mg/kg) was found with 0 kg/ha N under the NT compared to the CT (0.717 mg/kg) and the RT (0.669 mg/kg). The concentration of NH4+ was relatively low with 200 kg/ha N in the NT (0.545 mg/kg) and CT (0.598 mg/kg) but higher in the RT (0.813 mg/kg). In conclusion, the NT favoured the availability of NO3− and NH4+ in the studied cropping system; however, the concentration of these was affected by fertiliser application rate and depth. This suggested that each tillage system should be compatible with the type and the rate of inorganic nitrogen fertiliser for better crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to their health-boosting properties and other appreciable properties, citrus fruit is widely consumed and commercialized worldwide. Destination markets around the world vary in their fruit quality requirements and are also highly influenced by climatic conditions, agronomical and postharvest practices. Hence, harvesting decisions are arduous. Maturity indices in citrus fruit are highly variable and dependent on the species and varieties, growing regions, and destination markets. For decades, determination of the maturity of citrus fruit and predicting the near time of harvesting was a challenge for producers, researchers, and food safety agencies. Thus, the current review provides a correlation between maturity and internal components and an overview of techniques of maturity determination for citrus fruits. Also, stress has been given to the destructive and nondestructive methods to determine the maturity level of different citrus species. The techniques presented in this review portray continuous productiveness as an excellent quality assessment, particularly as ripening and maturity analysis tools for citrus fruits. Traditional techniques are time-consuming, laborious, costly, destructive, and tedious. Thus, these nondestructive techniques hold great potential to replace conventional procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the potential of delaying 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) application as a postharvest strategy to enhance ripening recovery of banana fruit. The experiment comprised the following treatments: control (no 1-MCP), 400 nL L−1 1-MCP at 1 and 15 d, and 50 µL L−1 ethephon + 400 nL L−1 at 1 and 15 d, arranged in a completely randomized design. Fruit were stored at 14 °C for 30 d and thereafter allowed to ripen at 23 °C for 9 d. After 9 d shelf life, 1-MCP/15 d treated fruit had significantly lower firmness (54.24 N) compared to fruit treated with 1-MCP/1 d (69.45 N). Peel degreening was significantly higher in the 1-MCP/1 d treatment, with hue values of 92.06 compared to 86.62 for 1-MCP/15 d. The 1-MCP/1 d treatment significantly maintained higher total chlorophyll (307.7 µg/g) and carotenoids (145 µg/g) in peel compared to 1-MCP/15 d treatment. Sucrose accumulation significantly increased in 1-MCP/15 d treated fruit (5.26 mg/mL) compared to that treated with 1-MCP/1 d (1.74 mg/mL). A similar trend was observed for glucose (0.81 mg/mL) and fructose (0.83 mg/mL). The 1-MCP/1 d treated fruit had no detectable glucose and fructose during shelf life. Our results demonstrated that application of 1-MCP at 15 d cold storage is a promising postharvest strategy to extend fruit shelf life by enhancing ripening recovery after cold storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climacteric fruits continue to ripen postharvest, characterized by an increase in respiration and ethylene. Thus, the shelf-life, quality, and marketability of these fruits is reduced rapidly. One of the most important postharvest technology used to reduce the effect of exogenous and endogenous ethylene and extend the shelf-life of climacteric fruits is 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). Currently, the application of 1-MCP on certain climacteric fruits is not commercially feasible due to the variable effects associated with this technology. In this review, factors that influence 1-MCP efficacy in climacteric fruits such as fruit maturity, concentration, genotypes, storage temperature and atmospheres, packaging material and application timing are critically discussed. In addition, current techniques used to mitigate the 1-MCP variability such as combined application with other postharvest treatments are briefly described and discussed. This review will provide an important information on the utilization of 1-MCP to prolong shelf-life in various climacteric fruits and help in the development of protocols for unregistered genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to identify reliable science-based maturity indices for 'Lamb Hass' avocado fruit and evaluate the effect of harvest maturity on the fruit postharvest performance. Fruits were harvested from outside and inside canopy positions at early and mid-season for quality assessment. The results showed that the canopy position had a highly significant effect (p <.001) on all maturity parameters: dry matter (DM) content, moisture content (MC) and oil content (OC). The outside canopy fruit were more mature (30% DM, 70% MC, 14.9% OC) than those harvested from the inside canopy (28.9% DM, 71.1% MC, 11.75% OC) at minimum maturity. However, fruit DM and MC did not differ significantly (p >.05) between the early and mid-season fruit, whilst significant differences in OC were found between the two harvesting stages. In both harvesting stages, the canopy positions did not affect the rate of fruit mass loss. Nonetheless, the overall analysis showed that early season fruit had a significantly (p <.001) higher fruit mass loss rate than the mid-season fruit. Notably, fruit maturity did not have a significant effect (p >.05) on the fruit softening rate as insignificant differences between the two harvesting stages were observed. In both the harvesting stages, inside canopy fruit were characterized by a higher concentration of mannoheptulose and perseitol than the outside canopy fruit. The early and mid-season fruit also differed significantly (p <.05) in phenolic content; with the mid-season fruit having a high phenolic content (2.7 µm/g) than the early season fruit (1.8 µm/g), suggesting the possibility of increased mesocarp discolouration with the advancement in maturity. These findings will be a valuable tool to assist growers in assessing fruit readiness for harvest and understanding the influence of maturity on the fruit postharvest behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postharvest application of 1-methylcycloprepene (1-MCP) on banana fruit to extend shelf life and maintain quality is inconsistent as treated fruit do not ripen uniformly. Banana response to 1-MCP treatment can be variable due to within-bunch variation in fruit size, composition, and maturity. Therefore, the present study investigated whether fruit size variation explains variability in ripening recovery. To investigate this relationship, large, medium, and small fruit were treated with 0 nL L−1 1-MCP (control), 400 nL L−1 1-MCP and 50 µL L−1 ethephon + 400 nL L−1 1-MCP. Fruit were then ripened using 800 µL L−1 ethephon and stored at 23 ◦C for 30 d. Irrespective of fruit size, treating banana with 1-MCP and ethephon + 1-MCP prolonged shelf-life by 30 d compared to control, which were fully ripe at 15 d for medium and large fruit, and 20 d for small fruit. 1-MCP significantly delayed yellow colour development (colour stage 4), chlorophyll degradation (97.4 µg/g), and sucrose (2.57 mg/g) and glucose (0.86 mg/g) accumulation in small compared to medium and large fruit. However, firmness (56.13 N) and starch (0.68 mg/g) were significantly lower in 1-MCP-treated small-sized fruit compared to medium and large fruit. Moisture loss was also significantly higher (19.49%) in 1-MCP-treated small fruit compared to medium (14.89%) and large (18.11%). Combined ethephon and 1-MCP allowed for an increase in ripening in small, medium, and large fruit. Overall, medium and large fruit treated with 1-MCP and ethephon + 1-MCP recovered their ripening capacity better compared to small fruit. The results demonstrate that 1-MCP efficacy is influenced by fruit size, whereas ethephon + 1-MCP treatment was consistent across small, medium, and large fruit. The effect of fruit size on 1-MCP efficacy might explain the inconsistency of the treatment in the banana fruit. Therefore, it is important to apply 1-MCP on fruit of approximately the same size to achieve the full benefit of the treatment. Moreover, fruit treated with 1-MCP + ethephon recovered their ripening capacity, irrespective of size, suggesting that it is a beneficial treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mango is the third most important fruit in the tropics due to its nutritional properties and delicious flavor. The fruit is exceptionally perishable due to its climacteric nature, which decreases the quality and shelf-life. Preserving fruit quality and preventing losses during postharvest is one of the critical solutions in sustaining human dietary demands. Postharvest treatments such as 1-Methylcyclopropene, edible coatings, and hot water treatment have shown to be effective in preserving fruit quality. However, developing environmental-friendly postharvest technologies that ensure the safety of consumers remains a challenge. Gaseous ozone, controlled atmosphere (CA), and pulsed electric field (PEF) are some of the emerging technologies with great potential for the mango fruit industry. The use of such technologies has been demonstrated to be effective in maintaining the sensory, nutritional, and physicochemical quality of the mango fruit. However, the mode of action of the emerging technologies is not yet understood. This review provides of an overview of various postharvest techniques used to preserve mango fruit quality. The potential of the emerging postharvest technologies to maintain mango fruit quality during storage and shelf-life is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some of the major processed horticultural commodities subjected to adulteration are powders, edible oils and juices. This review covers the recent application in the field of vibrational spectroscopic techniques (near and mid-infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging) for the determination of authenticity and adulteration in processed horticultural products with an emphasis on powders, edible oils and juices. The review highlights fundamental concepts, limitations and constraints associated with each spectroscopic technique in evaluating the authenticity and adulteration of processed horticultural products. Our findings suggest that the application of infrared spectroscopy (near and mid) is highly suitable for the assessment of powders, oils and juices, while Raman spectroscopy has shown potential in evaluating powders and edible oils. However, these spectroscopic tools still require improvement on measurement accessories and dynamic analytical methods for modern food inspection. Overall, the review of literature suggests that vibrational spectroscopy has the potential to fulfil the industrial need for quality control and authenticity assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effect of canopy position on rind biochemical properties of 'Marsh' grapefruit during postharvest non-chilling cold storage was evaluated on fruit harvested from different orchard locations. Inside canopy (IC) and outside canopy (OC) fruits were harvested at commercial maturity from two commercial farms located at KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Limpopo (LMP), South Africa, during two seasons. Rind biochemical analyses including color indices, total phenolic concentration, and sugars were performed on harvested grapefruit after Weeks 0, 3, 6, and 9 of cold storage at 7.5 ± 0.5°C. Canopy position showed a high significant (p <.001) effect on rind biochemicals while significant (p <.05) influence of orchard locations was observed on the same parameters. Reducing sugars were more concentrated in IC fruit harvested from both orchard location than OC fruit at Weeks 0 and 3, but inverse results occurred at Weeks 6 and 9. Orchard location significantly (p <.001) influenced vitamin C (14.4, 14.2, 14.4, 14.8 g kg−1) and (12.3, 16.1, 15.9, 14.6 g kg−1) of fruit rind at Weeks 0, 3, 6, and 9 from KZN and LMP, respectively. This study revealed that canopy position can influence rind biochemical properties of 'Marsh' grapefruit during non-chilling postharvest cold storage. However, further studies are required to formulate and provide the citrus industries with adequate advice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effect of canopy position on rind biochemical properties of 'Marsh' grapefruit during postharvest non-chilling cold storage was evaluated on fruit harvested from different orchard locations. Inside canopy (IC) and outside canopy (OC) fruits were harvested at commercial maturity from two commercial farms located at KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Limpopo (LMP), South Africa, during two seasons. Rind biochemical analyses including color indices, total phenolic concentration, and sugars were performed on harvested grapefruit after Weeks 0, 3, 6, and 9 of cold storage at 7.5 ± 0.5°C. Canopy position showed a high significant (p < .001) effect on rind biochemicals while significant (p < .05) influence of orchard locations was observed on the same parameters. Reducing sugars were more concentrated in IC fruit harvested from both orchard location than OC fruit at Weeks 0 and 3, but inverse results occurred at Weeks 6 and 9. Orchard location significantly (p < .001) influenced vitamin C (14.4, 14.2, 14.4, 14.8 g kg-1) and (12.3, 16.1, 15.9, 14.6 g kg-1 ) of fruit rind at Weeks 0, 3, 6, and 9 from KZN and LMP, respectively. This study revealed that canopy position can influence rind biochemical properties of 'Marsh' grapefruit during non-chilling postharvest cold storage. However, further studies are required to formulate and provide the citrus industries with adequate advice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unripe banana flour is a premium nutritious product with a potential to curb degenerative diseases through resistant starch and gluten free traits, however, with scant techniques to monitor adulteration practices. The objective of the present study was to determine the efficacy of visible–near infrared spectroscopy (Vis–NIR) spectroscopy (Vis–NIRS) in the detection and quantification of unripe banana flour adulteration with wheat flour. To do this, simulated adulteration of a composite banana flour was performed with different levels of wheat flour, in intervals of 20 g kg−1, ranging from 0 to 800 g kg−1. Each level was acquired in duplicate giving a total of 82 samples. Vis–NIR spectral data was acquired using a portable F-750 spectrometer in the range 447–1005 nm. Spectral data was analysed chemometrically using principle components analysis and partial least squares regression (PLSR), with 41 samples used as a calibration set and 41 for validation. The first two principal components accounted for 95% of spectral data variation, revealing five distinct clusters related to 0 g kg−1, 20–200 g kg−1, 220–400 g kg−1, 420–600 g kg−1 and 620–800 g kg−1 adulterated samples. The best PLSR model to predict wheat flour adulteration degrees in unripe banana flour was obtained using 2nd derivative Savitzky–Golay (19-point smoothing, 2nd order polynomial), showing the highest Rc2 (0.991); Rp2 (0.993); RPD (12.021) and the lowest RMSEC (2.226 g kg−1) and RMSEP (1.993 g kg−1) values. The obtained Vis–NIRS PLSR models therefore demonstrated the technology novelty in monitoring unripe banana flour quality by the processing industries and in retail markets during product verification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lemon (Citrus limon L.) is one of the most cultivated citrus fruit in South Africa. In citrus packhouses, fruit are coated with commercial synthetic waxes to enhance shelflife. However, the use of waxes has been linked to peteca spot (PS) incidence in lemons. This study evaluated the efficacy of chitosan (CH) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) incorporated with moringa leaf extracts (M) on reducing peteca spot incidence on 'Eureka' lemon. A total of 500 'Eureka' lemons were harvested from outside and inside canopy positions from a commercial orchard in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Fruit were assigned to five coating treatments, namely; control, 1% M + CMC, 1% CMC, 1% CH and 1% M + CH. After coating, fruit were transferred into a cold room with delivery air temperature set at 3 °C for 12 weeks to induce the disorder. At each sampling week, peteca spot incidence, fruit physicochemical and phytochemical properties including color, mass, vitamin C, carotenoids, TSS, TA and phenolics were measured. The results showed that coating treatments and canopy position significantly affected PS incidence. Fruit coated with M + CMC, CMC, CH were less susceptible to PS development in both inside and outside canopy compared to the control and M + CH coated fruit. Coating treatments significantly affected phenolic and flavonoid concentration. Moreover, coating treatments significantly reduced mass loss, ascorbic acid loss and delayed color change of fruit. The results found in this study demonstrated the ability of either M + CMC, CMC, or CH as coating treatments for reducing PS in 'Eureka' lemon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional methods for extracting and quantifying phenolic compounds in citrus rinds are time consuming. Rapid methods for extracting and quantifying phenolic compounds were developed by comparing three extraction solvent combinations (80:20 v/v ethanol:H2O; 70:29.5:0.5 v/v/v methanol:H2O: HCl; and 50:50 v/v dimethyl sulfoxide ( DMSO):methanol) for effectiveness. Freeze-dried, rind powder was extracted in an ultrasonic water bath at 35°C for 10, 20, and 30 min. Phenolic compound quantification was done with a high-performance liquid chromatography ( HPLC) equipped with diode array detector. Extracting with methanol:H2O: HCl for 30 min resulted in the optimum yield of targeted phenolic acids. Seven phenolic acids and three flavanone glycosides ( FGs) were quantified. The dominant phenolic compound was hesperidin, with concentrations ranging from 7500 to 32,000 μg/g DW. The highest yield of FGs was observed in samples extracted, using DMSO:methanol for 10 min. Compared to other extraction methods, methanol:H2O: HCl was efficient in optimum extraction of phenolic acids. The limit of detection and quantification for all analytes were small, ranging from 1.35 to 5.02 and 4.51 to 16.72 μg/g DW, respectively, demonstrating HPLC quantification method sensitivity. The extraction and quantification methods developed in this study are faster and more efficient. Where speed and effectiveness are required, these methods are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postharvest losses are a key stumbling block to long-term postharvest storage of potato tubers. Due to the high costs and lack of infrastructure associated with cold storage, this storage method is often not the most viable option. Hence, sprout suppressants are an appealing option. In most developing countries, potato tubers in postharvest storage are accompanied by a rapid decline in the potato tuber quality due to the physiological process of sprouting. It results in weight changes, increased respiration, and decreased nutritional quality. Therefore, proper management of sprouting is critical in potato storage. To avoid tuber sprouting, increased storage and transportation of potatoes demands either the retention of their dormant state or the application of sprout growth suppressants. This review evaluates the current understanding of the efficacy of different sprout suppressants on potato storability and the extension of potato shelf-life. We also consider the implications of varied study parameters, i.e., cultivar, temperature, and method of application, on the outcomes of sprout suppressant efficacies and how these limit the integration of efficient sprout suppression protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effect of edible coating and gaseous ozone on the antioxidant activities and biochemical properties of mango fruit. Mango fruit (cv. Keitt) were coated with moringa leaf extract and carboxymethyl cellulose (EC) before exposure to ozone (0.25 ppm). Gaseous ozone (O3) was administered intermittently for 24 or 36 h, and the control fruit were untreated. The fruit were stored at 10 °C for twenty-one days, then ripened at ambient temperature for seven days. The parameters measured were ascorbic acid, lipid peroxidation, phenolic content, total sugars, and antioxidant capacity (FRAP and DPPH). At the end of storage, the EC + O3 (36 h) had high phenolic content: 175.02 µg GEA/g DM compared to 151.87 µg GEA/g DM and 138.98 µg GEA/g DM for the O3 (24 h) and untreated fruit, respectively. Moreover, the combination of the EC and O3 (36 h) had a higher effect (p < 0.05) on preserving the antioxidant capacity of the mangoes. The EC + O3 (24 h) and EC significantly delayed fruit softening and maintained membrane integrity. Furthermore, the fruit treated with the EC reduced the accumulation of reducing (7.61 mg/mL) and total sugars (8.81 mg/mL) compared to the control treatment, which had a concentration of 12.74 mg/mL and 13.78 mg/mL, respectively. These findings demonstrate that EC combined with gaseous O3 enhanced the antioxidants of mango fruit during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]