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Changes in seed lipid composition during ageing are associated with seed viability loss in many plant species. However, due to their small seed size, this has not been previously explored in orchids. We characterized and compared the seed viability and fatty acid profiles of five orchid species before and after ageing: one tropical epiphytic orchid from Indonesia (Dendrobium strebloceras), and four temperate species from New Zealand, D. cunninghamii (epiphytic), and Gastrodia cunninghamii, Pterostylis banksii and Thelymitra nervosa (terrestrial).Seeds were aged under controlled laboratory conditions (3‐month storage at 60% RH and 20 °C). Seed viability was tested before and after ageing using tetrazolium chloride staining. Fatty acid methyl esters from fresh and aged seeds were extracted through trans‐esterification, and then analysed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.All species had high initial viability (>80%) and experienced significant viability loss after ageing. The saturated, polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and total fatty acid content decreased with ageing in all species, but this reduction was only significant for D. strebloceras, D. cunninghamii and G. cunninghamii.Our results suggest that fatty acid degradation is a typical response to ageing in orchids, albeit with species variation in magnitude, but the link between fatty acid degradation and viability was not elucidated. Pterostylis banksii exemplified this variation; it showed marked viability loss despite not having a significant reduction in its fatty acid content after ageing. More research is required to identify the effect of ageing on fatty acid composition in orchids, and its contribution to seed viability loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk freshness is an important parameter for both consumers' health and quality of milk-based products. Up to now there have been neither analytical methods nor specific parameters to uniquely define milk freshness from a complete and univocal chemical perspective. In this study, 8 molecules were selected and identified as responsible for milk aging, using a liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry approach followed by chemometric data elaboration. For model setup and marker selection, 30 high-quality pasteurized fresh milk samples were collected directly from the production site and analyzed immediately and after storage at 2 to 8°C for 7 d. The markers were then validated by challenging the model with a set of 10 milk samples, not previously analyzed. Our results demonstrated that the markers identified within this study can be successfully used for the correct classification of non-fresh milk samples, complementing and successfully enhancing parallel evaluations obtainable through sensory measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a signaling molecule, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) plays an indispensable role in the modulation of ripening and senescence in fruits and vegetables. To explore the role of H2S in regulating metabolism of postharvest tomato, ripening-related physiological parameters, activities of antioxidant enzymes and gene expression were analyzed in H2S-fumigated tomato fruits. These results show that H2S significantly delayed the color transition and softening of tomato fruit, and maintained higher level of flavonoids and lower level of anthocyanin during storage. Besides, H2S could maintain higher level of nutritional-related metabolites, such as reducing sugar, ascorbic acid during postharvest storage. Moreover, H2S decreased the rate of O2− production, inhibited the production of H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA), enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes including ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and guaiacol peroxidase (POD) in tomato fruits, while reduced the activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and lipoxygenase (LOX). Besides, the expression of the antioxidant-encoding genes SlCAT2, SlPOD12 was generally upregulated with H2S fumigation. Principal component analysis (PCA) suggests that H2S induced significant discrepancy mainly to the differences in firmness, anthocyanin, flavonoid and the activity of guaiacol peroxidase (POD), and the correlation analysis further shows that H2S affected pigment metabolism and nutritional quality. In conclusion, H2S could maintain better appearance and nutritional quality, and prolong the storage period of postharvest tomato fruits through activating the antioxidative system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rosa roxburghii fruit were used as research objects to study the effects of different concentrations of benzothiazole (BTH) treatment on quality parameters, reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism, and the phenylpropanoid pathway during storage at 4°C for 14days. Results showed that BTH effectively delayed senescence with lower decay incidence, weight loss, and lipid peroxidation level and maintained the quality with higher contents of total soluble solid (TSS) content, titratable acidity (TA) in R. roxburghii fruit. Moreover, BTH increased hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, superoxide anion (O2•−) production rate, and the activities and expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione (GSH) reductase (GR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), and peroxidase (POD), and the contents of GSH and ascorbic acid (AsA), but reduced the oxidized GSH (GSSG) content. In addition, the activities and gene expression of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H), and 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL) and the concentrations of flavonoids, total phenols, and lignin were significantly elevated by BTH. These findings imply that BTH can delay senescence and maintain the quality of R. roxburghii fruit by modulating ROS metabolism and the phenylpropanoid pathway under low-temperature conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of melatonin (MT) dipping and 1‐methylcyclopropene (1‐MCP) fumigation either individually or combined, on reducing delaying fruit senescence in apricot fruit was investigated. The results showed that the individual and combined MT and 1‐MCP treatments maintained the quality of apricot fruits after harvest and reduced fruit softening, rot, and weight loss. This was mainly attributed to the high levels of ascorbic acid content, total phenol content, and total flavonoid content, as well as the upregulation of peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase enzyme activities, which reduced the active oxygen content. Besides, 1‐MCP and MT in individual or in combined treatments suppressed the process of membrane lipid peroxidation by inhibiting the malondialdehyde content and lipoxygenase activities, contributing to delaying the senescence of apricot fruits. Among these three treatments, 1‐MCP was the best method to delay the postharvest senescence of apricots. Novelty impact statement: The individual and combined MT and 1‐MCP treatments had positive effect on apricot fruits quality during cold storage. The individual and combined MT and 1‐MCP treatments apparently enhanced the activity of enzymatic antioxidants and nonenzymatic antioxidants. Decreased H2O2 generation was observed in the individual and combined MT‐ and 1‐MCP‐treated fruits during storage time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peach fruit is susceptible to softening and senescence during storage. In this work, we investigate the changes in genes related to the process of softening and senescence in peach fruit treated with 4 kJ/m2 ultraviolet‐C (UV‐C) irradiation based on transcriptome sequencing. A total of 3,416 unigenes with more than twofold difference in expression were identified in the UV‐C irradiation versus control. Of these, 1,046 were upregulated and 2,370 were downregulated. UV‐C treatment upregulated a series of genes related to antioxidant and defense response and downregulated the expression of genes related to cell wall decomposition, membrane lipid peroxidation, ethylene biosynthesis, and oxidative stress, thus mediating the softening and senescence of peach fruit. The data obtained in our results may be useful for revealing the molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of postharvest UV‐C treatment on improving the storage quality and prolonging the storage period of peach fruit. Novelty impact statement: This work investigates the effect of ultraviolet‐C (UV‐C) treatment on peach fruit softening and senescence at genomic level. UV‐C treatment upregulated genes related to antioxidant and defense response and downregulated the expression of genes related to cell wall decomposition, membrane lipid peroxidation, ethylene biosynthesis, and oxidative stress, thus mediating the softening and senescence of peach fruit. These findings provide information for the understanding of the mechanisms of UV‐C radiation on postharvest quality and storage performance of peach fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development 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.)

Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (CRP) is a natural product that is used widely in food and is an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. CRP improves gradually with aging; this process typically takes 3 years or more. During the aging process, CRP can be colonized with fungi and mildew. Molds and mildew may result in an increased flavonoid content; however, this has been observed only in response to fungi of the genera Penicillium and Aspergillus. As fungal colonization may alter the quality and properties of CRP, it is critical to have an understanding of the fungal communities detected on the surface of CRP during the aging process. We used a high-throughput sequencing (HiSeq) platform to sequence internal transcribed spacers (ITS) region to identify the contaminants associated with CRP during the 3-year aging process. We also evaluated the distribution of the dominant fungi of the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium over time. At the phylum level, we identified Ascomycota (36.26%) and Basidiomycota (18.98%), along with smaller populations of Mucoromycota, Glomeromycota, and Mortierellomycota. At the genus level, the fungi detected include Wallemia (12.40%), Cystofilobasidium (4.62%), Zasmidium (4.52%), Cladosporium (3.72%), Hanseniaspora (3.55%), Fusarium (3.49%), Kurtzmaniella (2.03%), Candida (1.74%), Passalora (1.47%), Ceramothyrium (1.33%), Mucor (1.07%), and Aspergillus (1.03%). Fungi of the genus Penicillium were detected primarily during the first year of storage. By contrast, fungi of the genus Aspergillus were not detected during the early stages (fresh peel–8 months), but appeared gradually at later stages of the aging process. Taken together, our results indicate that HiSeq is an effective method to study the changes in fungal communities that develop on the CRP surface over time. These findings provide a basis for further research into the correlation between dominant fungi and the mechanisms underlying the successful aging of CRP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional methods for the determination of starch aging indicators often have a series of shortcomings such as time‐consuming, high cost, large human error, damage to samples, environmental pollution, and high requirements for inspectors. Therefore, it is meaningful to find or establish a dynamic fingerprint identification pattern that can detect the aging degree of starch during the process of processing or storage quickly and accurately. It not only provides guidance for starch food processing but also saves a lot of human, material resources, and time. Terahertz technology is an emerging molecular spectroscopy technology in the 21st century. It is with low energy and basically harmless to the human body. It can also realize nondestructive testing of samples. In the experiment, the samples were prepared by the tableting method and the samples containing 20% of 50 mg samples were prepared with polyethylene as the diluent. The thickness of the samples was 1 mm and the diameter was 13 mm. The terahertz time‐domain spectrometer was used to obtain the spectral information of aging starch at different aging times. After the pretreatment of the spectrum by vector normalization, first derivative, and multiple scattering correction, the prediction models of aging days, crystallinity, and resilience of aging starch were established, respectively. The determination coefficient (R2) of the established models is all greater than 95%, indicating that the established models are highly reliable and can be used to predict the aging days, crystallinity, and retrogradation degree of starch. And the R2 of the prediction model based on the refractive index spectrum is greater than that of the absorption coefficient spectrum. The experimental method obtains the dynamic fingerprint identification map of starch in the aging process, realizes the real‐time monitoring and detection of the starch aging process, and provides an effective means for the production and processing of starch‐related industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During plant senescence, energy and nutrients are transferred to young leaves, fruits or seeds. However, senescence reduces flower quality, which leads to huge economic losses in flower production. Ethylene is an important factor affecting the quality of cut roses during transportation and storage. Ethylene-responsive factors (ERFs) are key nodes in ethylene signaling, but the molecular mechanism underlying ERFs regulated flower senescence is not well understood. We addressed this issue in the present study by focusing on RhERF3 from Rosa hybrida , an ERF identified in a previous transcriptome analysis of ethylene-treated rose flowers. Expression of RhERF3 was strongly induced by ethylene during rose flower senescence. Transient silencing of RhERF3 delayed flower senescence, whereas overexpression (OE) accelerated the process. RNA sequencing analysis of RhERF3 OE and pSuper vector control samples identified 13,214 differentially expressed genes that were mostly related to metabolic process and plant hormone signal transduction. Transient activation and yeast one-hybrid assays demonstrated that RhERF3 directly bound the promoter of the 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (RhNCED1) gene and activated gene expression. Thus, a RhERF3 / RhNCED1 axis accelerates rose flower senescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic engineering techniques offer opportunities for deliberate modulation and enhance the bio-functionality and bio-availability of horticultural crops, particularly fruit and vegetable which can aid in realising the goals of food and nutritional security for the burgeoning world population. The need of the hour calls upon us to use modern-day technologies such as genetic engineering in horticultural field as well for eradication of globally widespread hunger and malnutrition while the population is escalating and climate change is imminent. However, rigorous testing and trials to elucidate any unfounded fear and notion are warranted before the release of genetically modified (GM) crops for ensuring environmental and food safety. In this review, there is an attempt by the authors to compile and discuss the modulation in postharvest biology, edible quality, functional properties and storage life of genetically modified fruit and vegetable along with challenges in their use and consumer acceptance. The review also provides an outline of GM fruit and vegetable research prioritisation along with road map for future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was carried out to determine the changes in melatonin and tryptophan contents and the possible effects of melatonin on the ageing process of lettuce seeds stored for two years. For this purpose, seeds were treated with melatonin (0 or 250 μM) for one day after which they were stored for up to two years at two temperature (4°C or 25°C) regimes. The results showed that seed melatonin content varied significantly during storage reaching its peaks in October-December and lowest levels in August while tryptophan levels displayed an opposite trend with a strong peak in August and low levels in October. Similar seasonal changes were observed in seeds stored under both temperature conditions suggesting that endogenous melatonin could play a crucial role in seasonal rhythms independent of environmental conditions. Lettuce seed quality deteriorated fast when stored at 25°C but pre-treatment with melatonin reduced seed deterioration significantly by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes and restoring membrane properties indicating that melatonin could be used to slow the ageing process in seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The choice of a suitable container is crucial to extend the shelf life of the extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). In this work, quality evolution of three different EVOOs packaged in bag-in-box was investigated. For comparison, the same oils were packaged also in tin can that is one of the most widely used systems for EVOO storage. Both the containers were filled with the oils at 100% or at 50% of their capacity and kept at room temperature up to 24 months. Changes of peroxide value, K232 index, phenolic fraction, 1,3/1,2-diacylglycerols ratio and sensory attributes were monitored during the oil-storage period. In addition, accelerate oxidation tests (rancimat and oven test) were carried out for predicting oxidative stability of the oils. Bag-in-box showed positive effects for the oil conservation ensuring, also after repeated oil withdrawals, a potential EVOO shelf life up to 24 months. Actually, although at 24 months, the oils stored in bag-in-box showed some ageing signals (K232 increasing; drop of phenolic compounds; 1,3 DAG isomers increasing; sensory features slight modifications), their quality indexes remained substantially within the EVOO limits, like, for example, the peroxide values that were well below to the legal limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germination performance is affected following seed exposure to a combination of temperature fluctuations and cycles of hydration and dehydration. This has long been exploited in a seed technology termed priming, which increases germination speed and seedling vigour, but these benefits have often been associated with effects on seed lifespan, or longevity, with conflicting evidence for positive and negative effects. Seed longevity is a key seed trait influencing not only the storage of commercial stocks but also in situ and ex situ seed conservation. In the context of increasingly variable environmental conditions faced by both crops and wild species, this has led to renewed interest in understanding the molecular factors that underlie priming. Here, we provide an overview of the literature relating to the effect of priming on seed lifespan, and catalogue the different parameters used for priming treatments and their consequences on longevity for a range of species. Our current limited understanding of the molecular basis for priming effects is also outlined, with an emphasis on recent advances and promising approaches that should lead towards the application and monitoring of the priming process in a less empirical manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice plays a significant role in providing basic energy and essential nutrients for humans. Its quality is of great concern to the agricultural industries and consumers. Due to the changes of external storage conditions and its own enzyme activity, rice undergoes the aging process, thus significantly decreasing its quality. Consequently, the development of a rapid, non-destructive, real-time detection method for rice quality inspection is urgently needed. In this article, the characteristics of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that greatly contribute to aroma profiles of rice are introduced. Meanwhile, the working principles and applications of an electronic nose (E-nose) device as a reliable measurement in rice quality assessment based on the variation of aroma profiles are highlighted. Furthermore, comparisons between E-nose and traditional instrumental assessment methods, such as sensory evaluation, physical and chemical indicators, instrumental analysis, are made. In addition, this article also offers an insight into the challenges and future trends of the application of E-nose for rice quality inspection. 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP), aldehydes, heterocycles and alcohols have been identified as the major VOCs in rice aging. Through the comparison between E-nose and traditional instrumental measurements, E-nose has a huge potential for the rapid inspection of rice quality as it has numerous advantages in routine analysis. Furthermore, reducing the working temperature, utilizing appropriate pattern recognition methods and establishing new prediction models should be the future trends of E-nose employed as an effective detection method in rice quality inspection. • Major volatile organic compounds (VOCs) formed in the rice aging are introduced. • Application of the E-nose instrument for rice quality inspection is summarized. • Comparison between E-nose and traditional detection measurements is made. • The challenges of the E-nose system in rice quality detection are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citral is an aliphatic aldehyde extracted from citrus essential oil. The aim of the study was to examine how citral treatment affects the weight loss, firmness, respiration, and ripening index, as well as the antioxidant capacity of kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis cv. 'Jinkui'). The citral treatment was seen to reduce the weight loss, softening, and fruit respiration compared to control fruits. Citral treatment also had an inhibitory effect on ripening index, O2•− production rate, and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation. The degradations of ascorbic acid (AsA) content, total flavonoids content (TFC), and total phenolics content (TPC) were also suppressed by citral. In contrast, citral treatment induces the activation of antioxidant enzyme system such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT). Collectively, the results indicated that citral treatment delays postharvest senescence and prolongs storage life by enhancing antioxidant capacity in harvested kiwifruits. These findings suggest that citral has the potential to be used as a promising natural preservative for the extension of postharvest quality in harvested kiwifruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orange peels, the major byproduct of orange fruit processing, are a good material for functional food production because of their excellent physiological and health function. The effects of orange peel powder (OPP) on the rheological and reho‐fermentation properties of high‐gluten wheat dough and bread staling were investigated. The results showed that OPP significantly modified wheat dough characteristics and bread quality for its fiber, pectin and polyphenol content. Incorporation of OPP in wheat dough mainly caused competitive water absorption. It improved dough water absorption from 59.70% to 66.82% by increasing the development time (from 1.40 min to 4.51 min) and decreasing the retrogradation degree (from 1.01% to 0.68%) at a low content (no more than 5%) but showed adverse effects at higher content because of stronger gluten‐dilution action than excessive water sequestration of OPP. It strengthened the dough elasticity by increasing the value of storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) of dough samples at all contents, G′ and G″ value of dough sample containing 7% OPP was more than twice that of the wheat dough. Alveograph and rheofermentographic parameters confirmed that OPP improved the total volume of CO2 production from 1774.11 ml (wheat dough) to 2,458.30 ml (dough sample containing 7% OPP) but reduced the gas retention coefficient from 71.86% to 66.52% during fermentation accordingly. Additionally, no remarkable deterioration of the bread staling was observed. These results contributed to the interpretation of the action mechanism of OPP modification on the wheat dough structure and further guided the application of OPP on cereal product development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fresh‐cut lettuce has a short shelf‐life due to enzymatic browning and oxidative senescence. The present study investigated effects of polysaccharide‐based edible coatings (alginate, chitosan, and carrageenan) on enzymatic browning and antioxidant defense system of fresh‐cut lettuces during cold storage (4°C) for 15 days. The results showed that three coatings could inhibit enzymatic browning through maintaining total phenolics (TP) content and decreasing polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL) activities. These coatings also reduced phospholipase D (PLD) and lipoxygenase (LOX) activities, lowered malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and enhanced antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD; peroxidase, POD; catalase, CAT; ascorbate peroxidase, APX) activities. Besides, all coatings positively affected sensory properties of fresh‐cut lettuces after 3 days storage. Additionally, among three coating treatments, chitosan coating had the most positive effects on quality of fresh‐cut lettuce and was the most suitable coating for retarding enzymatic browning and alleviating membrane oxidative damage. These results indicated that polysaccharide‐based edible coatings were helpful to maintain quality, inhibit enzymatic browning, and postpone senescence of fresh‐cut lettuce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work evaluated the efficiency of accelerated aging test to determine the physiological potential in treated soybean seeds with fungicides and insecticides, in addition to analyzing the concordance between the results obtained by different accelerated aging methods with the actual results of the physiological quality in seeds after the storage. The study was divided into two experiments, both with entirely randomized delineation, with four replications. In the first experiment, seed germination was evaluated after imposing some treatments that were arranged in a 3 x 2 x 3 factorial scheme: seed treatment (imidacloprid + thiodicarb; fipronil + thiophanate methyl + pyraclostrobin; no treatment); vigor levels (high; low); and accelerated aging (traditional; saturated NaCl solution; no aging). In the second experiment, seedling emergence was evaluated after applying some treatments that were arranged in a 3 x 2 x 2 factorial scheme: seed treatment (imidacloprid + thiodicarb; fipronil + thiophanate methyl + pyraclostrobin; no treatment); vigor levels (high; low); storage time (0 and 135 days). The accelerated aging methods were efficient to determine the physiological potential of the seeds, in which, the NaCl method presented better results. The physiological potential of soybean seeds decreased throughout storage and the application of chemicals in seed treatment impaired the germination and emergence percentages, regardless of the active ingredient used. The accelerated aging method with NaCl presents greater agreement with the actual storage results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important flavor characteristic of beer, smell is determined by the volatile components of beer. Higher alcohols, organic acids and esters are the three most important compounds, mainly related to the yeast used in brewing. Among the hundreds of volatile compounds provided by hops, terpene compounds account for the highest proportion, which give hops, pine wood and other odors. The Maillard reaction that occurs during the production and storage of beer is one of the causes of beer aging. Trans-2-nonenal, Strecker aldehyde, diacetyl and other substances produced during the aging process can cause beer to produce peculiar smell. This article reviews the research progress on volatile components and odor of beer in recent years, and makes suggestions for improving beer quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the extent to which heat stress during grain filling impacts on the development and yield of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), a 3‐year field experiment was conducted on a loess soil with high water holding capacity in the North German Plain. Thirty‐two mostly European winter wheat cultivars were exposed to heat stress in a mobile foil tunnel with maximum air temperatures of 45.7, 45.4, and 47.2°C in 2015, 2016, and 2017, respectively. The 14‐day post‐anthesis heat stress treatment caused an average 57.3% grain yield reduction compared to a close‐by non‐stressed control. The proportion of green crop area after the heat stress phase varied from 7% to 98% in 2016 and from 37% to 94% in 2017. The green crop area percentage did not significantly correlate with grain yield, indicating that the delayed senescence of stay‐green phenotypes offers no yield advantage under terminal heat stress. The water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentration of the stems at crop maturity varied between 6 and 92 g/kg dry matter, showing that the genotypes differed in their efficiency at using the stem carbohydrate reserves for grain filling under heat stress. The stem WSC concentration correlated positively with the beginning of anthesis (r = 0.704; p <.001) but negatively with the grain yield (r = −0.431; p <.05). For heat tolerance breeding, the stem reserve strategy, i. e. the rapid and full exhaustion of the temporary carbohydrate storage therefore seems more promising than the stay‐green strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A short, pre-storage fumigation with hydrogen sulphide (H2S) gas at 0, 100, 250 and 500 µL L−1 affected development of a range of senescence characteristics of Navel and Valencia oranges and 'Afourer' mandarins during storage at 20°C for five weeks. The greatest beneficial effect was observed with fumigation at 100 µL L−1 H2S which resulted in reduced incidence of calyx drop, calyx browning and fungal decay and production of ethylene and ethanol for all three citrus species. For Valencia oranges, a lower total soluble solids (TSS): titratable acidity (TA) ratio was observed, arising from both a lower TSS and higher TA than in control fruit. H2S treatment had no significant effect on the respiration rate in any fruit species. In general, higher concentrations of H2S were less effective than 100 µL L−1 and often resulted in accelerated loss of quality. The results suggest that H2S fumigation of citrus prior to storage may be an alternative treatment for delaying the emergence of senescence characteristics such as calyx browning without the use of synthetic auxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passion fruit (Passiflora edulia Sims), an important tropical and subtropical species, is classified as a respiration climacteric fruit, and its quality deteriorates rapidly after harvest. To elucidate the mechanisms involved in ripening and rapid fruit senescence, phytochemical characteristic analysis and RNA sequencing were performed in purple passion fruit with different treatments, that is, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and preservative film (PF). Comprehensive functional annotation and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that starch and sucrose metabolism, plant hormone signal transduction, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, and carotenoid biosynthesis were involved in fruit ripening. Treatment with PF and 1-MCP significantly affected the transcription levels of passion fruit during postharvest storage. A large number of differentially expressed unigenes (DEGs) were identified as significantly enriched in starch and sucrose metabolism, plant hormone signal transduction and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis at the postharvest stage. The PF and 1-MCP treatments increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) gene expression levels and enzyme activities, accelerated lignin accumulation, and decreased β-galactosidase (β-Gal), polygalacturonase (PG) and cellulose activities and gene expression levels to delay cell wall degradation during fruit senescence. The RNA sequencing data for cell wall metabolism and hormone signal transduction pathway-related unigenes were verified by RT-qPCR. The results of this study indicate that the cell wall metabolism and hormone signaling pathways are closely related to passion fruit ripening. PF and 1-MCP treatment might inhibit ethylene signaling and regulate cell wall metabolism pathways to inhibit cell wall degradation. Our results demonstrate the involvement of ripening- and senescence-related networks in passion fruit ripening and may establish a foundation for future research investigating the effects of PF and 1-MCP treatment on fruit ripening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UK trees require increased conservation efforts due to sparse and fragmented populations. Ex situ conservation, including seed banking, can be used to better manage these issues. We conducted accelerated ageing tests on seeds of 22 UK native woody species, in order to assess their likely longevity and optimize their conservation in a seed bank. Germination at four ageing time points was determined to construct survival curves, and it was concluded that multiple samples within a species showed comparable responses for most species tested, except for Fraxinus excelsior. Of all species studied, one could be classified as very short-lived, four as short-lived and 17 as medium, with none exceeding the medium category. The most important finding of this manuscript is that although some taxonomic trends were observed, the results indicate the need for caution when making broad conclusions on potential seed storage life at a species, genus or family level. Longevity predictions were compared to actual performance of older collections held in long-term storage at the Millennium Seed Bank, Kew. Although most collections remain high in viability in storage after more than 20 years, for short-lived species at least, there is some indication that accelerated ageing predicts longevity in seed bank conditions. For species with reduced potential longevity, such as Fagus sylvatica and Ulmus glabra, additional storage options are recommended for long-term gene banking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several biochemical and metabolic changes are associated with senescence of cut gladioli, particularly in relation to quality characteristics, including dynamism of carbohydrates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of pulsing and wet cold storage on the starch and sugar biomarkers on cut Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L. cv. Fado) vase quality. Pulsing treatments of 600-ppm 8- hydroxyquinoline sulphate, plus 5% sucrose solution, versus distilled water, were administered prior to wet cold storage durations of 0 - 5 days, on the cut Gladiolus grown from corms. This was done in the open field at the Horticulture Research and Teaching Field, Egerton University in Kenya, during two successive seasons. There was a significant difference (P <0.01) in total soluble sugars (TSS) and total starch of spikes pulsed with 600 ppm 8 - HQS + 5% sucrose, compared with the control, during the third day in the vase life of the cut flowers. Prolonged vase life of cut spikes was associated with a decrease in total soluble sugars and increase in total starch, as influenced by pulsing and wet storage duration up to 4 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mycosystema is the property of Mycosystema Editorial Board 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.)

Aim: To study the impact of microwave heating (950 and 1,400 W for 72 s) in accelerating the aging process in selected rice varieties, namely IR‐50, Sona masuri, and RNR‐15048 (Rajendranagar variety) stored as brown and polished form. Methods: The impact was investigated by comparing the efficiencies of two existing chemical methods, namely bromothymol blue indicator (Method‐1) based on the indicator color change with respect to changes in rice pH followed by peroxidase enzyme color reaction (Method‐2) using test tube (spectrophotometer at 470 nm) and single‐grain tests (96‐well plate microplate reader at 386 nm) paralleled with in vitro enzyme assessment for fresh‐aged indices calculation during 6 months of storage. Results: The results revealed the maximum R2‐value of 0.993 (brown rice) and 0.963 (polished rice) at 1,400 W for 72 s in RNR‐15048 in single grain test (Method‐1) followed by a maximum R2‐value of 0.976 in brown rice of Sona masuri at 950 W for 72 s and 0.941 in polished rice of RNR‐15048 at 1,400 W for 72 s in single‐grain test (Method‐2). Conclusion: Among the above methods, Method‐1 was found to be more profound in obtaining the consistent results and can be highly recommended for both stake holders and rice processing agencies due to low cost, ease in chemical preparation, and color changes can be easily distinguishable during storage. Practical Applications: Aging is one of the important and prudent steps in rice grain. Aged rice fetches more price in the market than fresh rice due to improved aroma, texture, and taste after cooking. Accelerated aging requires less storage space and time compared to natural aging. Identification of the aging process in rice grains is a challenging task. Bromothymol blue indicator based on pH change in rice grains due to increase in free fatty acids and peroxidase enzyme color change due to peroxidase enzyme (EC.1.11.1.7) depletion during storage helps to identify the rice aging through fresh‐aged index calculation. Among both the methods, Bromothymol blue indicator is one of the cost‐effective methods for quick identification of rice aging based on indicator color change. This method helps the farmers and other rice processing sectors to distinguish the aged rice from fresh grains as it is cheap, ease in chemical preparation, and affordable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strawberry shelf life is limited, and little is known about the postharvest regulation of senescence in different fruit tissues. Strawberry is classified as a non-climacteric fruit, yet it is known that ethylene affects strawberry ripening. Here the effects of continuous exogenous ethylene (50 µl l−1) were investigated in cold stored strawberry (5°C). The physiological and biochemical responses of ripe strawberry were evaluated across 6 days, together with hormonal profiles of the whole fruit and individual tissues (achenes and receptacle). Continuous exposure to ethylene induced as a first response an accumulation of abscisic acid (ABA) in the receptacle tissue, followed by an increase in CO2 production. Ethylene also elicited sucrose hydrolysis and malic acid catabolism, with the major effect seen after 4 days of ethylene exposure. Additionally, accumulation of phenolics (epicatechin and chlorogenic acid) were also observed in ethylene treated strawberry. Achenes did not exhibit a response to ethylene, yet catabolism of both ABA and auxins increased by two thirds during air storage. In contrast, ethylene induced ABA accumulation in the receptacle tissue without ABA catabolism being affected. This hormonal disequilibrium in response to ethylene between the two tissues was maintained during storage, and therefore might be the precursor for the following biochemical variations reported during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The productivity of the oilseed rape crop is responsive to the application of nitrogen (N) and the effect of N is sulfur (S)-dependent. In addition, storage may influence seed vigor. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of fertilization with nitrogen and sulfur on the physiological quality of rapeseeds. All combinations of four doses of N (0, 40, 80, and 120 kg.ha-1) and five of S (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 kg.ha-1) were evaluated with four replications each distributed in a randomized block design in a distroferric Red Latosol soil. The effects of the nutrients and their combinations on the physiological potential of rapeseeds were evaluated even immediately after harvest and 180 days of storage through the germination test, accelerated aging, field emergence and seedling performance. The application of N associated with S had a positive effect on the physiological quality of the seeds. The application of the 120 kg.ha-1 dose of N and the 80 kg.ha-1 dose of S promoted the highest germination and vigor of the seeds. Seed storage for a period of 180 days led to a drastic reduction in the physiological potential of the rapeseeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development 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.)

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development 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.)

The pre-treatment of the seeds allows to improve their behavior in the field, through an increase in germination, vigor and lengthen the shelf life. In this investigation the effect of the pretreatment with potassium nitrate (3%) plus gibberellins (GA3) (0.06%) in two periods: 6 and 12 h on the seed of five races of maize, including an experimental hybrid (Roque B16) was quantified. The objective of this research was to undergo osmoaconditioning to these races of maize and then to accelerated aging and quantify their effect on the percentage of germination. The Roque B16 hybrid showed no difference in germination percentage and maintained a good germination percentage after 60 days of storage. The Elotes Occidentales (purple pigment) race exhibits a similar behavior between the control and the treated seed at 7 and 30 days of storage, at 60 days it indicated a significant fall. Elotes Occidentales (red pigment) showed a significant decrease at 7, 30 and 60 days of storage with the 12 h treatment. The Palomero race showed a significant decrease in germination at seven days with the 12 h treatment, Amarillo Roque evidenced a significant decrease at 7 and 60 days of storage with the 12 h osmoaconditioning, the Pozolero race revealed a significant decrease at 7 and 30 days of storage with 12 h and at 60 days with both periods of treatment (6 and 12 h). The Amarillo and hybrid varieties were statistically equal with a higher germination percentage during storage. Purple and Pozolero were very affected by the storage at three months. Rojo was also affected, but to a lesser extent than the previous two. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased availability of high resolution data and computing power has spurred enormous interest in "Big Data". While analysts typically source data from a wide variety of agencies, even within the USDA no comprehensive data warehouse exists with which researchers can interact. This leads to massive duplication in efforts, inefficient data sourcing, and great potential for error. The purpose of this article is to provide a brief overview of this state of affairs within the community. An overview of a prototype warehouse is also provided, as are thoughts on future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain storage is very important because the quality of flour obtained from grain will be found in the finished products' quality. Grains must be stored in well established conditions regarding temperature, humidity, airflow, trying to avoid the risk of being attacked by rodents and insects. If these conditions are not complied with, some qualitative deficits of the grains - such as mould at pH, infestation, fermentation etc. - may appear. The storage methods are those responsible for maintaining a good quality of the grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water exudation, water permeation, Young's modulus, and Pulsed-field gradient stimulated echo (PGSTE) 1H NMR measurements were carried out to investigate the effect of iota carrageenan (IC) on the water mobility and aging of agarose gels. Mixed agarose/IC polysaccharide samples exhibited slower water exudation and water permeation than pure agarose gels at the same total polysaccharide concentration. These effects were attributed to the water-holding capacity of IC chains. These results held for all storage times investigated. The Young's modulus increased during the first three days of storage, supporting gradual integration of all agarose chains into aggregates and the elastic network. The microstructure of the gels was also studied with PGSTE 1H NMR experiments to obtain the diffusion coefficient of pullulan (D pull) added as a probe polymer. In pure agarose gels, D pull increased with storage time, again indicating gradual integration of all agarose chains into aggregates and gel network. Conversely, D pull in agarose with IC did not show a significant increase during storage, indicating that the diffusion of pullulan is affected more by IC chains, which are not integrated into the agarose network, than by the soluble agarose chains, which are integrated into aggregates and the network within several days. [Display omitted] • Water mobility and aging behavior of agarose were studied by PGSTE 1H NMR, syneresis, Young's modulus, and water permeation measurements. • Water mobility in agarose gels was restricted by the addition of IC and was further restricted by the addition of KCl. • Increase of D pull with aging in pure agarose gels suggests structural changes in the gels. • Weak effect of storage time on D pull in mixed agarose-IC gels was due to the restriction of IC aggregations in the pores of the agarose network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to understand the role of storage conditions (temperature, T and moisture content) in the reactions involved in the cation-pectin-phytate hypothesis, postulated to cause the Hard-to-cook (HTC) defect in beans as influenced by the plasticizing effect of moisture (glass transition (T g) concept). The enzyme catalysed reactions, demethylesterification of pectin and hydrolysis of phytic acid, were monitored respectively in simplified pectin and phytic acid/protein model systems. In addition, both reactions were studied in a real system, red kidney bean cotyledon during storage at 35 °C and different relative humidity conditions (6%, 54%, 66%, 72% and 82%) for 15 weeks. The T g -moisture relation of the model systems and the bean cotyledon were established by Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA). The T g -line, fitted using the Gordon-Taylor equation, was combined with the moisture sorption isotherm to create a stability diagram. The stability diagram obtained can be used to ascertain the biochemical stability during post-harvest ageing of beans. Results displayed that there was significant hydrolysis of phytic acid in the phytic acid/protein model system and the real system when stored above their glass transition values. On the other hand, in the model system the pectin degree of methylesterifcation (DM) did not significantly change during storage. In the real system, significant, although small, changes of the DM were noted when T - T g > 20 °C. An examination of the glass transition lines revealed that the reactions were influenced by the plasticizing effect of moisture. • The reactions in the cation-pectin-phytate hypothesis were studied in model and real systems. • Hydrolysis of phytic acid is controlled by glass transition. • Glass transition lines of red kidney bean cotyledon and its' cell wall polymers were created. • DMTA based T g lines are better suited for explaining (bio)chemical stability rather than TMCT. • Stability map supports in establishing suitable post-harvest storage conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High lipids in rice endosperm can lower the digestibility of rice starch. However, as lipids tend to oxidize and hydrolyze, whether the high lipids rice is easily deteriorated during storage is unknown. In this study, artificially accelerated ageing was adopted as a fast way to investigate the changes of endosperm lipids and the physiochemical properties of high lipids rice mutants (i.e. ALK3 and RS4) during storage. Ageing treatment did not affect total lipids content, but NSL and γ-oryzanol in aged ALK3 (2.30%, 113.6 μg/g) and RS4 (2.10%, 72.2 μg/g) significantly decreased. Aged ALK3 had a lower pH of cooking solution (6.92) and lower Tp (64.04 °C) of the second endothermic peak in DSC compared to untreated ALK3 (7.04, 65.86 °C, respectively), suggesting the hydrolysis of lipids and damage of amylose-lipids complex. After ageing treatment, all varieties had lower proportion of unsaturated fatty acid in NSL and lower breakdown, indicating an inferior lipids quality and rice eating and cooking quality. However, no more serious quality deterioration was observed in high lipids rice compared to common rice. The high-lipid mutants had better nutritional quality in terms of higher γ-oryzanol content and lower initial digestion rate (IRR 20) even after storage. • Non-starch lipids and γ-oryzanol in high lipids rice significantly decreased after artificially accelerated ageing. • Ageing treatment resulted in hydrolysis of lipids and damage of amylose-lipids complex. • The high-lipid mutants had higher γ-oryzanol content and lower initial digestion rate. • High lipids rice did not show more serious quality deterioration during ageing. • Normal storage may not result in serious quality deterioration for high lipids rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of solid lipid particles (SLP) incorporation on the aging process of NaCl-induced gels of soy protein isolate and locust bean gum. The feasibility of incorporating beta-carotene (BC) into emulsion-filled gels (EFGs) was evaluated and the stability of the carotenoid was determined in two systems, SLP and NaCl-induced EFGs. Non-filled gels (NFG) and EFG were characterized to determine their microstructural organization, rheological properties and water holding capacity (WHC) throughout storage. In addition, the amount of BC contained in SLP and EFG was quantified for 30 days. SLP dispersions were stable and retained about 57% of the encapsulated bioactive carotenoid after 30 days. Given the good stability of the SLPs, they were considered suitable for incorporation into the gels and for the production of EFGs. Their incorporation increased the stability of the gel systems. The strength and WHC of NFG systems decreased with aging, while those of EFGs increased. EFGs provided greater protection of encapsulated beta-carotene (about 90% of retention after 30 days of storage) than SLPs, indicating that gelation of the continuous phase is a good strategy to prevent the degradation of encapsulated bioactive carotenoid. • β-Carotene was quantified in solid lipid particles and emulsion-filled gels. • Emulsion-filled and non-filled gels were evaluated regarding its stability for 30 days. • Solid lipid particles retained 57% of the encapsulated bioactive after 30 days. • Solid lipid particles incorporation to gels increased their stability. • Emulsion filled gels retained 90% of beta-carotene after 30 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ice creams have big potential to be used as probiotic food carrier. In this respect, this study aimed to produce ice creams with addition of Saccharomyces boulardii and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. Probiotic strains were added to the ice cream mixes before and after aging steps of ice cream production and were inoculated as single or mix cultures. Probiotic ice cream products were then characterized and the survival of the probiotic strains were determined during storage period. Both probiotic strains successfully survived during storage period and their numbers were above 6.18 log CFU/g at final date of storage. The rheological parameters of ice cream products improved with the co-inoculation of S. boulardii and L. rhamnosus both before and after aging step. Importantly the aroma profile of ice cream samples altered with probiotic inoculation and ethanol was the major volatile compound in ice cream samples produced with S. boulardii added before aging step. Inoculation of S. boulardii and L. rhamnosus as single cultures also resulted in formation of distinct aroma compounds in ice cream products. The highest overall acceptability score in sensorial evaluation of ice cream products was obtained from the ice cream products produced with inoculation of probiotics after aging step. • This is the first study consideration of aging process in the production of probiotic ice cream. • S. boulardii and L. rhamnosus were used as single or mix cultures for production of probiotic ice cream samples. • Co-inoculation of S. boulardii and L. rhamnosus resulted higher shear thinning behaviour. • Using two probiotics as a single or co-culture resulted different volatile compounds. • Aging process is very critical for production of probiotic ice cream with S. boulardii in terms of sensory evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peach is a putrescible fruit thus drastically restricting its postharvest storage life. In recent years, the application of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and nitric oxide (NO) in postharvest fruit quality control has received considerable attention and investigative efforts due to the advantages of using relatively low concentrations and short-time treatment duration. In the present study, the effects of various 1-MCP and NO treatments on peach fruit (Prunus persica L. cv. Xiahui-8) stored at 25 °C were evaluated and compared. Results indicated that the combination treatment with both chemical agents (MN) was most effective in postponing peach ripening and preserving fruit quality, followed by 1-MCP and NO treatment alone. We also demonstrated that NO could delay fruit senescence mainly by stimulating antioxidant enzymes, while 1-MCP overly outperformed NO in the treatment of 'Xiahui-8′ peach in slowing down respiration rate, inhibiting ethylene production, maintaining high firmness and reducing ROS content. NO treatment showed a greater influence on phenolic compounds than 1-MCP especially anthocyanins, flavanones and flavones according to LC/MS analysis. The phenolic change in MN group were highly associated to NO treatment. Through this study we provide informative physiological, biochemical and molecular evidence for the beneficial effects of the combined 1-MCP and NO treatment on peach fruit based on a functional synergy between these two chemical agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hyperbaric pressure + refrigeration improves postharvest conservation of tomatoes. • Hyperbaric pressure + refrigeration delays the climacteric peak of tomatoes. • Hyperbaric pressure + refrigeration decreases the respiratory rate of tomatoes. • Tomatoes treated with hyperbaric pressure + refrigeration retained greater firmness. • 600 to 800 kPa at 13°C retarded the tomato´s ripening process. This study aimed to evaluate whether the hyperbaric pressure combined with refrigeration (200, 400, 600, and 800 kPa at 13 ± 1°C) for 4 or 8 d, promotes any improvement compared to conventional refrigeration (13 ± 1°C to 100 kPa), in the regulation of the ripening and senescence processes of tomatoes. Fruit stored for 8 d under hyperbaric pressure of 600 and 800 kPa showed reduced respiratory rate during storage, delayed climacteric peak, lower weight loss (74 %), and greater firmness (25 %) compared to the tomatoes stored under conventional refrigeration. Moreover, storage at 800 kPa led to an increase in the CAT and a decrease in POD enzymatic activities. Our findings show that the hyperbaric pressure at 600 and 800 kPa combined with refrigeration was more efficient than conventional refrigeration, delaying the ripening process, and increasing the tomatoes shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between starch digestibility and physicochemical properties of aged rice grains. Fresh rice (FR), aged rice (AR), and accelerated aged rice (AAR) grains were prepared and used as samples. Freshness evaluations of pH and L* based on lipid deterioration showed that polished AR and AAR were degraded samples. Crude protein and apparent amylose contents and molecular weight profiles of proteins did not differ between polished rice. Although there was no significant difference in surface firmness between cooked grains, cooked AAR grains had significantly lower surface adhesiveness and adhesion than cooked FR and AR grains. Microscopic observations showed that intracellular disruption of the aleurone layer tended to increase in the order of polished AR > AAR > FR grains. No significant differences were found in the equilibrium concentration of starch hydrolysis (111.69–112.82%), kinetic constant (k) (7.57 × 10−3–8.61 × 10−3 min−1), and estimated glycemic index (eGI) (88.78–93.27) of the cooked grains. However, k and eGI showed significant linear correlations with pH and L*, respectively. These results revealed that changes in the tissue structure of polished grains due to aging affected lipid deterioration, correlating with the starch digestibility of cooked grains. • Apparent amylose and crude protein contents of rice didn't change during storage. • Freshness evaluations of polished rice indicated deterioration during storage. • Starch digestibility was not affected by rice aging. • Kinetic constant and estimated glycemic index correlated freshness evaluations. • Intracellular disruption on the aleurone layer was observed in aged rice grain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean seed vigour declines with increase in storage duration, due to ageing, which can be alleviated through seed priming. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Humic acid (HA) priming on germination, vigour and seedling performance under laboratory and greenhouse conditions with two soil moisture level [50% and 80% field capacity (FC)]. Seeds stored for 12 months having 60% germination were primed either with 0.2 g/L HA solution or distilled water (hydro-primed) at 25 °C for 1, 3, 5 and 7 h. Non-primed dry seeds were used as control, giving nine treatment combinations. Various germination traits [mean germination time (MGT), final germination percentage (FG%), germination rate index (GRI), seedling emergence percentage (SEP)], mean emergence time (MET), seedling quality traits [seedling vigor index (SVI), shoot length, root length, root volume], antioxidant enzyme activities [catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD)], lipid peroxidation [malondialdehyde (MDA)] and electrical conductivity (EC) were determined. A germination test in the laboratory was conducted as single factor (nine priming treatments), while the greenhouse experiment was conducted as two factors [2 soil moisture level (50 and 80% FC) and 9 priming treatments]. The results indicated that seeds primed with HA for 5 h was able to reinstate the CAT activities (25%), POD activities (50%) and reduced EC (51%) and MDA content (40%) compared with non-primed seeds, reduced the MET (from 4.3 to 3.5 days), increased FG% (from 62 to 71%), GRI (15.6–21.1) and SEP (from 35 to 54%) and (from 60 to 72%) at 50% FC level and 80% FC level, respectively. A strong negative correlation (r = −0.80 **) was found between MDA content and GRI, while CAT and POD activities had positive correlation with GRI r= 0.67 ** and r = 0.56 **, respectively. Thus, priming with 0.2 g/L HA for 5 h improved the vigour of minimally deteriorated soybean seeds resulting in increased emergence with more uniform field establishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Melatonin treatment attenuates the rates of postharvest respiration, weight loss, and sensory quality deterioration as indicated by an increase in fruit firmness, total soluble solids, soluble sugar content, titratable acidity, and citrus color index (CCI) in 'Newhall' navel orange fruit. • Melatonin treatment inhibits the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in postharvest orange fruit. • Melatonin enhances antioxidant capacity in 'Newhall' navel orange fruit by increasing the activity and expression of anti-oxidative enzymes including catalase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase further promoting the accumulation of antioxidants including ascorbate, reduced glutathione, and total phenol. • Principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated that melatonin delayed postharvest senescence of orange fruit and was associated with inhibition of postharvest respiration and stimulation of oxidant-defense system. Melatonin can improve postharvest quality and strengthen resistance to oxidative stress-induced senescence of many horticultural products, however, the effects of melatonin on storage quality and physiological senescence of citrus fruit are still unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of 200 μmol•L−1 melatonin on the organoleptic quality and antioxidant system of 'Newhall' navel orange stored under ambient conditions for 84 days post-harvest. Melatonin caused a significant decrease in respiration rate and weight loss rate, and increased in fruit firmness, total soluble solids, soluble sugar content, titratable acidity and Citrus Color Index (CCI) indicating inhibition of fruit quality deterioration. Melatonin treatment impeded the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde, suggesting an inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst and oxidative damage. In addition, the application of melatonin enhanced ROS scavenging capacity by increasing the activity and expressions of catalase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase and by promoting the accumulation of ascorbate, reduced glutathione and total phenol. Moreover, the PCA (principal component analysis) demonstrated melatonin delayed postharvest senescence of orange fruit is associated with inhibition of postharvest respiration and stimulation of oxidant-defense system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a gas-diffusion microextraction (GDME) methodology was optimized and validated for the analysis of selected staling aldehydes (furfural (FURF), 2-methylpropanal (2-MP), 2-methylbutanal (2-MB), 3-methylbutanal (3-MB), and acetaldehyde (ACET)) during natural and forced aging of beer. The methodology was optimized considering time, temperature of extraction, and derivatizing agent. Using 4-hydrazinobenzoic acid (HBA) as a derivatizing agent, the performance of the method was evaluated by assessing several parameters such as detection limits (ranging from 1.2 to 1857.7 µg/L for 2-MB and ACET, respectively), quantification limits (ranging from 3.9 to 6192.4 µg/L for 2-MB and ACET, respectively), recoveries (higher than 96%), intraday and interday precisions (lower than 3.4 and 9.2%, respectively), and linearity (r2 ≥ 0.995). During beer aging, higher content of Strecker aldehydes and FURF were found, while no significant variations in ACET levels were observed. In general, the aldehydes content assessed for beers stored at 37 ± 1 °C for 7 and 14 days mimics that observed for beers stored at 20 ± 2 °C for 3 and 6 months, respectively. Lower temperatures of storage (4 ± 1 °C) delayed the development of staling aldehydes. Based on PCA analysis, the content of staling aldehydes and beer color were responsible for 91.39% of the variance among the analyzed samples, and it was demonstrated that these are key parameters to discriminate fresh from aged beers. The results herein presented showed that the proposed analytic methodology is a valuable strategy for the characterization and quantification of important staling aldehydes in beer with a potential application in the quality control of beer during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study of the residues of organochlorine pesticide (OCPs) in grain storage areas of New South Wales. It states that 34% of the grain storage properties were positive for OCPs, and the main OCP residues are dieldrin, lindane (gamma-BHC), and DDT. It states that there is a relation between the cropping techniques and application of OCPs in several regions.

• First integrated gene and microRNA analysis was conducted to investigate melatonin-mediated delay of litchi fruit senescence. • Key genes were identified using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). • miR858 and160a and their targets were key downstream regulators of melatonin to delay litchi pericarp senescence. • Our work provides a possible linkage between melatonin and ABA in regulating senescence in litchi fruit. Litchi fruit has high commercial value on the international market, but senesces rapidly after harvest. We used weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and degradome technology to investigate the molecular mechanisms of melatonin-mediated delay of litchi fruit senescence through application of exogenous melatonin and p-chlorophenylalanine (p-CPA, an inhibitor of melatonin biosynthesis) treatments. Results demonstrated that exogenous melatonin treatment delayed litchi fruit senescence while p-CPA accelerated senescence. Coupled analyses of transcriptome and physiological parameters of litchi fruit provided the correlation of network modules with dynamic changes in browning index during storage. Additionally, we found that microRNAs (miR858 and miR160a) and their targets were actively involved in melatonin-mediated delay of litchi fruit senescence. Melatonin treatment decreased abscisic acid (ABA) content but increased PP2C and F-box expression levels, suggesting the involvement of ABA signaling in melatonin-mediated antisenescence. The transcriptions of ZAT, NAC and DREB1 were activated by melatonin treatment. Moreover, the major functional genes involved in histone methylation, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolism, energy production, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and cell death were identified in the melatonin-inhibited litchi pericarp browning. Taken together, we first constructed the global map of the important regulators and pathways to delay litchi senescence and pericarp browning mediated by melatonin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• p-CA maintained membrane integrity and function and delayed senescence of kiwifruit. • p-CA activated ascorbate-glutathione cycle activity and enhanced antioxidant status. • p-CA accelerated phenolics accumulation of kiwifruit. 'Xuxiang' kiwifruit were pretreated with 0.5 mmol L−1 p -coumaric acid (p -CA) and then stored at 20 °C for up to 20 d to investigate the influence of p -CA and possible mechanisms on senescence. Results showed that p -CA-pretreated fruit were of less senescence, and displayed inhibited softening, respiration intensity and accumulations of soluble sugars, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide. p -CA-pretreated fruit were of better antioxidant status, and had higher ascorbic acid and glutathione contents and activity of ascorbate-glutathione cycle-related enzymes including ascorbate peroxidase, dehydroascorbate reductase, monodehydroascorbate reductase and glutathione reductase, and also had higher total phenolics resulting from synergistic action of increased endogenous p -CA content and activated shikimate dehydrogenase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity. p -CA pretreatment is an effective practice for delaying senescence and maintaining quality for kiwifruit during ambient storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]