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Consumer acceptance and product development of sustainable, healthy, and tasty plant-based alternative products (PBAPs) are closely interlinked. However, information on consumer perceptions of the sensory profile of plant-based meat, cheese, and milk remains scarce. The study aimed to investigate German consumers’ (1) sensory evaluation of PBAPs and (2) consumers´ motivations and knowledge underlying the purchase of such products. This was analyzed in relation to different dietary styles of consumers (omnivore, flexitarian, vegetarian, vegan). A sample of 159 adults completed two tasks: first, a sensory test in which participants tasted and rated three different PBAPs in two consecutive sessions, and second, a questionnaire on consumption behavior, motivation, and knowledge. Results show few differences between nutrition styles in sensory evaluation of individual product attributes. However, overall liking was rated significantly higher by vegans than by omnivores. All dietary styles reported animal welfare and environmental aspects as the main motivations for consuming PBAPs. Most participants acknowledged that meat and cheese alternatives are highly processed foods and not a fad but are not automatically healthier or more environmentally friendly than their animal-based counterparts. Future research should focus on emerging product segments such as plant-based cheeses to better understand how consumers evaluate PBAPs.

Tomatoes are the most consumed vegetables worldwide and a valuable source of several antioxidants. The consumption of tomato products from appropriate cultivars after suitable processing methods may significantly improve human diet. The purpose of this study was investigating the variations in the contents of the main antioxidants present in tomato fruits, in the new Cuban breeds and yellow varieties, as well as their changes during the processing to tomato puree and ketchup. The quality evaluation comprised the detection of lycopene, ascorbic acid and total phenolics and the analysis of their contribution to antioxidant capacity in selected tomato genotypes. Heating (90–100 °C/15 min) enhanced the content of lycopene and total phenolics in puree, resulting in an increment in antioxidant capacity, despite the reduction in ascorbic acid as a result of concentration processes. The conducted experiments revealed that cultivars ‘Vyta’ and ‘Cima’ are very suitable for industrial purposes due to their high dry-matter content of more than 9% fresh mass and high biological value. With respect to serving size, the best sources of antioxidants are fresh tomatoes, followed closely by tomato puree, irrespective of cultivar. However, the differences are mainly due to the edible portion size (200 g for fresh tomatoes and 60 mL for puree, respectively).

The yield and fruit quality parameters of tomatoes are influenced by environmental conditions, and cultivation systems play an important role in improving quality, apart from breeding. We examined five breeding lines and one cultivar in five cultivation systems for yield and fruit quality parameters. The cultivation systems include a single-glazed greenhouse with and without supplementary LED interlighting; a double-glazed greenhouse with and without supplementary LED interlighting; and an organic cultivation system on the field with a rainout shelter. Plants and fruits grown in the double glazing system showed significantly lower values for plant height, yield, DM, TSS, fructose, glucose, antioxidant capacity (DPPH, TEAC), TPC, calcium, phosphorus, and manganese content than in the single-glazed greenhouse, which can be explained by the lower light transmittance. However, it could be seen that the additional LED interlighting could lower the negative effect on yield and quality traits due to double glazing.

There is evidence that chloride (Cl―) can lead to both an improved hydration and water use efficiency in plants due to its osmotic properties. The potato crop is widely assumed to be sensitive to Cl―. This is based on studies which found tuber yield or tuber starch reductions following a Cl― fertilization. However, there are also contradictory reports which could not find any detrimental effect of Cl― fertilization on potato plant development. As potato is inefficient in the use of water, we aimed to test if it is possible to improve the hydration status of potato without reducing tuber yield and dry matter by means of Cl― fertilization. We conducted a pot experiment with four different Cl― doses and investigated soil–plant water relations, biomass, tuber yield and dry matter development. Our findings deliver an indication that the potato crop is much less sensitive to Cl― than previously assumed and, more importantly, that a Cl― supply can indeed improve the potato shoot water status. This happened without impairing tuber yield and dry matter. Since potato is very sensitive to drought stress, we assume that Cl― fertilization is a promising measure to improve the drought resilience of potato.

Species adulteration is a common problem in the coffee trade. Several attempts have been made to differentiate among species. However, finding an applicable methodology that would consider the various aspects of adulteration remains a challenge. This study investigated an ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy-based determination of caffeine and chlorogenic acid contents, as well as the applicability of non-targeted near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, to discriminate between green coffee beans of the Coffea arabica (Arabica) and Coffea canephora (Robusta) species from Java Island, Indonesia. The discrimination was conducted by measuring the caffeine and chlorogenic acid content in the beans using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The data related to both compounds was processed using linear discriminant analysis (LDA). Information about the diffuse reflectance (log 1/R) spectra of intact beans was determined by NIR spectroscopy and analyzed using multivariate analysis. UV-Vis spectroscopy attained an accuracy of 97% in comparison to NIR spectroscopy’s accuracy by selected wavelengths of LDA (95%). The study suggests that both methods are applicable to discriminate reliably among species.

The nutritional quality of potato tubers is cultivar-specific and depends on climate-soil conditions and agrotechnical practices, as well as the conditions during long-term storage. Studies were performed from 2009−2011 to determine the effects of magnesium fertilisation and storage duration on the contents of the anti-nutritive compound nitrates, nitrites and total glycoalkaloids (TGA) in potato tubers of mid-early cultivar “Bila” (Solanum tuberosum L.). Magnesium (Mg) was applied in doses of 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg MgO ha−1, respectively, in the form of kieserite−magnesium sulphate (26% MgO). Potato quality after harvest and after three and six months of storage was determined. The content of nitrates in tubers after harvest ranged from 303 to 356 mg kg−1 FW and nitrites from 1.59 to 1.67 mg kg−1 FW. Increasing magnesium fertilisation reduced the nitrate and nitrite content of tubers but increased TGA content. Possible explanations for the TGA increase after Mg supply are discussed. Tubers that contained less TGA after harvest also had less glycoalkaloids after storage. However, physical damage during harvest or transportation, exposure to light and bad storage conditions increase the concentrations of glycoalkaloids in tubers. The consumption of cultivar “Bila” would not exceed the acceptable daily intake of harmful substances.

Optimisation of processing time and pre-treatments are crucial factors prior to apple drying to produce a high-quality product. The purpose of the present study was to test the utility of physical (hot-water, HWB and steam blanching, SB) and chemical (1% ascorbic acid, AA; and 1% citric acid, CA) treatments, alone or in combination in reducing surface discolouration as well as oxidative enzyme activity in apple slices (cv. Golden Delicious and Elstar) exposed to air at room temperature for 0, 30 and 60 min. The total colour change (ΔE) for Golden Delicious was equal to 2.38, 2.68, and 4.05 after 0, 30 and 60 min of air exposure, respectively. Dipping in AA solution (1% w/v) was found to be the best treatment to limit surface discolouration of both apple cultivars. The best heat treatments to inhibit polyphenol oxidase/peroxidase enzymes activity were 70 °C HWB for Golden Delicious and 60 °C HWB for Elstar slices, both in combination with a solution of 1% AA and 1% CA. The tested apple cultivars were found to require different treatments at minimum ambient air exposure to obtain the best surface colour condition.

Moisture content (MC) is one of the most important quality parameters of green coffee beans. Therefore, its fast and reliable measurement is necessary. This study evaluated the feasibility of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and chemometrics for rapid and non-destructive prediction of MC in intact green coffee beans of both Coffea arabica (Arabica) and Coffea canephora (Robusta) species. Diffuse reflectance (log 1/R) spectra of intact beans were acquired using a bench top Fourier transform NIR instrument. MC was determined gravimetrically according to The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 6673. Samples were split into subsets for calibration (n = 64) and independent validation (n = 44). A three-component partial least squares regression (PLSR) model using raw NIR spectra yielded a root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.80% MC; a four component PLSR model using scatter corrected spectra yielded a RMSEP of 0.57% MC. A simplified PLS model using seven selected wavelengths (1155, 1212, 1340, 1409, 1724, 1908, and 2249 nm) yielded a similar accuracy (RMSEP: 0.77% MC) which opens the possibility of creating cheaper NIR instruments. In conclusion, NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy appears to be suitable for rapid and reliable MC prediction in intact green coffee; no separate model for Arabica and Robusta species is needed.