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Methodology for analysing textural properties of sugar beet roots in the laboratory has previously been established. It has been shown to be reliable and of value in exploring relationships between textural properties, damage rates, and storability of varieties. In this paper, a methodology for the assessment of textural properties in-field, prior to harvest, using an inexpensive handheld penetrometer is examined. Three sugar beet varieties were grown in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden during 2019. Textural properties were assessed in-field with the handheld penetrometer 2, 1 and 0 months prior to harvest, and with the laboratory penetrometer directly after harvest. Comparison of the results showed generally strong correlations. A power analysis suggests a difference in mean Handheld Pressure of 0.10 MPa could be found significant within a large trial with a block design. The reliability of the handheld penetrometer was further assessed in the Swedish national variety trials over three years (2019-2021). Correlation coefficients of 0.86 and 0.94 were found between mean Handheld Pressure for 2019 and 2020, and 2020 and 2021 respectively. The handheld penetrometer can be applied as an economic means of quantifying differences in textural properties of sugar beet varieties. Clear operating procedure and training must exist.

The production of cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) is negatively affected by harsh environmental conditions such as extremely high and low temperatures, wind and hail damage, and pest and disease infestation. These factors delay maturity and cause uneven ripening, fruit abrasion, and blemishes, which consequently result in poor fruit quality and reduced shelf life. Preharvest bagging is an environmentally friendly alternative technique for enhancement of fruit quality and hence alleviates the stated problems. The study evaluated the physico-chemical quality of ‘Tinker’ and ‘Roma VF’ cherry tomato as influenced by preharvest bagging (transparent and blue plastics) during 8 days of shelf life at ambient conditions. Five clusters of fruit per plant per cultivar with a diameter of 1.5 to 2.0 cm were bagged after 16 days of fruit set and harvested at the green maturity stage, 12 days after preharvest bagging for the assessment of postharvest quality. Preharvest bagging effectively accelerated fruit maturity and ripening as indicated by enhanced fruit size, uniform color development, high pH, dry matter (DM) content, soluble solid content (SSC), and low titratable acidity (TA) during shelf life. Bagged fruit had higher loss of firmness and weight mainly due to ripening and showed very slight incidence of diseases during shelf life of 8 days. Unbagged cherry tomato had delayed maturity and ripening; small-sized fruit; uneven color development; low pH, SSC, and DM; and high TA. Although unbagged cherry tomato had lower firmness and weight loss due to delayed ripening, fruit showed moderate to severe incidence of tomato bacterial canker disease (Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis) during shelf life. These results indicated that preharvest bagging accelerated fruit maturity and ripening, improved physico-chemical quality, and reduced disease infestation on cherry tomato during shelf life.

Compact, medium size, white to creamy cauliflower curds were packed into different packaging techniques like i. without packaging (control); ii. packed in low density polyethylene (LDPE) bag with 1% perforation; iii. wrapped with polyethylene (PE) cling film and iv. newspaper (locally used). Half of each treatment was kept at (6±1°C and 50±5% RH) and the other half was kept at ambient conditions (25±3°C and 60±5% RH). LDPE bag or PE cling film has a great effect to retain firmness and reduce weight loss of cauliflower in both storage conditions. Respiration rate, rot incidence and changes of colour values (lightness and hue angle) was reduced significantly for the cauliflowers packed in LDPE bag or wrapped with PE cling film stored in a refrigerator than that of control (without packaging) and all packaging techniques stored at ambient condition throughout the storage period. Initially, acidity, TSS and ascorbic acid content were 0.26%, 4.7° Brix and 58.7 mg 100g-1, respectively. Ascorbic acid content was reduced severely in the cauliflower stored in ambient conditions than that stored in a refrigerator. Cauliflower wrapped with PE cling film and packed in an LDPE bag (1% perforation) stored in a refrigerator (6±1°C and 50±5% RH) could retain white colour, good sensory quality, firm and fresh curds with minimum loss in weight, texture and disease incidence up to 18 days and 16 days, respectively.

Similar to apple, pear is one of the most important horticultural crops with high nutritional and economical value. The biological and economic traits of the specie, as well as the fruits quality, make the pear growing much appreciated and to be given an increasing importance. Five pear cultivars ('Paramis', 'Paradox', 'Paradise', 'Isadora', 'Pandora') registered in the last period by Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti, Romania and one selection 'SP06C2P5' ('Packham’s Triumph' x 'Monica') were investigated regarding their physical-chemical parameters. Fruits quality attributes were determined by the external (weight, size, skin lightness) and internal (firmness, total soluble solids, acidity, pH). Observations and determinations were made in the season of 2019, 2020 and 2021, in field trial planted in 2016. For this study, comparisons were made with 'Monica', the most spread bred Romanian cultivar. Significant differences were encountered among the different cultivars for most of the quantitative characters, such as fruit weight, caliber, lightness, total soluble solids (TSS) and acidity. Based on these results, ‘Pandora’ cv. had the highest annual average of weight (243.17g), ‘Isadora’ cv. the highest amount of TSS (14.63%), ‘SP06C2P5’ the highest amount of malic (0.74%), citric (0.71%) and tartric acid (0.80%). The data referring to the external and internal fruit quality traits of new bred Romanian pear cultivars are useful for growers, but also to enrich germplasm collection and to select proper parents for breeding.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of pre-harvest gibberellic acid (GA3) and calcium chloride (CaCl2) and post-harvest modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) applications on fruit quality of sweet cherry during the cold storage. At the end of the cold storage, GA3+CaCl2 applications in MAP-applied fruit and CaCl2 in non-MAP-applied fruit significantly delayed weight loss compared to the control. During the cold storage, the decay of CaCl2-applied fruit has not been observed. At the end of cold storage, the a* and firmness values of the fruit treated with GA3 and CaCl2 were significantly higher than the control. The CaCl2-applied fruit had less soluble solids than the control, but they had significantly higher acidity compared to other applications. In MAP, GA3- and CaCl2-applied fruit had higher vitamin C and antioxidant activity values than the control fruit, but their total phenolics were higher. However, the total flavonoids of CaCl2-applied fruit were higher than the control. On fruit in non-MAP, with GA3 application, less anthocyanin was obtained compared to the control. As a result, GA3-treated fruit had a relatively lower bioactive compound content compared to the fruit of the CaCl2 and control applications both during the harvest and the cold storage. However, it has been revealed that GA3 and CaCl2 applications can be used as significant pre-harvest tools to delay the loss of the fruit firmness.

The storage period of fleshy fruits greatly affects their quality and selection, and is largely controlled by genetic factors. Therefore, it is imperative to elucidate how genetic factors affect fruit ripening and its storage. Here, we evaluated the postharvest storage properties of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor MdbHLH3-overexpressing transgenic Royal gala apple fruits. During storage, the contents of starch, malic acid, fructose, glucose, and sucrose in fruits of three MdbHLH3 transgenic lines were always higher than those of the wild-type (WT) control. Interestingly, the sugar-acid ratio also showed the same trend during fruit storage. Additionally, the fruit firmness decreased with increasing storage time, and the contents of cell wall components such as water-soluble pectin and cellulose in transgenic fruits were higher than those in control fruits, while the firmness of transgenic fruits was lower than that in WT control fruits. Though the ethylene release rate in both showed the same trend (firstly increasing, then decreasing, and finally peaking) in 90-day stored fruits, transgenic apples had higher ethylene levels than the WT control throughout storage. Furthermore, the activities of membrane peroxidase, antioxidant enzymes, and fruit ripening enzymes in all transgenic fruits were significantly higher than those in the WT control. Thus, our findings show how MdbHLH3 negatively regulates and reduces apple storage time. This may prove useful for not only developing biotechnological strategies, but also support traditional breeding programs, to help improve the storage time of fleshy fruits.

Introduction: Blackberry (Rubus subgenus Rubus) is a soft-fruited specialty crop that often suffers economic losses due to degradation in the shipping process. During transportation, fresh-market blackberries commonly leak, decay, deform, or become discolored through a disorder known as red drupelet reversion (RDR). Over the past 50 years, breeding programs have achieved better fruit firmness and postharvest quality through traditional selection methods, but the underlying genetic variation is poorly understood. Methods: We conducted a genome-wide association of fruit firmness and RDR measured in 300 tetraploid fresh-market blackberry genotypes from 2019-2021 with 65,995 SNPs concentrated in genic regions of the R. argutus reference genome. Results: Fruit firmness and RDR had entry-mean broad sense heritabilities of 68% and 34%, respectively. Three variants on homologs of polygalacturonase (PG), pectin methylesterase (PME), and glucan endo-1,3-b-glucosidase explained 27% of variance in fruit firmness and were located on chromosomes Ra06, Ra01, and Ra02, respectively. Another PG homolog variant on chromosome Ra02 explained 8% of variance in RDR, but it was in strong linkage disequilibrium with 212 other RDR-associated SNPs across a 23 Mb region. A large cluster of six PME and PME inhibitor homologs was located near the fruit firmness quantitative trait locus (QTL) identified on Ra01. RDR and fruit firmness shared a significant negative correlation (r = -0.28) and overlapping QTL regions on Ra02 in this study. Discussion: Our work demonstrates the complex nature of postharvest quality traits in blackberry, which are likely controlled by many small-effect QTLs. This study is the first large-scale effort to map the genetic control of quantitative traits in blackberry and provides a strong framework for future GWAS. Phenotypic and genotypic datasets may be used to train genomic selection models that target the improvement of postharvest quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Mango (Mangifera indica L.), acclaimed as the 'king of fruits' in the tropical world, has historical, religious, and economic values. It is grown commercially in more than 100 countries, and fresh mango world trade accounts for ~3,200 million US dollars for the year 2020. Mango is widely cultivated in sub-tropical and tropical regions of the world, with India, China, and Thailand being the top three producers. Mango fruit is adored for its taste, color, flavor, and aroma. Fruit color and firmness are important fruit quality traits for consumer acceptance, but their genetics is poorly understood. Methods: For mapping of fruit color and firmness, mango varieties Amrapali and Sensation, having contrasting fruit quality traits, were crossed for the development of a mapping population. Ninety-two bi-parental progenies obtained from this cross were used for the construction of a high-density linkage map and identification of QTLs. Genotyping was carried out using an 80K SNP chip array. Results and discussion: Initially, we constructed two high-density linkage maps based on the segregation of female and male parents. A female map with 3,213 SNPs and male map with 1,781 SNPs were distributed on 20 linkages groups covering map lengths of 2,844.39 and 2,684.22cM, respectively. Finally, the integrated map was constructed comprised of 4,361 SNP markers distributed on 20 linkage groups, which consisted of the chromosome haploid number in Mangifera indica (n =20). The integrated genetic map covered the entire genome of Mangifera indica cv. Dashehari, with a total genetic distance of 2,982.75 cM and an average distance between markers of 0.68 cM. The length of LGs varied from 85.78 to 218.28 cM, with a mean size of 149.14 cM. Phenotyping for fruit color and firmness traits was done for two consecutive seasons. We identified important consistent QTLs for 12 out of 20 traits, with integrated genetic linkages having significant LOD scores in at least one season. Important consistent QTLs for fruit peel color are located at Chr 3 and 18, and firmness on Chr 11 and 20. The QTLs mapped in this study would be useful in the marker-assisted breeding of mango for improved efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plums are primarily marketed for fresh consumption, canning, freezing, jam and jelly. Unfortunately, plum consumption has remained steady or declined. Consumers complain about a lack of flavor quality but are willing to pay for higher quality. Thus, absence of flavor and cold storage disorders are the main barriers to consumption. Plum cultivars are sensitive to gel breakdown, flesh browning and 'off flavors'. Consumer approval and postharvest life are controlled by genotype, quality attributes, harvest date and proper postharvest handling. A consumer quality index (CQI) based on soluble solids concentration (SSC) and minimum firmness is proposed to maximize flavor and postharvest life. In most cases, late harvest increases quality attributes. Our work and industry experience demonstrated that using critical bruising thresholds (CBT) based on minimum firmness measured at harvest acts as a reliable predictor of how late to harvest safely for maximum visual and sensory quality. Plums tolerated late harvest well because of their high tolerance to bruising damage, but suitable postharvest temperature management and selling within the potential postharvest life are required to maintain flavor and avoid the beginning of chilling injury. Thus, to maximize flavor and postharvest life, a CQI based on SSC and minimum firmness measured at consumption is proposed. This article provides guidance on using this CQI, combined with proper postharvest handling techniques, such as correct harvest date determination and temperature management, to maintain quality and increase consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely recognized that the quality of fruits and vegetables can be altered during transportation and storage. Firmness and loss of weight are the crucial attributes used to evaluate the quality of various fruits, as many other quality attributes are related to these two attributes. These properties are influenced by the surrounding environment and preservation conditions. Limited research has been conducted to accurately predict the quality attributes during transport and storage as a function of storage conditions. In this research, extensive experimental investigations have been conducted on the changes in quality attributes of four fresh apple cultivars (Granny Smith, Royal Gala, Pink Lady, and Red Delicious) during transportation and storage. The study evaluated the weight loss and change in firmness of these apples varieties at different cooling temperatures ranging from 2 °C to 8 °C to assess the impact of storing at these temperatures on the quality attributes. The results indicate that the firmness of each cultivar continuously decreased over time, with the R2 values ranging from 0.9489–0.8691 for red delicious, 0.9871–0.9129 for royal gala, 0.9972–0.9647 for pink lady, and 0.9964–0.9484 for granny smith. The rate of weight loss followed an increasing trend with time, and the high R2 values indicate a strong correlation. The degradation of quality was evident in all four cultivars, with temperature having a significant impact on firmness. The decline in firmness was found to be minimal at 2 °C, but increased as the storage temperature increased. The loss of firmness also varied among the four cultivars. For instance, when stored at 2 °C, the firmness of pink lady decreased from an initial value of 8.69 kg·cm2 to 7.89 kg·cm2 in 48 h, while the firmness of the same cultivar decreased from 7.86 kg·cm2 to 6.81 kg·cm2 after the same duration of storage. Based on the experimental results, a multiple regression quality prediction model was developed as a function of temperature and time. The proposed models were validated using a new set of experimental data. The correlation between the predicted and experimental values was found to be excellent. The linear regression equation yielded an R2 value of 0.9544, indicating a high degree of accuracy. The model can assist stakeholders in the fruit and fresh produce industry in anticipating quality changes at different storage stages based on the storage conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GABA (γ-Aminobutyric acid) is an amino acid with diverse effects on plant development, including delayed senescence in horticultural commodities. The main goal of this research was to investigate the impact of GABA applications to pomegranate trees on the 'Mollar de Elche' quality traits and antioxidant compounds during storage for 60 days at 10 °C. In the 2019 experiment, pomegranate trees received foliar sprays of GABA at 10-, 50- or 100-mM concentrations at three stages of fruit development. Pomegranates harvested from GABA-treated trees exhibited enhanced fruit firmness, titratable acidity, the red color of skin and aril, and higher levels of total phenolics and total and specific anthocyanins compared to those obtained from the control group. These quality traits were maintained at higher levels during 60 days of preservation at 10 °C, and the most important effects were observed for 100 mM dose. In a 2020 experiment, GABA was sprayed at a 100 mM dose, and results were confirmed, showing a retard of the ripening process in pomegranates from GABA-treated trees concerning controls for two months of storage and an extension of their shelf life (with optimal quality traits appreciated by consumers) from 30 to 60 days. Moreover, the increase in anthocyanin content due to GABA treatments resulted in redder fruits, which would appeal more to consumers and have improved health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Firmness is a valid and widely acknowledged indication of fruit quality that is directly connected to physical structure and mechanical qualities. The deformation signals of kiwifruit for firmness assessment were acquired using an assessment system based on airflow and laser technology in this investigation. Using partial least squares regression (PLSR), genetic algorithm optimization of bp neural network (GA‐BP), and an extreme learning machine (ELM), deformation data from kiwifruit was used to create models of Magness–Taylor penetration firmness prediction. The ELM model outperformed the PLSR model, and GA‐BP model in the prediction set, with a correlation coefficient of 0.876 and a root mean squared error of 3.576 N in the prediction set. These findings showed that an assessment system based on airflow and laser techniques can be utilized to assess the firmness of kiwifruit quickly and nondestructively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biostimulants help plants cope with environmental stresses and improve vegetable yield and quality. This study was conducted to determine the protein hydrolysate (PH) effect of three different durations (weekly applications: three, six, or nine times plus an untreated control) in factorial combination with four soil electrical conductivities (EC: 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, or 6.0 mS·cm−1) on yield, fruit quality, and elemental composition of tomato 'miniplum' grown in a greenhouse. Fruit yield was best affected, during the summer, by six and nine biostimulant applications at EC 3.0 mS·cm−1, and in the same season, the six treatments led to the highest fruit number with no difference compared to nine applications; during the winter, the three and six treatments improved the mentioned variables at each EC level. Fruits' dry residue and Brixo were positively affected by biostimulation both in summer and winter. In summer, the 6.0 mS·cm−1 EC led to the highest dry residue and Brixo values, though the latter did not show any significant difference compared to 4.5 mS·cm−1; in winter, the best results corresponded to 4.5 and 6.0 mS·cm−1. A higher beneficial effect of PH on fruit antioxidant status, i.e., lycopene, polyphenols, ascorbic acid levels, and lipophilic (LAA) and hydrophilic (HAA) activity, was recorded in winter compared with summer. Positive correlations between polyphenols and LAA, as well as ascorbic acid content and HAA were found for all EC and PH treatments. Most of the mineral elements tested demonstrated concentration stability, whereas the highest EC decreased P, Mg, Cu, and Se accumulation. The opposite effect was shown by PH application on Se and Mn levels, with P tending to increase. The concentrations of Fe, Zn, and Cu were the lowest under the longest duration of PH supply. These results further confirm the essential role of plant biostimulation in enhancing tomato yield and quality, with a particular focus on the treatment duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangosteens can develop a postharvest physiological disorder, called “hardening”, which affects their marketability and is not detectable using visual inspection. The hardening disorder of mangosteens was determined by firmness value using the texture analyzer. Near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI) in the region of 935–1720 nm was tested as a possible rapid and non-destructive method to detect this disorder. The spectra from a region of interest of mangosteens were acquired and used for analysis. Calibration models for firmness of a similarly sized group and a mixed-size group were established using partial least squares regression (PLSR) and support vector machine regression (SVMR). Chemometric algorithms were investigated in order to determine the optimal conditions for establishing the models for firmness. The optimum model was obtained when the fruit were graded into similarly sized groups. Using partial least squares regression (PLSR), the correlation coefficient of prediction (Rp) was 0.87 and the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) was 6.25 N. The predictive images for firmness of the fruit were created by interpreting predicted firmness visualized as colors in every pixel. From the data, it was concluded that NIR-HSI can potentially be used to visualize hardening of individual mangosteens based on their predictive images.

Colostrum, the first milk produced by mammals, is rich in various bioactive components that provide numerous health benefits to newborns, such as growth factors, hormones, immunoglobulins, cytokines, and enzymes. Topical application of bovine or equine colostrum has been found to improve regeneration, accelerate cutaneous wound healing, and have moisturizing, protective, and anti-aging properties. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a cosmetic preparation containing sheep colostrum on skin with signs of aging in mature women. Fifty-two women, aged 40–70, were randomized into two groups to receive either colostrum or placebo cream. The participants applied the cream for eight weeks. Skin hydration, TEWL, sebum, erythema, and tone were measured using a standardized Courage + Khazaka electronic GmbH Multi Probe Adapter; skin elasticity was measured with a cutometer, and images were taken by FotoMedicus. The treatment increased skin moisture, reduced TEWL, and improved skin firmness. These findings were confirmed by the subjective survey. The participants reported, inter alia, improved skin softness and less redness and hypersensitivity. Sheep colostrum cream was more effective at improving skin conditions than placebo cream. Colostrum creams can improve certain aspects of skin quality, especially the hydrolipid barrier, and overall rejuvenation.

Introduction: Goat milk has poorer fermentation characteristics due to the absence or only traces of αs1-casein, due to which goat yoghurt contains a less dense gel structure. Moreover, the fermentation characteristics of the milk vary between the breeds of the same species. Therefore, it becomes imperative to explore a few metabolites which could regulate the techno-functional properties of goat yoghurt. Objectives: This study was aimed at relating the metabolite profile of yoghurt prepared from milk of Barbari, an indigenous goat breed of India, and its techno-functional properties (firmness, whey syneresis, and flow behaviour) using multivariate data analysis and regression models. Results: Goat yoghurt was prepared with two different total solids (TS) levels (12 and 16%) and cultures, namely, commercial culture comprising a thermophilic yoghurt culture (A) and NCDC-263 comprising a mixed yoghurt culture (B). Results demonstrated a significant difference (p < 0.05) in whey syneresis with the increase in the TS level. Flow behaviour of all yoghurt samples showed a decrease in viscosity with an increase in shear rate, which confirmed its non-Newtonian behaviour and shear thinning nature, whereas frequency sweep confirmed its viscoelastic nature. Firmness was the most affected under the influence of different TS and culture levels. It was higher (p < 0.05) for 16-A, followed by 16-3B, and minimum for 12-2B. GC-MS-based metabolomics of the yoghurt revealed a total of 102 metabolites, out of which 15 metabolites were differentially expressed (p < 0.05), including 2-hydroxyethyl palmitate, alpha-mannobiose, and myo-inositol. Multivariate data analysis revealed clear separation among groups using principal component analysis and several correlations using a correlation heat map. Further, regression analysis exhibited methylamine (0.669) and myo-inositol (0.947) with higher regression coefficients (R2 values) exceeding 0.6, thus demonstrating their significant influence on the techno-functional properties, mainly firmness, of the yogurt. Conclusion: In conclusion, A gas chromatography-based metabolomics approach could successfully establish a relationship between the metabolome and the techno-functional properties of the yoghurt.

The current study investigates the use of a non-destructive hyperspectral imaging approach for the evaluation of kiwifruit cv. “Hayward” internal quality, focusing on physiological traits such as soluble solid concentration (SSC), dry matter (DM), firmness, and tannins, widely used as quality attributes. Regression models, including partial least squares regression (PLSR), bagged trees (BTs), and three-layered neural network (TLNN), were employed for the estimation of the above-mentioned quality attributes. Experimental procedures involving the Specim IQ hyperspectral camera utilization and software were followed for data acquisition and analysis. The effectiveness of PLSR, bagged trees, and TLNN in predicting the firmness, SSC, DM, and tannins of kiwifruit was assessed via statistical metrics, including R squared (R²) values and the root mean square error (RMSE). The obtained results indicate varying degrees of efficiency for each model in predicting kiwifruit quality parameters. The study concludes that machine learning algorithms, especially neural networks, offer substantial accuracy, surpassing traditional methods for evaluating kiwifruit quality traits. Overall, the current study highlights the potential of such non-destructive techniques in revolutionizing quality assessment during postharvest by yielding rapid and reliable predictions regarding the critical quality attributes of fruits.

The market value of grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) is affected by their quality and harvesting time. Veraison and stage of ripening are the most important factors determining table grape quality. Therefore, the present research was performed to determine the effects of various ripening stages on the combination and postharvest quality of two red grape cultivars. Based on color change, fruits were harvested at the veraison stage, two weeks after the veraison stage, and at the full ripening stage. Fruits harvested at the fully ripe stage were stored for 7, 14, and 21 days (at 1 °C with 85–90% relative humidity). The greatest soluble solids content (SSC) (16.1%) and SSC/TA ratio were observed in ‘Khoshnav’, while the greatest titratable acidity (TA) (0.45%) and pH (3.60) were observed in ‘Rashah’. The results of the present study showed that regardless of the storage period, fruits harvested at time V (veraison time) and two weeks after veraison (2WAV) had significantly higher firmness and vitamin C content. ‘Khoshnav’ had the lowest weight loss (2.05%), and ‘Khoshnav’ and ‘Rashah’ had the greatest firmness (5.95 N) and vitamin C content (89.48 mg 100 g−1 FW). The greatest anthocyanin content was observed on day 7 of storage in ‘Rashah’. Total phenol (TP) and total flavonoid (TF) contents and antioxidant capacity (AC) increased significantly until harvest and decreased thereafter during cold storage. ‘Rashah’ showed the greatest AC, TP, and TF values. Based on the findings of this study, the ‘Rashah’ grape cultivar is shown to be rich in vitamin C, anthocyanins, flavonoids, phenolics, and antioxidants. It holds potential for utilization in both processing and breeding programs as a functional food ingredient.

Research on silicon (Si), an element considered beneficial for plant growth, has focused on abiotic and biotic stress mitigation. However, the effect of Si on tomato fruit quality under normal growth conditions remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of applying different levels of Si (0 mmol·L−1 [CK], 0.6 mmol·L−1 [T1], 1.2 mmol·L−1 [T2], and 1.8 mmol·L−1 [T3]) in foliar sprays on tomato fruit quality cultivated in substrates, and the most beneficial Si level was found. Compared to CK, exogenous Si treatments had a positive influence on the appearance and nutritional quality of tomato fruits at the mature green, breaker, and red ripening stages. Of these, T2 treatment significantly increased peel firmness and single-fruit weight in tomato fruits. The contents of soluble sugars, soluble solids, soluble proteins, and vitamin C were significantly higher, and the nitrate content was significantly lower in the T2 treatment than in the CK treatment. Cluster analysis showed that T2 produced results that were significantly different from those of the CK, T1, and T3 treatments. During the red ripening stage, the a* values of fruits in the T2 treatment tomato were significantly higher than those in the other three treatments. Moreover, the lycopene and lutein contents of the T2 treatment increased by 12.90% and 17.14%, respectively, compared to CK. T2 treatment significantly upregulated the relative gene expression levels of the phytoene desaturase gene (PDS), the lycopene ε-cyclase gene (LCY-E), and the zeaxanthin cyclooxygenase gene (ZEP) in the carotenoid key genes. The total amino acid content in tomato fruits in the T2 treatment was also significantly higher than that of CK. In summary, foliar spraying of 1.2 mmol·L−1 exogenous Si was effective in improving the appearance and nutritional quality of tomato fruits under normal growth conditions. This study provides new approaches to further elucidate the application of exogenous silicon to improve tomato fruit quality under normal conditions.

The effects of preharvest calcium chloride (CaCl2) treatment on some quality characteristics and bioactive compounds of sweet cherry fruit (Prunus avium L. cvs. 0900 Ziraat, Sweetheart and Merton Late) were investigated. The CaCl2 (1%) solution was sprayed to the cherry trees at 21 and 35 days after full bloom stage. The trees served as control were treated with distilled water at the same days. CaCl2 treatment remarkably suppressed the respiration rate and increased titratable acidity and fruit firmness of cherries. Treated fruit had more attractive skin colour with higher h° and L* values compared to control. The individual soluble sugars and total sugar contents of CaCl2 treated cherries were lower than those of control fruit. The accumulation of ascorbic acid, stem chlorophyll, total phenolics and anthocyanin contents of fruit were delayed by CaCl2 treatment in all varieties. The antioxidant activities of all treated varieties were lower than those of control fruit. Based on these results, it can be set forth that preharvest CaCl2 treatment suppressed ripening processes including respiration rate and maintained firmness and titratable acidity of cherries by maintaining cell integrity in all varieties during the fruit development period.

Mechanical properties provide information to design and develop suitable machines (equipment) for processing, transporting, and conveying chestnuts. Four chestnut cultivars that have not been studied before were investigated in the study carried out for this purpose. Some engineering properties of Macit 55, Akyüz, Ali Nihat, and Bouche de Betizac chestnut cultivars were determined and compared. The mechanical properties were determined by rupture force, rupture energy, deformation, and firmness values. The friction coefficients of chestnut varieties on a galvanized sheet, stainless steel, and rubber surfaces were investigated. Mechanical properties were determined using a Universal Testing Machine. The values obtained from the samples were obtained by compression between the parallel plate along the X, Y, and Z axes. For the static friction coefficient, while the galvanized sheet surface had the lowest value (0.145), the rubber surface had the highest value (0.212). For rupture forces, the force required to break the chestnut at the Z loading axis position (714.09 N) was higher than the required force at the Y loading axis position (396.35 N) of the fruit.

IntroductionMango (Mangifera indica L.), acclaimed as the ‘king of fruits’ in the tropical world, has historical, religious, and economic values. It is grown commercially in more than 100 countries, and fresh mango world trade accounts for ~3,200 million US dollars for the year 2020. Mango is widely cultivated in sub-tropical and tropical regions of the world, with India, China, and Thailand being the top three producers. Mango fruit is adored for its taste, color, flavor, and aroma. Fruit color and firmness are important fruit quality traits for consumer acceptance, but their genetics is poorly understood.MethodsFor mapping of fruit color and firmness, mango varieties Amrapali and Sensation, having contrasting fruit quality traits, were crossed for the development of a mapping population. Ninety-two bi-parental progenies obtained from this cross were used for the construction of a high-density linkage map and identification of QTLs. Genotyping was carried out using an 80K SNP chip array.Results and discussionInitially, we constructed two high-density linkage maps based on the segregation of female and male parents. A female map with 3,213 SNPs and male map with 1,781 SNPs were distributed on 20 linkages groups covering map lengths of 2,844.39 and 2,684.22cM, respectively. Finally, the integrated map was constructed comprised of 4,361 SNP markers distributed on 20 linkage groups, which consisted of the chromosome haploid number in Mangifera indica (n =20). The integrated genetic map covered the entire genome of Mangifera indica cv. Dashehari, with a total genetic distance of 2,982.75 cM and an average distance between markers of 0.68 cM. The length of LGs varied from 85.78 to 218.28 cM, with a mean size of 149.14 cM. Phenotyping for fruit color and firmness traits was done for two consecutive seasons. We identified important consistent QTLs for 12 out of 20 traits, with integrated genetic linkages having significant LOD scores in at least one season. Important consistent QTLs for fruit peel color are located at Chr 3 and 18, and firmness on Chr 11 and 20. The QTLs mapped in this study would be useful in the marker-assisted breeding of mango for improved efficiency.

IntroductionBlackberry (Rubus subgenus Rubus) is a soft-fruited specialty crop that often suffers economic losses due to degradation in the shipping process. During transportation, fresh-market blackberries commonly leak, decay, deform, or become discolored through a disorder known as red drupelet reversion (RDR). Over the past 50 years, breeding programs have achieved better fruit firmness and postharvest quality through traditional selection methods, but the underlying genetic variation is poorly understood.MethodsWe conducted a genome-wide association of fruit firmness and RDR measured in 300 tetraploid fresh-market blackberry genotypes from 2019-2021 with 65,995 SNPs concentrated in genic regions of the R. argutus reference genome.ResultsFruit firmness and RDR had entry-mean broad sense heritabilities of 68% and 34%, respectively. Three variants on homologs of polygalacturonase (PG), pectin methylesterase (PME), and glucan endo-1,3-β-glucosidase explained 27% of variance in fruit firmness and were located on chromosomes Ra06, Ra01, and Ra02, respectively. Another PG homolog variant on chromosome Ra02 explained 8% of variance in RDR, but it was in strong linkage disequilibrium with 212 other RDR-associated SNPs across a 23 Mb region. A large cluster of six PME and PME inhibitor homologs was located near the fruit firmness quantitative trait locus (QTL) identified on Ra01. RDR and fruit firmness shared a significant negative correlation (r = -0.28) and overlapping QTL regions on Ra02 in this study.DiscussionOur work demonstrates the complex nature of postharvest quality traits in blackberry, which are likely controlled by many small-effect QTLs. This study is the first large-scale effort to map the genetic control of quantitative traits in blackberry and provides a strong framework for future GWAS. Phenotypic and genotypic datasets may be used to train genomic selection models that target the improvement of postharvest quality.

Blueberry consumption has been a burgeoning interest attributed to their nutritional and health benefits. However, the main limitation to blueberry marketability is their perishability due to water loss, fungal, and mechanical damage during post-harvest preservation. In this study, pulsed light (PL) treatments with doses of 3, 6 and 9 J cm-2 were applied in the 6-week storage of highbush blueberry (cv. Draper) at 0.5°C under 90-95% relative humidity (RH) conditions. The quality changes of berry were assessed by using physicochemical attributes and antioxidant activity bi-weekly at week 0, 2, 4, 6. The results show that in spite of the partial loss of the antioxidant activity and total soluble solids (TSS), PL at dose of 6 J cm-2 was found to increase firmness and titratable acidity (TA), and decrease weight loss, rot incidence, and pH during post-harvest storage, which lead to a better maintenance of blueberry quality and shelf-life extension.

Background and Objectives: There is a growing demand for products with reduced sugar and fat contents, as excessive consumption has been associated with the development of several chronic noncommunicable diseases. However, both fat and sugar provide important technological and sensory characteristics, mainly in bakery products such as pound cakes. The use of ingredients with functional properties to reduce sugar and substitute fat in food products is an important approach. In this regard, the effect of reducing fat (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) and sugar (20%) on the physicochemical and sensory properties of pound cakes was evaluated, using hydrated chia seeds as fat replacer. Findings: The specific volume of pound cakes decreased significantly with sugar reduction and fat replacement, also influencing their texture. Regarding crumb color, the values of the coordinates L*, a*, and b* were reduced with the increase of hydrated chia seeds, indicating cake darkening. The moisture content and water activity of pound cakes increased, while the number of alveoli decreased, with sugar reduction and fat replacement. Nevertheless, the sensory evaluation showed that all attributes had acceptance scores above 5, and all pound cakes had a good purchase intention. Conclusions: The results showed an interesting potential for the use of hydrated chia seeds for fat replacement, requiring only a few adjustments. Future studies should be conducted to improve the texture and minimize the structural defects of these cakes. Significance and Novelty: Hydrated chia seeds may be an interesting alternative as fat substitute in pound cakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the physiochemical changes of one commercial European pear variety 'Conference' and one Asian pear variety 'Yali' during 60 days of storage at 1 °C. Content of organic acids, ethylene and formation of CO2 were determined using HPLC/UV-VIS and GC/FID and TCD detectors, respectively. This study presents an evaluation of the influence of the above-mentioned factors and long-term storage on quality parameters, including the antioxidant capacity of an important European and Asian pear cultivar. There was a significant effect of temperature on respiration rate in both varieties. Development of the respiration intensity had a similar course in European and Asian pears. The high values of CO2 production at the beginning of storage for the variety 'Conference' (14.08 mg·kg−1·h−1) and 'Yali' (23.37 mg·kg−1·h−1) were followed by a sharp decline of 80% and 83% at later stages of storage at 1 °C, respectively. Ethylene formation in fruit increased with storage time and was the highest after 60 days in cold storage, especially in 'Yali' (7.14 µL·kg−1·h−1). The results show the relation between ethylene formation and ripening-related fruit parameters. The 'Yali' variety showed negligible changes in soluble solids content and flesh firmness during storage ranging from 0.35 to 0.60 MPa. The most represented sugar determined enzymatically was fructose and malic acid was the dominant organic acid in pear fruit. Antioxidant activity determined using the FRAP and DPPH methods did not change significantly during 60 days of storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Lemonato' is a Greek peach melting-flesh white-flesh cultivar with high nutritional value highly appreciated by the consumers. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pre-harvest foliar calcium application on fruit quality, primary metabolite profile, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and phenolic profile of the 'Lemonato' peach, clone 'Stamatis'. The experiment was conducted for two years, 2019 and 2020, in two commercial orchards at Kato Lehonia and Agios Vlasios regions, central Greece, where the 'Lemonato' clone 'Stamatis' is traditionally cultivated. The treatments were organic calcium (Ca), calcium–silicate in nanoparticles (Ca–Si), and calcium chloride (CaCl2). Foliar application of the different Ca formulations, commonly used as a horticultural practice, were not effective at improving the fruit quality characteristics in this clone, which is characterized by fruit softening during ripening. The study revealed the sugars and organic acid composition and phenolic profile of the 'Lemonato' peach, clone 'Stamatis'. Peach fruit quality, primary metabolites, and phenolic compounds of the two orchards showed a different response to organic Ca and Ca–Si, indicating that genetic or environmental factors may also be involved. A higher concentration of organic Ca and CaCl2 increased the peach fruit phenolic compounds content and the total antioxidant activity, improving the fruit nutritional quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spain is the world's leading producer of cherimoya, a climacteric fruit highly appreciated by consumers. However, this fruit species is very sensitive to chilling injury (CI), which limits its storage. In the present experiments, the effects of melatonin applied as dipping treatment on cherimoya fruit CI, postharvest ripening and quality properties were evaluated during storage at 7 °C + 2 days at 20 °C. The results showed that melatonin treatments (0.01, 0.05, 0.1 mM) delayed CI, ion leakage, chlorophyll losses and the increases in total phenolic content and hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidant activities in cherimoya peel for 2 weeks with respect to controls. In addition, the increases in total soluble solids and titratable acidity in flesh tissue were also delayed in melatonin-treated fruit, and there was also reduced firmness loss compared with the control, the highest effects being found for the 0.05 mM dose. This treatment led to maintenance of fruit quality traits and to increases in the storage time up to 21 days, 14 days more than the control fruit. Thus, melatonin treatment, especially at 0.05 mM concentration, could be a useful tool to decrease CI damage in cherimoya fruit, with additional effects on retarding postharvest ripening and senescence processes and on maintaining quality parameters. These effects were attributed to a delay in the climacteric ethylene production, which was delayed for 1, 2 and 3 weeks for 0.01, 0.1 and 0.05 mM doses, respectively. However, the effects of melatonin on gene expression and the activity of the enzymes involved in ethylene production deserves further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proanthocyanidins (PAs), also known as condensed tannins, are widespread throughout the plant kingdom, presenting diverse biological and biochemical activities. Being one of the most abundant groups of natural polyphenolic antioxidant, PAs are applied to improve plant tolerance to (a)biotic stresses and delay the senescence of fruit by scavenging the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and enhancing antioxidant responses. The effects of PAs on coloring and softening of strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.), a worldwide demanded edible fruit and typical material for studying non-climacteric fruit ripening, were firstly assessed in this work. The results showed that exogenous PAs delayed the decrease in fruit firmness and anthocyanins accumulation but improved the fruit skin brightness. Strawberries treated with PAs had similar total soluble solids, total phenolics, and total flavonoids, but lower titratable acidity content. Moreover, the contents of endogenous PAs, abscisic acid and sucrose, were somehow increased by PA treatment, while no obvious change was found in fructose and glucose content. In addition, the anthocyanin- and firmness-related genes were significantly repressed, while the PA biosynthetic gene (anthocyanin reductase, ANR) was highly up-regulated by PA treatment at the key point for fruit softening and coloring. In summary, the results presented in this study suggest that PAs slow down strawberry coloration and softening by inhibiting the expression of related genes, which could be helpful for a better understanding of the biological role of PAs and provide a new strategy to regulate strawberry ripening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the influence of taro mucilage (TM) and black seed oil (BSO) as an edible coating to extend guava fruits' shelf-life and quality attributes. Four different edible coatings were applied, namely, T1 (1% TM + 0.75% glycerol + 0.5% BSO), T2 (5% TM + 0.75% glycerol + 0.5% BSO), T3 (0.75% glycerol + 0.5% BSO), and T4 (1% chitosan + 0.75% glycerol + 0.5% BSO). Different quality parameters, including weight loss, surface color, firmness, chlorophyll, vitamin C, phenolic content, antioxidant, malondialdehyde, and microbial load, were measured at a regular interval. Significant differences were observed between the coated and uncoated (control) fruits. Compared to the control fruit, weight loss was decreased in all the treated fruits, and T2 treatment retained the highest weight compared to other treatments. Fruits treated with T2 and T4 treatments retained high levels of vitamin C throughout the storage period. After 9 days, T4 treatment showed the lowest increase of microbial growth compared to other treatments. At the end of the storage period, results showed that the sample treated with 5% mucilage retained a higher level of polyphenol, antioxidant, and vitamin C content. Furthermore, the addition of BSO improved the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of coated guava. The results of this study indicate that a polysaccharide-based edible coating mixed with BSO improved the quality parameters and extended the shelf-life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of tomato under low-temperature stress in the open fields is a challenge faced by many farmers. The current study compares the use of different ethylene treatments to accelerate the fruit ripening of tomato during two successive seasons under cold stress. The treatments included foliar application of ethrel (2500, 5000, and 7500 ppm) in the open field at the mature green stage, dipping collected fruits in ethrel solution (1000, 1500, and 2000 ppm) right after harvest, and application of gaseous ethylene (100, 200, and 300 ppm) to the harvested fruits. The effects were compared to untreated fruits (control). Characteristics, such as physical properties (ripening, weight loss, firmness, decay, and fruit color), chemical properties (ascorbic acid, acidity, total soluble sugars, and pigments), and enzymatic activities (polygalacturonase and pectin methylesterase), were sampled throughout the storage period. In general, the ethylene gas application was the most effective method in accelerating the fruit ripening process compared to the other methods applied. The highest vitamin C total soluble solid contents and redness parameters were found after applying the highest dose of ethylene gas (300 ppm). This indicates that the ripening of tomato fruits, which are cultivated under cold stress conditions as found during the early summer season in a Mediterranean climate, might be harvested at a mature green stage and exposed to ethylene application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soluble solids content (SSC) and firmness are two important indicators to evaluate the quality of kiwifruit. In this study, an online diffuse reflection spectra acquisition system was designed to realize quality detection of kiwifruit. We try to find the optimized conveying speed by comparing the performance of models with the indicators including the correlation coefficient (r) and the prediction root mean square error (RMSE) of the prediction model. To achieve this goal, diffuse reflection spectra of "Hayward" kiwifruit at 0 m·s− 1 (static), 0.3 m·s− 1 and 0.5 m·s− 1 were collected and the effect of conveying speed on quality prediction models was investigated. Different combinations of modeling methods (i.e., stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR), partial least squares regression (PLS), principal component regression (PCR)) and pretreatment methods (i.e., internal reference correction (IR), multiple scatter correction (MSC), standard normal variable correction (SNV)) were used to predict SSC and firmness online. The results show that the combination of PLS and IR has the best accuracy on the determination of SSC at the conveying speed of 0.3 m·s− 1 (rc = 0.9156, RMSEC = 0.405 °Brix, rp = 0.9196, RMSEP = 0.437 °Brix). For the determination of kiwifruit firmness, the combination of PCR and IR has the best accuracy at the conveying speed of 0.5 m·s− 1 (rc = 0.8936, RMSEC = 0.287 N, rp = 0.8929, RMSEP = 0.265 N). It proves that the use of specific pretreatment methods and modeling methods can greatly reduce the impact of optical path change, stray light and weak light intensity in the online detection mode, and improve the accuracy and reliability of the online detection model of kiwifruit SSC and firmness. This study can provide a reference for the development of fast and online measurement systems for kiwifruit internal quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

It is well known that the harvesting period and the storage duration have a significant effect on the quality characteristics of cherry tomato fruits. On the other hand, the effect of the fruit position in the truss has not been studied, as well as the relative contribution of each one of these factors on fruit quality. For this purpose, cherry tomato (Genio F1) whole trusses were harvested at the fruit red ripe stage during three periods. At each harvesting period, the first four (at the base of the truss) and the last four (at the top) fruits from each truss that was previously trimmed to 10 fruits, were stored at 12 °C for 0, 4 and 10 days. At the end of each storage duration, the external color, firmness, antioxidant capacity, pH and titratable acidity, as well as dry matter, soluble solid, total soluble phenol, lycopene, total carotenoid and β-carotene content, were determined. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that the harvesting period had the most significant effect on skin color parameters L * and C * and β-carotene, as well as on antioxidant capacity, total soluble phenols, dry matter and total soluble solids, while it also had an appreciable effect on titratable acidity. The storage duration had a dominant effect on firmness, total carotenoids and lycopene, while it had an appreciable effect on skin color parameter L * as well. On the other hand, the fruit position in the truss exerted an exclusive effect on ho and a */b * ratio skin color parameters and pH and an appreciable effect on titratable acidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) have gained consumer interest worldwide for its antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and blood pressure reducing properties. The objective of our study was to characterize 10 blueberry cultivars for firmness, weight, caliber, macronutrient content, anthocyanins, titratable acidity, and soluble solids. Results indicated that the characterized fruit parameters varied between 12.89–18.68 °Brix for soluble solids, 0.57%–0.79% for titratable acidity, 57.0–81.6 g mm −1 for firmness, 1.74 and 2.80 g for average fruit weight, 14.7 and 17.9 mm for average fruit diameter, 1.80–15.55 mg L−1 for anthocyanins, and 14.4%–21.6% for dry matter content. Fruit nutrient concentration (mg 100 g−1 fresh fruit) ranged from 63.6 to 104.0 mg N 100 g−1, 7.0 to 12.2 mg P 100 g−1, 76.4 to 122.7 mg K 100 g−1, 4.5 to 9.8 mg Ca 100 g−1, 3.6 to 6.9 mg Mg 100 g−1, and 3.7 to 5.8 mg S 100 g−1. The cultivar with the highest overall values was 'Last Call', while the cultivars with the lowest values were 'Brigitta', 'Liberty', and 'Cargo'. There were positive and negative correlations between the characterization parameters, mainly 1) less firm cultivars, 'Legacy', ´Duke', and 'Camelia', were positively correlated for the K concentration, 2) negative correlations between titratable acidity and the K concentration in 'Last Call', 'Cargo', 'Brigitta', and 'Liberty', and 3) positive correlations between the P concentration and soluble solid content in 'Last Call', 'Camelia', and 'Brigitta'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) is negatively affected by harsh environmental conditions such as extremely high and low temperatures, wind and hail damage, and pest and disease infestation. These factors delay maturity and cause uneven ripening, fruit abrasion, and blemishes, which consequently result in poor fruit quality and reduced shelf life. Preharvest bagging is an environmentally friendly alternative technique for enhancement of fruit quality and hence alleviates the stated problems. The study evaluated the physico-chemical quality of ‘Tinker’ and ‘Roma VF’ cherry tomato as influenced by preharvest bagging (transparent and blue plastics) during 8 days of shelf life at ambient conditions. Five clusters of fruit per plant per cultivar with a diameter of 1.5 to 2.0 cm were bagged after 16 days of fruit set and harvested at the green maturity stage, 12 days after preharvest bagging for the assessment of postharvest quality. Preharvest bagging effectively accelerated fruit maturity and ripening as indicated by enhanced fruit size, uniform color development, high pH, dry matter (DM) content, soluble solid content (SSC), and low titratable acidity (TA) during shelf life. Bagged fruit had higher loss of firmness and weight mainly due to ripening and showed very slight incidence of diseases during shelf life of 8 days. Unbagged cherry tomato had delayed maturity and ripening; small-sized fruit; uneven color development; low pH, SSC, and DM; and high TA. Although unbagged cherry tomato had lower firmness and weight loss due to delayed ripening, fruit showed moderate to severe incidence of tomato bacterial canker disease (Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis) during shelf life. These results indicated that preharvest bagging accelerated fruit maturity and ripening, improved physico-chemical quality, and reduced disease infestation on cherry tomato during shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Entramado is the property of Universidad Libre Seccional Cali and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The research was carried out in an orchard from Cenad village, Timis County, throughout 2021, and compared five recently introduced varieties (Topend Plus®, Topfive®, TopHit, Toptaste®, Amers) with a control variety (President). Some physical and chemical characteristics of the fruits (major diameter, minor diameter, length, weight, total soluble solids, carbohydrate content, pH, and vitamin C) as well as plum production were monitored and measured. The plum components and economic indicators differ significantly between the varieties evaluated. In the majority of the examined indicators, all five newly introduced varieties outperformed the control, indicating the necessity to change the plum varietal assortment not only to satisfy market demands, but also to meet the suitability for industrialization and obtaining jams, juices or compotes, an important criterion given the net downward trend in demand for alcoholic products derived from plums. Economic indicators must be considered for fruit breeding success, particularly in light of current market trends caused by increases in labor costs, fertilizers or pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ciencia y Tecnología Agropecuaria is the property of Agrosavia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We evaluated the effects of chitosan of different molecular weights on the quality of Kamchatka berries after harvest and storage. Chitosan with lower molecular weights (from 3 to 21 kDa) positively influenced the soluble solid content after harvest. However, chitosan had no significant effect on titratable acidity after harvest. Regardless of the chitosan molecular weight, the berries contained from 7.4% to 30% more total polyphenols compared with the control (162 mg per 100 g) after harvest. After storage, the total phenolic content decreased slightly and depended on the storage conditions. The L-ascorbic acid content was the highest after harvest and storage after treatment with the highest molecular weight of chitosan (950k kDa). Chitosan 50 kDa positively influenced the firmness and puncture resistance of the berries after harvest (146% of control) and storage (135% of control). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Button mushroom has short postharvest life due to high respiration rate, fast browning and high transpiration rate. Calcium is regarded as a suitable material in order to preserve the quality and increase the postharvest life of button mushroom, but, in the research conducted on the edible mushrooms, usually calcium chloride has been used as a calcium source. However, calcium chloride is of a negative effect on the taste of products and finding a suitable alternative is highly significant. In this study, the impact of other calcium sources has been studied in relation to the increased shelf-life of button mushroom in comparison to calcium chloride. Research method: Mushrooms were treated in calcium chloride, calcium lactate and calcium nitrate (Ca concentration equivalent to 0.5% calcium chloride) for 5 min and then were dried at room temperature and packed in polyethylene containers using cellophane film. The packed mushrooms were stored at 4°C and estimated during the cold storage up to the 14 days. Findings: Results indicated that all three calcium treatments led to the reduction of browning in mushrooms by reducing polyphenol oxidase enzyme activity as compared to the control, and also, treated mushrooms had higher firmness value and calcium content but lower phenol content. In addition, desired indices, the calcium lactate treatment was better than two other treatments in maintaining mushrooms quality during the cold storage. Research limitations: No limitations were encountered. Originality/Value: calcium lactate can be an appropriate alternative for calcium chloride treatment in terms of increased shelf-life of button mushrooms.

Due to the high degree of perishability and vulnerability to spoilage, tomatoes have limited marketability, which leads to extensive postharvest losses. The edible coatings are generally used to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables; therefore, this study investigated the use of chitosan and starfruit leaf extract (SFLE) in the composition of edible coatings for tomato fruit. Firmness, total titratable acidity, reducing sugar content and microbial load were measured every 5 days for 25 days. The results showed that the addition of SLFE to chitosan did not enhance the antimicrobial effect or firmness over the effects made by a separate use of chitosan and SFLE. Both components improved the shelf life of tomato fruits compared to untreated tomatoes.

Cashew is a highly valued tree nut crop that is widely grown for nourishment and industrial applications. The study of fruit and nut separation forces is a necessary for efficiently detaching the nuts from the swollen pedicel or hypocarp referred to as cashew apple (pseudo fruit). In this study, the torsional/twisting forces (TF) required for separating the nuts from the cashew apples (CA) were analyzed at the nut pedicel junction (NPJ) in different cultivars at different fruit developmental stages [BBCH (BiologischeBundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt und ChemischeIndustrie) stage code: 711, 713, 715, 717, 719, 811, 813, 815, 817, 819] and days after fall to devise strategies for efficient separation of nuts and CAs. The TF and torsional/twisting angle (TA) were measured using a novel strain gauge-based reaction type torque transducer and a customized fixture. The CA firmness (CAF), and CA cavity depth, length, and width at the NPJ were also measured. Significant variations were observed in the TF and the TA at different fruit developmental stages and days after fall (DAF) in the studied cultivars. The TFs increased from 711 to 813 stages and subsequently declined from 813 to 819 stages and with increasing DAF. Further, the TA increased significantly with the development of fruits from 711 to 819 stages and days after fall. The analysis of the relationship between TF and the physical properties of CA showed that CA firmness and CA cavity depth at the NPJ had significant positive correlations. Further, the analysis of the relationship between the TA and the CA properties showed that CA firmness has significantly negative correlations. The findings of this study are valuable for the development of new cashew cultivars with low TF and TA suitable for mechanical separation and the designing of machinery with versatile end-effectors and twisting mechanisms for efficient separation of nuts from CAs. [Display omitted] • Torsional forces (TF) and angles (TA) required for separation of cashew apple and nut were investigated. • TFs and TAs needed for separation of cashew apple and nut varied significantly with fruit developmental stages. • Cashew apple properties (cavity area and firmness) significantly influenced the TF and TA. • Knowledge of TF and TA is useful for designing cashew apple and nut separator machines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Postharvest behavior dynamics were recorded in 52 chilli genotypes. • Significant differences in colour retention was noted. • Capsaicin content in green and red stage of chillies showed inverse relationship. • IC 119,455 showed lowest percent change in firmness (13.3 %) over initial values. • IIVRC 18,057 showed maximum acceptability in sensory tests. In this study, postharvest behavioural dynamics among 52 diverse chilli genotypes was observed during storage (15°C) to discriminate and cluster them in accordance to their inherent responses. Fruit weight, size, weight loss, colour change, firmness, capsaicin, chlorophyll, carotenoids (red and yellow fractions), moisture content and purchase preference were recorded. Significant differences were observed among genotypes. A2 x IIVRC 18057 and IIVRC 18093 registered minimum (24.4 %) and maximum (71.7 %) weight loss, respectively at the end of storage. In all genotypes, moisture content declined with storage. Genotype dependent inverse relationship between capsaicin content at green and red stage was observed (r = -0.51). Firmness ranged between highest (4.65 N) in IIVRC 22100 on day zero, to lowest (0.14 N) in A3 x F5–112 on day 10. IIVRC 18131, Kashi Surkh, and IIVRC 18160 showed higher firmness. The loss of smooth glossy appearance, colour change and carotenoids accumulation showed variable responses during storage. Minimum colour changes were observed in IC119455, IC114957, IC119326, IC119327, EC 578666, IIVRC 18093, IIVRC 23002 and IIVRC 20005. Chlorophyll ranged between 68.63 µg/g fw (Pusa Jwala) to 270.61 µg/g fw (Kashi Gaurav) initially. Chemometric analysis using clustering and principal component analysis was performed. IIVRC 18093 and IIVRC 18253 were found most distant and can be utilized in breeding. IIVRC 18057 clearly indicated consumer liking in preference ranking test over other genotypes on final day. Overall, inherent diversity pointed the potential for careful selection of specific genotypes for definite breeding, consumer acceptability, marketing and storability strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modification of cell wall pectin is a major contributing factor to apple softening, associated with intensive variations of firmness and microstructure. Thus, a better understanding of the relationship between fruit optical properties, firmness, 3D microstructure and pectin is important for improving the optical detection of apple firmness. This work explored the optical properties in the wavelength range of 430 – 1650 nm related to cell wall pectin during apple softening, in order to better determine their firmness and 3D microstructural changes. An automatic single integrating sphere system was used to quantify absorption coefficient (μ a) and reduced scattering coefficient (μ s ′). Micro-CT imaging, SEM and TEM were used to quantify the porosity, cell numbers, cell volume, volume fraction and microstructure of Fuji apples during storage. Firmness, pectin fractions, soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acid content (TAC), and moisture content were also measured. Results showed that depolymerization of pectin substances induces an increase in porosity (r = 0.97) and modification of cellular structure, leading to a decrease in firmness (r = 0.90). The reduction in firmness and cell numbers exhibited a strong positive correlation with both μ a in the range of 1000 – 1650 nm and μ s ′ between 430 and 1000 nm with mean r of 0.88–0.96, whereas increases in covalent-soluble pectin (CSP) and porosity displayed a negatively correlated with these bands. The linear relationship indicates that Vis-NIRS at 980 nm could better predict apple firmness than μ a or μ s ′ alone, with a coefficient of determination R2 of 0.97. Our findings suggest that the mechanism of optical technology for detecting apple firmness may be the interaction between tissue structure and pectin on μ s ′ and μ a. • Micro-CT was used to quantify apple tissue 3D structural parameters. • Firmness was highly related to the porosity, cell number and CSP. • Porosity and cell number related well with scattering coefficient. • The μ a showed a high linear relationship with CSP. • Vis-NIRS at 980 nm could better predict apple firmness than μ a or μ s ′ alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]