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Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive blood cancer with limited chemotherapy options and negative patient outcomes. Investigations with bioactive compounds from dietary sources against cancer have increased in the recent years, which highlight the need for novel therapeutic approaches and new anti-leukemic agents possessing higher efficacy and selectivity for AML cells and fewer negative side effects. Bioactive compounds demonstrated the ability to induce cell cycle blockage and apoptosis or autophagy in cancer cells, as well as inhibition of proliferation/migration and tumor progression, etc. Bioactive compounds isolated from dietary sources such as mango ginger show promise for AML treatment. Curcuma amada roots have been used in traditional medicine and showed antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer properties. Bioactive molecules isolated from C. amada showed effects on the mitochondrial metabolism and reduced the viability of multiple leukemic cell lines.

Hexanal slows down the ripening process in fresh produce by inhibiting the activity of phospholipase D, thereby increasing shelf life. This study focused on comparing the single time exposure and continuous exposure of post-harvest Anjou and Bartlett pears to hexanal by dipping or fumigating them to enhance their shelf life. Continuous exposure of hexanal was achieved by developing a hexanal encapsulated fiber (HEF), which releases hexanal vapor due to the increased humidity (96 ± 2% RH) in the container headspace as a result of respiration. The fruits were stored in cold storage (0 ± 2 °C) as well as at normal room temperature (20 ± 2 °C) and their storage capacity was compared between the treatments. Fruit parameters such as physiological loss of weight (PLW), firmness, and total soluble solids (TSS) showed only minor differences between hexanal treated and untreated fruits. Between the two varieties, Anjou exhibited slightly higher values than Bartlett. However, when the fruits are visually evaluated, the main aspect of consumer preference, HEF-treated fruits had a better appeal in both varieties and in both conditions. Bartlett responded better than Anjou even in cold storage conditions, suggesting that there are varietal differences in their response to hexanal. Both hexanal treatments helped color retention and reduced fungal infection under the storage conditions tested.

The global food crisis is an issue affecting 1 billion people worldwide—it is critical that a solution be developed to provide the world’s citizens with alternative sources of food that are less energy-intensive. Both nanoparticles, molecules < 100 nm used in drug delivery, and antioxidants, molecules that inhibit oxidation reactions, have been individually studied to enhance plant growth; however, the combined effect has not been investigated. Using hydroponic, tissue culture, and hydrogel experiments, this project investigates whether a combined nanoparticle-antioxidant treatment of carbon nanoparticles and ascorbic acid (CNP-AOX) has a synergistic effect in enhancing plant growth. When tested using hydroponic experiments, NP-AOX showed significant increases in chlorophyll levels, media consumption, and plant weight compared to the other treatments. Tissue culture experiments showed that nanoparticles resulted in long roots, antioxidants resulted in dense roots, while CNP-AOX resulted in a combination of both. TEM revealed that antioxidants enabled the delivery of nanoparticles into cell organelles which may have contributed to their enhanced growth. CNP-AOX also increased soil moisture levels in the hydrogel experiments. Using CNP-AOX is economically feasible, costing less than $0.03 per L while conventional fertilizers will cost over a dollar for the same effects. The NP-AOX treatment can boost food production, decreasing the need for imports, and reducing the environmental impact of fertilizers, with particular benefits in northern communities combatting crop loss due to permafrost and drought.

Plums are affected by a cancerous disease called “black knot disease” caused by the fungus Apiosporina morbosa. It affects both Japanese (Prunus salicina) and European (Prunus domestica) plums equally. To understand the spread of the disease, histological analysis was performed in two different European plum cultivars (susceptible and tolerant). Light and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses confirmed the presence of the growing hyphae in the internal tissues of the susceptible trees. By using stereoscopic analysis with a fluorescence filter, we were able to detect the hyphae in the visible lesion area. At about 2 inches from above and below the knots, no spore or hypha were visible with the light microscope. However, SEM images showed strong evidence that the fungus is capable of migrating to adjacent vessels in the susceptible plum genotype. In fact, at that distance below and above the knots, conidia were detected inside xylem vessels suggesting a systemic movement of the fungus that has not been shown so far. No symptoms were observed in the resistant genotype. Starch granules, vessel occlusions, and lipid droplets were the main distinguishable characteristics between susceptible and tolerant varieties.

Background Orange (Citrus sinensis L.) production in Tanzania is constrained by several pre-harvest factors that include pests. Hexanal, sprayed as Enhanced Freshness Formulation (EFF) is a relatively new technology that has been reported to reduce pre-harvest loss in fruits. However, the effects of hexanal on pre-harvest yield loss of orange are not known. We studied the effects of hexanal as EFF on yield losses of three sweet orange cultivars namely, Early Valencia, Jaffa, and Late Valencia. Factorial experiments tested the effects of EFF concentration, variety, and time of EFF application on number of dropped fruit, percentage of non-marketable fruit and incidence of pest damage. Results Results showed significant negative correlation (p p Conclusion Pre-harvest application of hexanal as EFF can significantly reduce number of dropped fruits, percentage of non-marketable fruit and incidence of pest damage.

Postharvest technologies play a key role in enhancing shelf life and maintaining quality characteristics of tender fruits, such as nectarines (Prunus persica [L.] Batsch var. nectarina). This research investigated the effects of an enhanced freshness formulation (EFF), containing hexanal as the key ingredient, in enhancing the shelf life of field grown nectarines and its effects on the composition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). ‘Fantasia’ nectarine fruits at two commercial orchards in the Niagara region were subject to preharvest sprays of 2% EFF (15 and 7 days preharvest) and stored at ambient conditions (25 °C) with volatile analyses conducted at 0, 3, 5, 7, and 11 days postharvest. The volatile analysis study indicated for the first time that hexanal is naturally present in nectarine fruit. This was confirmed by GC–MS analysis and validated with standards. GC–EIMS analyses of targeted VOCs validated with standards indicated reduced levels of VOCs associated with fruit ripening and fruity odor, such as lactones, in hexanal-treated fruit, and an increased level of C6 compounds associated with unripe fruit. Principal component analysis biplot with scores and loadings of the fruit VOCs and quality parameters indicated a tight association between TSS and lactones, which was inversely associated with firmness, ground color, acetates, and ester compounds. Pearson correlation coefficients also indicated a very high positive correlation between hexanal and levels of VOCs, such as 1-hexanol, E-2-hexanal, 3-hexanal, hexen-1-ol, and other C6 acetates. These findings may indicate a delay in the ripening process caused by hexanal formulation, which may be associated with modulated expression of key ripening-related volatile pathways, therefore enhancing the shelf life and quality of nectarines.

A nano-film was developed using nano-fibrillated cellulose (NFC) obtained from banana (var. Poovan) pseudostem. The NFC was prepared by alkali treatment followed by bleaching and acidification, as described and characterized in the authors’ previous paper. The NFC was used as base material for the development of nano-film. The nano-film was prepared via solvent casting with NFC (4%), polyvinyl alcohol (5%), and polyacrylic acid (5%) at a v/v ratio of 5:8:1. The nano-film was characterized using ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), thermal gravimetric analyzer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), gas permeability tester (GPT), texture profile analyzer, and digital thickness gauge meter. The data showed that the developed nano-film was UV protectant, possessed strong cross-linking, had high oxygen barrier capacity, was thermally stable up to 356 °C, and had high tensile strength than conventional film. To assess the protective quality of developed nano-film, tomato fruits were covered, and the shelf life was determined using physiological and biochemical attributes. The study revealed that nano-film developed from NFC possessed tomato preserving capacity for 15 days under ambient storage condition. Overall, the data suggested that banana fibres could be a potential source of NFC to develop biodegradable nano-film.

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) production is constrained by several pre-harvest factors. This study determined the effects of enhanced freshness formulation (EFF) on yield losses in “Apple,” “Palmer” ...

Post-harvest loss negatively impacts food security, nutrition and economic stability of farmers, exporters, traders and consumers. Experiments were conducted to assess the effects of post-harvest t...

Mango is a highly preferred seasonal tropical fruit with a maximum shelf-life of five to seven days. Hexanal is a plant volatile compound assayed in green tissues and showing significance in enhancing storage life and fruit quality attributes by preserving membrane integrity. This experiment explored the effect of the pre-harvest application of an aqueous hexanal composition (active ingredient: 0.02% hexanal) in altering the post-harvest storage behavior of four mango cultivars. The pre-harvest application of the hexanal formulation to the fruit surface twice before the harvest date drastically slowed down the physiological loss in weight by 70% to 80%, and reduced the ethylene evolution rate by two to three folds, respectively. The pre-harvest hexanal formulation spray combined with post-harvest cold storage prominently improved the storage life along with the total soluble solids, total sugars, ascorbic acid and carotenoid content compared to untreated fruits stored in ambient conditions. Though ripening coincides with the increased activity of enzymes, the hexanal formulation spray acts predominantly in bringing down the activities of fruit softening enzymes viz. pectinmethlyesterase (43%) and polygalacturonases (37%), and antioxidant enzymes viz. peroxidase (67%) and catalase (45%), respectively.

Apples (Malus&nbsp, domestica Borkh) are prone to preharvest fruit drop, which is more pronounced in ‘Honeycrisp’. Hexanal is known to improve fruit retention in several economically important crops. The effects of hexanal on the fruit retention of ‘Honeycrisp’ apples were assessed using physiological, biochemical, and transcriptomic approaches. Fruit retention and fruit firmness were significantly improved by hexanal, while sugars and fresh weight did not show a significant change in response to hexanal treatment. At commercial maturity, abscisic acid and melatonin levels were significantly lower in the treated fruit abscission zone (FAZ) compared to control. At this stage, a total of 726 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between treated and control FAZ. Functional classification of the DEGs showed that hexanal downregulated ethylene biosynthesis genes, such as S-adenosylmethionine synthase (SAM2) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidases (ACO3, ACO4, and ACO4-like), while it upregulated the receptor genes ETR2 and ERS1. Genes related to ABA biosynthesis (FDPS and CLE25) were also downregulated. On the contrary, key genes involved in gibberellic acid biosynthesis (GA20OX-like and KO) were upregulated. Further, hexanal downregulated the expression of genes related to cell wall degrading enzymes, such as polygalacturonase (PG1), glucanases (endo-β-1,4-glucanase), and expansins (EXPA1-like, EXPA6, EXPA8, EXPA10-like, EXPA16-like). Our findings reveal that hexanal reduced the sensitivity of FAZ cells to ethylene and ABA. Simultaneously, hexanal maintained the cell wall integrity of FAZ cells by regulating genes involved in cell wall modifications. Thus, delayed fruit abscission by hexanal is most likely achieved by minimizing ABA through an ethylene-dependent mechanism.

The fruits of Msasa and Jaffa orange varieties were harvested and subjected to post-harvest treatments namely; dipping in hexanal, dipping in calcium chloride and compared with untreated control; a...

In this study, microwave and ultrasound extraction were selected as process intensification tools to intensify the conventional heat reflux extraction process. Process efficiency was evaluated based on total phenolic content (ascorbic acid, neochlorogenic acid, and chlorogenic acid), scavenging ability of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric (Fe3+) free radicals, and process intensification principles and domains. Highest phenolic content and antioxidant activity were achieved using microwave extraction followed by heat reflux and ultrasound extraction. Microwave extraction was selected via decision matrix as a suitable process intensification approach based on results and its ability to satisfy process intensification principles.

Apples (Malus domesticaBorkh) are prone to pre-harvest fruit drop which is more pronounced in ‘Honeycrisp’. Using a transcriptomic approach, we analyzed the molecular mechanisms of fruit retention in ‘Honeycrisp’. A total of 726 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the abscission zone of hexanal-treated and untreated fruit (FAZ). Hexanal down-regulated the genes involved in ethylene biosynthesis, such as S-adenosylmethionine synthase (SAM2) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1carboxylic acid oxidases (ACO3,ACO4andACO4-like). Genes related to ABA biosynthesis (FDPSandCLE25) were also down-regulated. On the contrary, gibberellic acid (GA) biosynthesis genes, gibberellin 20 oxidase1-like (GA20OX-like) and ent-kaurene oxidase (KO) were up-regulated. Further, hexanal down-regulated the expression of genes related to cell-wall remodelling enzymes such as polygalacturonase (PG1), glucanases (endo-β-1,4-glucanase; EG) and expansins (EXPA1-like, EXPA6, EXPA8, EXPA10-like, EXPA16-like). Hexanal also reduced ethylene, and abscisic acid (ABA) production at commercial harvest stage. Hexanal reduced ethylene production in fruits and thus reduced the sensitivity of FAZ cells to ethylene and ABA. Simultaneously, hexanal maintained the cell-wall integrity of FAZ cells by regulating genes involved in cell-wall modifications. Our findings show that fruit abscission is delayed by hexanal, by down regulating ABA through an ethylene-dependent mechanism.HighlightHexanal, a naturally occurring plant compound, increased fruit retention in apples by decreasing ethylene and ABA production and maintaining the cell-wall integrity in the fruit abscission zone.

Globally farmers have difficulty in extending the shelf-life of the tropical fruits due to their perishable nature. The present study aimed to assess the effect of hexanal nano-formulation treatment (NFT) on the shelf-life of Alphonso mango. Further, volatilomics was performed to explore the molecular basis of such effect. Untreated and treated fruits were sampled starting from 5th to 21st day after NFT at an interval of 4 days. Moderate changes in visual and digital colour parameters were evident from the intact and dissected fruits of NFT set compared to untreated fruits. Biochemical assays affirmed the phenotypic differences with significant changes in the colour imparting compounds like carotenoids and anthocyanins among them. Further, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis revealed significant qualitative and quantitative variations in the different classes of compounds like lactones, furanones, esters, aldehydes and alcohols. Some of the key metabolites showed differential modulations among the NFT and untreated fruit sets indicating their potential role in various processes, which ultimately might have resulted in delayed ripening of the mango. Overall, this study has demonstrated the beneficial effect of hexanal and identified important metabolites with the enhanced shelf-life in Alphonso that could be useful for farmers and mango-based food/flavour industries.

Membrane deterioration is an inherent aspect of the advancement in senescence and loss in fruit quality during storage. Postharvest technologies used for extending shelf life and quality are targeted to reduce membrane damage through downregulating or blocking ethylene action. In this study, mature green tomato fruit were treated with inhibitors of ethylene receptor (ETR), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and phospholipase D (PLD), all recognized to be targets of regulation of fruit ripening. The inhibitors used included 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP, an ethylene receptor blocker), wortmannin (an inhibitor of PI3K), and hexanal (a PLD inhibitor). Fruit were treated at optimal levels of the inhibitors and were stored at 21 °C for 10 days. Color development was strongly delayed in wortmannin treated tomatoes just as in 1-MCP treated fruit; while, changes in respiration, firmness and ethylene evolution were very similar to that of control fruit. Hexanal delayed the initiation of these changes; while 1-MCP and wortmannin blocked the ripening process. Changes in expression levels of key genes involved in ethylene signalling, phosphoinositide metabolism, and lycopene synthesis that occurred in response to inhibitors, suggested potential roles for PI3K and PLD in ethylene signalling. Furthermore, fruit treated with all the three inhibitors showed a marked reduction in PLD transcript levels; suggesting that, regulation of PLD gene expression is a common critical regulatory point that regulates ripening. Lowered PLD levels may reduce membrane lipid catabolism and the generation of phosphatidic acid (PA), an intermediate in ethylene signalling regulation through downstream components.

Aqueous compositions of hexanal, an inhibitor of phospholipase D, has been shown to enhance the shelf life and quality of fruits and vegetables. In the present study, sweet bell pepper fruit were exposed to hexanal vapor and its effect on quality attributes, shelf-life, and antioxidant enzyme activities were evaluated during storage at 7 day intervals for 21 d. Peppers subjected to hexanal vapor treatments (0.005, 0.01, and 0.02%, w/w) showed a significant (p

‘Honeycrisp’ (Malus domestica Borkh.), a premium applecultivar, is highly susceptible to bitter pit and decline in quality during long-term storage. In order to enhance the quality, an aqueous composition containing hexanal was applied as a preharvest spray. The effects of hexanal were assessed on the treated fruit and compared with HarvistaTM (a sprayable 1-Methylcyclopropene based commercial formulation) applied and control fruit under both cold (2.5 °C, four months) and cold after room temperature storage (20 °C, 14 days) conditions. Color, firmness, and total soluble solids (TSS) did not show a significant change in response to any treatment at harvest, while abscisic acid (ABA) significantly reduced and tryptophan increased in response to hexanal, compared to HarvistaTM and control. The treatment effects on quality traits were observed during storage. Both hexanal and HarvistaTM sprayed apples had higher TSS under both cold and room temperature storage. In addition, both sprays enhanced firmness at room temperature storage. However, the effects of sprays on other quality traits showed a different pattern. Apples sprayed with hexanal had lower phospholipase D enzyme (PLD) activity, lower incidence of bitter pit, and decreased expression of MdPLDα1 compared to HarvistaTM and control. On the other hand, HarvistaTM treated fruit produced lower ethylene. Both sprays decreased the expression of MdPLDα4, MdCaM2, MdCaM4 and MdCML18 genes. Generally, PLD alpha has a direct role in promoting fruit senescence, whereas the calcium senor proteins (CaM/CMLs) may involve in fruit ripening process via calcium and ethylene interactions. Therefore, improved postharvest qualities, including the lower incidence of bitter pit in hexanal treated ‘Honeycrisp’, may be associated with lower membrane damage due to lower PLD enzyme activity and decreased expression of MdPLDα1 and MdPLDα4 genes throughout the storage period.

A laboratory study was undertaken to extract nano-fibrillated cellulose (NFC) from the pseudostem (a waste from the fruit harvest) of two commercial banana cultivars (‘Grand Naine’ and ‘Poovan’) in Tamil Nadu using a novel approach: a one-step method with a bleaching agent and alkali-free acid hydrolysis coupled with ultrasonication. The acid hydrolysis was performed using nitric acid and acetic acid (1:10 ratio). The treatment was effective in the depolymerization and defibrillation of banana pseudostem fiber and in the formation of NFC, which was confirmed by several physico-chemical techniques. The average diameters of the nanofibrils were 6 to 8 nm and 4 to 6 nm for ‘Grand Naine’ and ‘Poovan’, respectively. The XRD analysis revealed an increased cellulose crystallinity of almost 20% in the NFC compared with the respective raw banana fibers. The Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed the absence of lignin, hemicelluloses, and pectin in the nano-fibrillated samples. The thermal analysis showed the increased thermal stability of the NFC.

Hexanal, a C-6 aldehyde has been implicated to have antimicrobial properties. Hence, this study was conducted to determine the antifungal activities of hexanal vapor against major postharvest pathogens of banana viz., Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Lasiodiplodia theobromae. The pathogens were cultured in vitro and exposed to hexanal vapor at 600, 800, 1,000 and 1,200 ppm. Mycelial growth of both fungal pathogens were inhibited completely at 800 ppm and the incidence of anthracnose and stem-end rot diseases reduced by 75.2% and 80.2%, respectively. The activities of peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and glucanase had transiently increased in hexanal vapor treated banana by 5 to 7 days and declined thereafter. Postharvest treatment of banana with hexanal vapor resulted in phospholipase D inhibition and also resulted in cell wall thickening of the treated fruit, which impeded the penetration of the pathogenic spores. This was further confirmed by scanning electron micrographs. The defense-related protein intermediaries had increased in hexanal vapor treated banana fruit, which suggests induced resistance against C. gloeosporioides and L. theobromae, via., the phenylpropanoid pathway which plays a significant role in hindering the pathogen quiescence. Delayed ripening due to inhibition of phospholipase D enzyme, inhibition of mycelial growth and induced systemic resistance by defense enzymes collectively contributed to the postharvest disease reduction and extended shelf life of fruit.

Natural pigment carotenoids specifically β-carotene present in carrots is very sensitive to heat and light. The present work studied the co-crystallization as a process to increase the stability of the carotenoids extracted from carrots. Carotenoids encapsulated co-crystals were evaluated for their encapsulation efficiency, antioxidant activity, thermal behavior, physicochemical, and structural properties. Co-crystallization of the carotenoids with sucrose showed an encapsulation efficiency of 77.58% and an antioxidant activity of 68% towards DPPH free radicals. DSC thermogram confirmed the thermal stability of carotenoids encapsulated co-crystals by indicating the endothermic peaks at 190 °C. XRD pattern and FTIR spectra revealed that the crystal nature of sucrose and functional groups remained the same even after co-crystallization. SEM results revealed the irregular cavities in well-defined cubic crystals of sucrose which suggested the better entrapment of carotenoids into sucrose. Hence, co-crystallization significantly improved the overall stability of the carotenoids, and these co-crystals can be used as a natural colorant, sweetener, and antioxidant.

Field experiments were conducted to study the response of mango (var. Alphonso and Banganapalli) to pre-harvest sprays of a nano-emulsion of hexanal (Enhanced Freshness Formulation) in extending retention and shelf-life of fruits. Hexanal, a naturally occurring plant derived compound is known to inhibit phospholipase-D and facilitates extension of shelf-life of fruits during storage. Pre-harvest sprays of EFF (1.6 mM) on 30 and 15 days before harvest were done and the observations on fruit retention, incidence of post-harvest diseases and net fruit yield were recorded. After harvest, the fruits were kept under ambient (25 ± 2 °C; 70–75% RH) and cold (14 ± 2 °C; 85–90% RH) storage conditions and the physiological and biochemical parameters were measured regularly till the end of the shelf-life. The data clearly indicated that pre-harvest sprays of EFF significantly reduced the post-harvest diseases such as anthracnose, stem end rot and other infestations which minimized the post-harvest losses while increasing the net fruit yield by 4–5 kg per tree. The sprayed trees retained the fruits in the tree by 3–4 weeks longer than control. Further, the fruits harvested from the sprayed trees remained fresh for a longer period of time under both ambient (24–25 days) and cold (36–40 days) storage conditions in comparison to their respective controls (16–18 days; 20–22 days). The physiological loss in weight was registered lower while other quality attributes such as firmness, total sugars, acidity of treated fruits were higher than their respective controls regardless of storage conditions. Overall, the results suggested that pre-harvest sprays of EFF assisted in retention fruits for 3–4 weeks longer in the orchard itself besides extending shelf-life under storage conditions without the loss of quality of fruits.

European plum fruit (Prunus domestica) are normally blue-black to dark purple. However, some genotypes remain green/yellow after ripening. We hypothesized that in such genotypes anthocyanin biosynthesis is genetically disturbed. To examine this hypothesis, six european plum genotypes with diverse fruit colors were investigated for the expression pattern of several anthocyanin biosynthetic genes (ABGs)—e.g., phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, chalcone synthase (CHS), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR), anthocyanin synthase (ANS), and UDP-glucose:flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase 1 and 2 (UFGT 1 and 2). Expression profiles indicated that ABGs, especially Pd-CHS and UFGT 2, were significantly downregulated in the green/yellow fruit compared with the dark-purple fruit. Furthermore, the quantification of total polyphenols and individual flavonoid compounds showed substantial differences between the off-colored and the purple genotype. To further examine the contribution of each of the ABGs in color development, the open reading frame (ORP) of Pd-CHS, Pd-DFR, Pd-ANS, and Pd-UFGT 2 was ectopically expressed in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). The characterization of transgenic plants showed that the petals of plants expressing Pd-CHS were darker in color and had higher anthocyanin content than control or even other transgenic types, suggesting the significant contribution of CHS in determining anthocyanin production levels and hence fruit coloration. The results of this study provides better understanding of color development in european plum, which can be rewarding in developing european plum cultivars with desired colors through classical or modern breeding tools.

‘Honeycrisp’ is a popular apple variety among consumers due to its desirable flavour and characteristic texture. However, this variety is highly prone to pre-harvest fruit drop, bitter pit and decline in quality during long-term storage. This research investigated the effects of hexanal as a formulation (named by us as Enhanced Freshness Formulation -EFF) on fruit retention and post-harvest shelf-life in ‘Honeycrisp’ apples. Hexanal is a known inhibitor of phospholipase D (PLD). Our results indicated that hexanal application reduced PLD enzyme activity from 30 days post-harvest to the end of the storage period compared to the other treatments. Ethylene production was reduced with hexanal treatment from 0 to 90 days post-harvest. An increase in total soluble solids and a decrease in physiological loss in weight was observed with hexanal application. A significantly lower occurrence of progression and severity of bitter pit was observed, while incidence of bitter was reduced by 70 %. Further electron micrographs revealed that hexanal treated apples had higher structural integrity overall. Our results reveal that application of hexanal can reduce bitter pit incidence in Honeycrisp apples, while increasing the post-harvets storage.

Hexanal is a naturally occurring bioactive volatile compound which extends post-harvest shelf life of fruits and vegetable by preserving the cell membrane from degradation. The aim of this study is to encapsulate hexanal in a polymer and activate its release in presence of relative humidity replicating the fruit packaging environment. Fiber loaded with hexanal was prepared using different ratios of zein-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) polymer solution containing hexanal (1:2:5 and 1:5:5) on weight basis. Sustained diffusion of hexanal vapor from electrospun fiber was achieved and confirmed using gas chromatography. Characterization of fibers using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the incorporation of hexanal into the fiber and the changes in the morphology of fiber in relation to the relative humidity. Hexanal loaded fibers were used in the packaging of peaches and its shelf life parameters were evaluated. The results showed that increasing the relative humidity in the packaging environment triggered the release of hexanal from the fiber. Physical and morphological study of the fiber revealed that the integrity of the fiber did not change for 20 days at room temperature when stored at 0 % RH. The application of hexanal loaded fiber on the peach showed that the shelf life of fruits was extended by 4 days and the fiber prepared from the ratio 1:2:5 w/w of hexanal, zein and PEO showed better efficacy in shelf life extension of peach as compared with fiber prepared from the 1:5:5 w/w of hexanal, zein and PEO polymer solution.