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The study evaluated the effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment on broccoli quality and storage ability. Broccoli ‘Parthenon’ was treated the day after harvest with 1.0 or 3.0 cm3·m−3 1-MCP. The treatment was performed at 5 °C for 20 h, and then the plant material was stored at 0–1 °C for 30 or 60 d. After 30 d of refrigerated storage, broccoli was transferred to conditions simulating retail (15 °C) for 6 d. During 30 d of storage, the broccoli crowns maintained excellent quality. The fleshy stalks were slightly inferior due to the darkening of the leaf scar areas. After 60 d, there was a marked reduction in broccoli quality. Still, the positive effect of 1-MCP treatment on broccoli was observed as inhibiting the senescence of the remaining petiole fragments. During shelf life after 30 days of cold storage, broccoli treated with 1-MCP retained better quality of the crowns and fleshy stems, evident after six days of shelf life evaluation. The study did not find that 1-MCP treatment inhibited the respiration rate of broccoli, or ethylene production.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the fruit quality of 13 Asian pear cultivars grown in climatic conditions of central Poland. The following cultivars were tested: ‘Chojuro’, ‘Hayatama’, ‘Hosui’, ‘Kosui’, ‘Yuan Huang’, ‘Nijisseiki’, ‘Dżin Li’, ‘Er Shi Shinge’, ‘Er Jang Li’, ‘Golden 20th’, ‘Min Czi Li’, ‘San Li’, and ‘Shinseiki’. Pears were harvested in Experimental Orchard of Research Institute of Horticulture in Dąbrowice (near Skierniewice). Fruits were stored for 10 weeks at 0 °C in regular atmospheric conditions. Flesh firmness (FF), total soluble solids (TSS), and titratable acidity (TA) were measured at harvest and after the storage followed with 1 and 7 days of shelf life (SL) at 18 °C. After the storage, the sensory evaluation was also performed. Among the tested cultivars, ‘Min Czi Li’ and ‘San Li’ were the most firm (above 45 N) and ‘Kosui’ was the least firm (below 28 N) at harvest time. High amount of TSS (above 11% in both seasons and harvest dates) was observed in ‘Chojuro’, ‘Hayatama’, ‘Kosui’, ‘Yuan Huang’, and ‘Er Jang Li’ pears. Low TSS (not more than 10.6% at harvest) was observed in ‘Nijisseiki’, ‘Dżin Li’, and ‘Er Shi Shinge’ cultivars. The large differences among cultivars were observed in TA. High TA was observed in ‘Nijisseiki’ (above 0.32% in all terms of analyses) and low TA in ‘Hayatama’ and ‘Kosui’ (below 0.14%). All of the evaluated cultivars can be stored for 10 weeks at 0 °C in regular atmosphere without major negative impact on their quality characteristics. Fruits showed a slight (sometimes significant) decrease in FF after storage and a slight or no changes in TSS and TA. In sensory evaluations, ‘Chojuro’, ‘Hayatama’, ‘Hosui’, ‘Kosui’, ‘Yuan Huang’, ‘Er Jang Li’, ‘Er Shi Shinge’, and ‘Shinseiki’ (mostly cultivars characterized by high TSS) obtained highest scores for the overall quality (above 5.0 points in 10 points scale).

Parsley leaves (Petroselinum crispum) have long been known for their organoleptic properties. They are widely used in cuisine all over the world in fresh and dried form and also as pharmaceutical raw material. The presented work assessed if the storage of parsley leaves (as whole leaves or leave pieces) and packaging with PE or Xtend® foils influence the content of selected chemical compounds and the microbiological quality of the product. For this purpose, the leaves were dried, packaged and analyzed after 3 weeks’ storage under room temperature. Neither the degree of fragmentation nor the type of packaging foil affected the content of vit. C and total sugars. Higher content of reducing sugars was obtained in the samples packed in PE foil. Number of detected bacteria did not exceed the safety border. Less bacterial colonies were detected in the material packed as fragmented in the PE foil. No fungal colonies were detected in the leaves packed in the Xtend® foil.

The allergic reactions to fruits are lesser known among food sensitivities. The most common fruits belonging to the Rosaceae family that might cause allergic reactions are apples, pears and peaches. However, little is known about the potential allergic reactions caused by another member of the Rosaceae, the cherry. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of any allergic reaction or food hypersensitivity resulting from topical application and chronic oral administration of cherry fruits. The cherry fruits ‘Sabina’ cv. were produced in the orchard in Dąbrowice according to the principles of integrated (IFP) and organic (OR) productions. Fruits of ‘Debreceni Bötermö’ cv. were produced in Dąbrowice (IFP), and in the orchard in Nowy Dwór (OR). The experiments were performed on 65 outbred young, adult, white albinotic guinea pigs (Dankin Hartley). Three procedures were applied: I. Guinea-Pig Maximization Test (GPMT); II. Chronic administration of fruits and III. Skin prick (Dreborg) test. The skin reactions based on GPMT or Dreborg tests revealed no differences between the two cherry cultivars ‘Sabina’ and ‘Debreceni’ obtained from integrated or organic production. Similarly, it was not observed of any effect of cultivars of cherries nor the type of fruits production on the guinea pig skin reaction as a result of chronic feeding with fruits.

The eating quality of nine new pear cultivars grown in Poland was investigated in 2008-2011. Fruits of two summer cultivars: ‘Alfa’ and ‘Radana’, as well as late season varieties: ‘Hortensia’, ‘Dicolor’, ‘Concorde’, ‘Uta’, ‘Xenia’, ‘Erika’ and ‘Verdi’ were compared to fruits of ‘Clapp’s Favorite’ and ‘Conference’, which were taken as cultivars of reference. Fruits of all cultivars were harvested from the Experimental Orchard of the Research Institute of Horticulture at the commercial maturity stage and stored at +2.5 °C or -0.5 °C in a normal atmosphere (NA) or at -0.5 °C in a controlled atmosphere (CA) (0.7% CO2 : 2% O2) for 6 to 16 weeks. At the end of storage, the fruits of each cultivar were subjected to an individual ripening schedule at 18 °C (up to 14 days), which generated samples of diversified quality attributes. Based on instrumental analyses and descriptive sensory assessment the quality attributes of each cultivar were examined. The gathered data on the dynamics of quality attribute changes during the ripening stage confirm that each new cultivar needs an individual strategy during storage and ripening in order to maximise their specific sensory attributes to increase potential market value. The obtained data leads to the conclusion that ‘Xenia’ and ‘Concorde’ fruits have the biggest chance to fulfil consumer expectations, as they were appreciated more than the reference ‘Conference’ cultivar. Among the others also ‘Hortensia’, ‘Verdi’ and ‘Dicolor’ were scored higher than ‘Conference’, but their advantages were not so evident.

Aim of the study was to assess the risk of any allergic reaction or food hypersensitivity resulting from topical application and chronic oral administration of the fruit of selected strawberry cultivars ('Elsanta' and 'Honeoye') from farms managed organically. Materials and methods. The plantations were managed according to organic (OFP) as compared to integrated production (IFP) systems. The experiments were performed on outbred young, adult, white albinotic guinea pigs (Dunkin Hartley). Fruit characteristics included total soluble solid content, titratable acidity, sugar, polyphenol content and macro- and micronutrients. Results. The most pronounced changes in guinea pig skin followed topical exposure to 'Elsanta' strawberries from plantations managed organically showed discrete, moderate or intense erythema and swelling. Chronic oral administration of selected fruit extracts did not cause any skin reactions in groups receiving 'Elsanta' or 'Honeoye' from organic or integrated productions. The skin prick test did not show any immediate skin reactions compared to exposure to 1% histamine hydrochloride solution. Conclusion. Organic method of strawberry production cannot be concerned as more allergenic one as compared to integrated system. Any strict relationship between type of cultivar and selected macro-, micronutrients contents or fruit characteristics on the possible increase in allergenicity risk, was not found, either. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to estimate the effect of' tree pruning intensity on the content of nutrients in leaves of the ‘Łutówka’ sour cherry cultivar (Prunus cerasus L.). Between 2006 and 2010 an experiment with different tree pruning intensity was carried out. The study material consisted of first- class one-year old budded plants of the ‘Łutówka’ cultivar IR2 type, on Prunus mahaleb rootstock. The plants were planted in the spring of 2001 (orchard 1) and 2002 (orchard 2) and spaced at 4.0 × 1.3 m2, giving a total of 1.920 trees ha−1. Three pruning regimes were applied in the plantation: 1) no pruning; (only sanitation felling was applied), 2) moderate traditional pruning - branches were shortened, 3) intensive pruning by removing branches older than three years. The cherry tree pruning intensity significantly influenced the content of mineral components in leaves. The content of N increased, whereas the content of Ca and Mg decreased. The maximum temperatures at the beginning of the growth period had particularly beneficial effect on the P and K content. Chilly and dry spring limited the P and K content in the plants. The content of minerals in sour cherry leaves depended on the age of trees.