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BACKGROUND: Mango fruits undergo numerous postharvest quality losses during storage. Hence, the present study aimed to increase the shelf life of mango fruits by applying hexanal‐based enhanced freshness formulations (EFF) in combination with hot water treatment (HWT). RESULTS: The findings revealed that, among all the tested applications, the combination of EFF 1.0% + HWT reduced the weight loss, decay incidence, and activity of cell wall degrading enzymes of mango fruits. Also, the combined treatment was effective in maintaining the fruit quality parameters such as soluble solid contents, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid and activity of antioxidant compounds. CONCLUSION: The present study concludes that the postharvest application of EEF 1.0% in combination with HWT can be used in extending the shelf life of mango cv. 'Langra,' fruits stored at 12° C and 85–90% relative humidity for 35 days. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sour cherry is a non-climacteric fruit that quickly loses its quality after harvest, so effective storage and packaging are essential to minimize postharvest decay. Our study aimed to (i) evaluate fruit decay incidence during shelf-life for both freshly harvested and six-week-cold-stored sour cherry fruits, comparing normal atmospheric conditions with modified atmosphere packaging across three sour cherry cultivars ('Érdi bőtermő', 'Újfehértói fürtös', and 'Petri'); and (ii) assess postharvest fruit decay incidence across the following three production systems: conventional, integrated pest management (IPM), and reduced IPM, for the cultivar 'Érdi bőtermő'. The results showed that modified atmosphere packaging effectively preserved or slightly increased fruit firmness (ranging from 27.1 to 46%) compared to control fruits across all cultivars. Fruit weight loss (ranging from 1.18 to 26.1%) was also significantly reduced under modified atmosphere packaging compared to normal atmospheric storage. Over a 14-day period, the decay incidence of harvested fruits consistently increased, with major losses from day 6 onward (ranging from 17.7 to 77.0% at shelf-life day 14) across all cultivars and years. After six weeks of normal atmospheric cold storage, decay incidence remained low (ranging from 0 to 9.4%) and was comparable across all cultivars. Both normal atmospheric and modified atmosphere packaging storage maintained sour cherry quality during cold storage, but the shelf-life of the fruits was significantly shorter at room temperature, regardless of the storage methods. Fruit decay incidence at harvest was highest in the reduced IPM system (ranging from 3.2 to 6.4%), significantly exceeding those observed in the conventional and IPM systems. In post-MAP cold storage, decay incidence followed the following order: conventional < IPM < reduced IPM, with significant differences observed only between the conventional and reduced IPM systems. In conclusion, our results suggest that sour cherries produced under conventional or IPM systems and stored in modified atmosphere packaging offer an effective postharvest strategy for preserving fruit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goji berries are a small-fruited shrub with industrial importance whose fruit considered beneficial in both fresh and dried forms. Current germplasms of goji berries include small fruits with a short shelf life, less sweet and bitter taste, and a lack of appropriate genetic information. This study aimed to employ whole genome resequencing to generate an ultra-dense bin linkage map and to elucidate the genetic basis of goji fruit quality and size using quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping analysis in a cross-pollinated hybrid population. To achieve this goal, human sensory tests were carried out to determine the bitter taste (BT) and sweet taste (ST), and to quantify the soluble solid content (SSC), fruit firmness (FF), and fruit size-related traits of fresh goji fruits over three or four years. The results revealed that the goji bin linkage map based on resequencing spanned a total length of 966.42 cM and an average bin interval of 0.03 cM. Subsequent variant calling and ordering resulted in 3,058 bins containing 35,331 polymorphic markers across 12 chromosomes. A total of 99 QTLs, with individual loci in different environments explaining a phenotypic variance of 1.21-16.95% were identified for the studied traits. Ten major effects, including colocalized QTLs corresponding to different traits, were identified on chromosomes 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8, with a maximum Logarithm of Odds (LOD) of 29.25 and 16.95% of explained phenotypic variance (PVE). In addition, four stable loci, one for FF, one for fruit weight (FW), and two for fruit shape index (FSI), were mainly mapped on chromosomes 5, 6, and 7, elucidating 2.10-16.95% PVE. These findings offer valuable insights into the genetic architecture of goji fruit traits along with identified specific loci and markers to further improve and develop sweeter, less bitter and larger fruited goji berry cultivars with extended shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of melatonin applications on postharvest quality changes of organic and conventionally grown plum fruit. Melatonin was applied in 0, 50, and 100 µmol L− 1 for organic and conventional samples. The fruits were stored at + 2.0 °C and 90% relative humidity for 28 days. During the storage period, the color, weight loss, firmness, Soluble solids concentration (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), pH, total antioxidant content, and total phenolics were evaluated at 7-day intervals. While no effect of melatonin applications on weight loss of organically grown plums was observed, it was determined that weight loss decreased as the dose of melatonin increased in conventionally grown plums. The lowest weight loss during storage was determined in conventionally grown plums treated with 100 µmolL− 1 melatonin. It was observed that the firmness values decreased as the storage period increased in both cultivation methods. The firmness decreased as the dose of melatonin application increased in organically grown plums, while the firmness increased as the dose of melatonin application increased in conventional cultivation. Melatonin application did not positively affect SSC, pH, and color values. However, it was determined that the mean TA values decreased as the dose of melatonin increased in both cultivation methods. When the total phenol content of organic and conventional plums was examined, it was determined that melatonin application decreased the number of phenolic compounds. The highest phenolic content was determined in the control samples. The total amount of antioxidants was 1.71 µmol TE g− 1 on the 28th day in the highest (100 µmol L− 1) melatonin-treated conventionally grown plums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) stands as one of the most valuable vegetable crops globally, and fruit firmness significantly impacts storage and transportation. To identify genes governing tomato firmness, we scrutinized the firmness of 266 accessions from core collections. Our study pinpointed an ethylene receptor gene, SlEIN4, located on chromosome 4 through a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) of fruit firmness in the 266 tomato core accessions. A single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (A → G) of SlEIN4 distinguished lower (AA) and higher (GG) fruit firmness genotypes. Through experiments, we observed that overexpression of SlEIN4AA significantly delayed tomato fruit ripening and dramatically reduced fruit firmness at the red ripe stage compared with the control. Conversely, gene editing of SlEIN4AA with CRISPR/Cas9 notably accelerated fruit ripening and significantly increased fruit firmness at the red ripe stage compared with the control. Further investigations revealed that fruit firmness is associated with alterations in the microstructure of the fruit pericarp. Additionally, SlEIN4AA positively regulates pectinase activity. The transient transformation assay verified that the SNP (A → G) on SlEIN4 caused different genetic effects, as overexpression of SlEIN4GG increased fruit firmness. Moreover, SlEIN4 exerts a negative regulatory role in tomato ripening by impacting ethylene evolution through the abundant expression of ethylene pathway regulatory genes. This study presents the first evidence of the role of ethylene receptor genes in regulating fruit firmness. These significant findings will facilitate the effective utilization of firmness and ripening traits in tomato improvement, offering promising opportunities for enhancing tomato storage and transportation capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study was carried out to investigate the effects of melatonin applications on postharvest quality changes of organic and conventionally grown plum fruit. Melatonin was applied in 0, 50, and 100 µmol L− 1 for organic and conventional samples. The fruits were stored at + 2.0 °C and 90% relative humidity for 28 days. During the storage period, the color, weight loss, firmness, Soluble solids concentration (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), pH, total antioxidant content, and total phenolics were evaluated at 7-day intervals. While no effect of melatonin applications on weight loss of organically grown plums was observed, it was determined that weight loss decreased as the dose of melatonin increased in conventionally grown plums. The lowest weight loss during storage was determined in conventionally grown plums treated with 100 µmolL− 1 melatonin. It was observed that the firmness values decreased as the storage period increased in both cultivation methods. The firmness decreased as the dose of melatonin application increased in organically grown plums, while the firmness increased as the dose of melatonin application increased in conventional cultivation. Melatonin application did not positively affect SSC, pH, and color values. However, it was determined that the mean TA values decreased as the dose of melatonin increased in both cultivation methods. When the total phenol content of organic and conventional plums was examined, it was determined that melatonin application decreased the number of phenolic compounds. The highest phenolic content was determined in the control samples. The total amount of antioxidants was 1.71 µmol TE g− 1 on the 28th day in the highest (100 µmol L− 1) melatonin-treated conventionally grown plums.

Introduction One of the most important global challenges is food waste, about 30% of the world's agricultural land is wasted. Every year, about 9.5 million tons of food is lost in the post-harvest phase of agriculture. Therefore, storage technology is very important to increase shelf life, preserve nutrition and maintain the taste of fresh products. Storing strawberry fruits at an inappropriate temperature after harvesting significantly increases weight loss, rotting and softening. L-phenylalanine as an amino acid is used for the biosynthesis of all phenolic compounds through the phenylpropanoid pathway. In recent years, the application of exogenous phenylalanine has been considered for use as a biologically safe molecule to maintain the postharvest quality of many horticultural crops. L-phenylalanine treatment has been reported to reduce the frost damage of plum fruit during cold storage by maintaining membrane integrity and improving reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacity. The treated fruit showed a higher DPPH inhibition capacity by increasing the accumulation of phenolic compounds and antioxidant enzyme activity. Aghdam et al. (2019) also reported that application of L-phenylalanine significantly reduced cold damage, membrane lipid peroxidation and ROS accumulation in tomato fruits during cold storage. Materials and Methods Strawberry fruits were obtained from a commercial greenhouse located in Urmia at full maturity stage. The fruits were transported to the laboratory of the Department of Horticultural Sciences in Urmia University with necessary precautions to prevent any mechanical damage to the product. The fruits were separated in terms of size and uniformity, so that the fruits were divided into 3 groups, one group as a control group and 2 groups were treated with concentrations of L-phenylalanine (4 and 8 mM). After drying the treated fruits, they were placed in zipped nylon bags and kept in a cold room for 15 days at a temperature of 3 ± 0.5 °C and a relative humidity of 90-95%. Also, three biological replicates at each time point were included in the analysis. The samples obtained at each of these times were used to evaluate skin color, titratable acidity, soluble solids, taste index, pH, weight loss, firmness, antioxidant capacity, total phenol content, and polyphenol oxidase enzyme activity. Results and Discussion The results showed that the effect of post-harvest treatment, storage time, and the interaction between them were statistically significant on all of the traits. In terms of color changes, the effect of post-harvest treatment (p≤0.05) was significant only in b* index, and the highest rate was observed in the 4 Phe treatment. The effect of storage time was also significant in a* and Chroma indices (p≤0.05) and the highest level was observed in both of these indices at day 5. The effect of storage time was also significant in TA (p≤0.01), the highest value was observed in day 10. In antioxidant capacity (p≤0.05), TSS (p≤0.05) and taste index (p≤0.01), the interaction effect between storage time and Phe treatment was significant. In antioxidant capacity, the highest percentage of DPPH inhibition was observed in day 10 and 4 Phe treatment, in TSS, the highest rate was observed on day 10 and 8 Phe treatment, and in taste index, the highest rate was observed on day 15 and 4 Phe treatment. The effect of post-harvest Phe treatment and storage period on fruit weight loss was significant (p≤0.05) and (p≤0.01) respectively, and the lowest percentage of weight loss was observed in Phe 4 and day 5. In terms of firmness and total phenol content, only the effect of Phe treatment was significant (p≤0.05) and (p≤0.01), respectively, the highest level of firmness in the 4 Phe treatment and the highest amount of total phenol content in the 8 Phe treatment were observed. In the PPO enzyme, only the effect of storage time (p≤0.05) was significant. Conclusion According to the obtained results, the 4 Phe treatment is the best concentration of phenylalanine to increase the shelf life of harvested strawberry fruits under cold storage.

Fruit softening is a prominent attribute governing both longevity on shelves and commercial worth. Polygalacturonase (PG) plays a major role in strawberry fruit softening. However, the PG gene family in strawberry has not been comprehensively analyzed. In this study, 75 FaPG genes were identified in the octoploid strawberry genome, which were classified into three groups according to phylogenetic analysis. Subcellular localization prediction indicated that FaPGs are mostly localized to the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and chloroplasts. Moreover, the expression of FaPGs during strawberry development and ripening of 'Benihoppe' and its softer mutant was estimated. The results showed that among all 75 FaPGs, most genes exhibited low expression across developmental stages, while two group c members (FxaC_21g15770 and FxaC_20g05360) and one group b member, FxaC_19g05040, displayed relatively higher and gradual increases in their expression trends during strawberry ripening and softening. FxaC_21g15770 was selected for subsequent silencing to validate its role in strawberry softening due to the fact that it exhibited the highest and most changed expression level across different developmental stages in 'Benihoppe' and its mutant. Silencing FxaC_21g15770 could significantly improve strawberry fruit firmness without affecting fruit color, soluble solids, cellulose, and hemicellulose. Conversely, silencing FxaC_21g15770 could significantly suppress the expression of other genes related to pectin degradation such as FaPG-like, FaPL, FaPME, FaCX, FaCel, FaGlu, FaXET, and FaEG. These findings provide basic information on the FaPG gene family for further functional research and indicate that FxaC_21g15770 plays a vital role in strawberry fruit softening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pear (P. communis L.), which is a climacteric fruit species, has a very short storage and shelf life, and significant losses occur due to high metabolic activity and the fruit's respiration rate after harvest. Therefore, preventing or reducing post‐harvest quality losses in pear is one of the most basic problems awaiting solution. In this study, we planned for this purpose; the fruits of the Ankara pear cultivar treated with modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), putrescine (1 mM), and MAP + putrescine were stored for 120 days at 1°C and 90 ± 5% relative humidity. The quality analyses and measurements, such as weight loss, decay rate, fruit firmness, soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), total phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity, organic acids, and specific phenolic compounds, were performed on the 30th, 60th, 90th, and 120th days. Weight loss and decay ratios were lower for putrescine and putrescine + MAP‐applied fruit. With these applications, the softening of the fruit was slowed down, and the increasing SSC in the fruit and the decreasing TA rates were lower, and thus the ripening of the fruit was delayed. Changes in individual phenolic content and organic acids were lower in MAP and putrescine‐applied fruit. The study revealed that MAP and putrescine applications in pear can be used effectively to maintain fruit quality after harvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Fruit firmness is an important trait in sweet cherry breeding because it directly positively influences fruit transportability, storage and shelf life. However, the underlying genes responsible and the molecular mechanisms that control fruit firmness remain unknown. In this study, we identified a candidate gene, PavSCPL, encoding a serine carboxypeptidase‐like protein with natural allelic variation, that controls fruit firmness in sweet cherry using map‐based cloning and functionally characterized PavSCPL during sweet cherry fruit softening. Genetic analysis revealed that fruit firmness in the 'Rainier' × 'Summit' F1 population was controlled by a single dominant gene. Bulked segregant analysis combined with fine mapping narrowed the candidate gene to a 473‐kb region (7418778–7 891 914 bp) on chromosome 6 which included 72 genes. The candidate gene PavSCPL, and a null allele harbouring a 5244‐bp insertion in the second exon that completely inactivated PavSCPL expression and resulted in the extra‐hard‐flesh phenotype, were identified by RNA‐sequencing analysis and gene cloning. Quantitative RT‐PCR analysis revealed that the PavSCPL expression level was increased with fruit softening. Virus‐induced gene silencing of PavSCPL enhanced fruit firmness and suppressed the activities of certain pectin‐degrading enzymes in the fruit. In addition, we developed functional molecular markers for PavSCPL and the Pavscpl5.2‐k allele that co‐segregated with the fruit firmness trait. Overall, this research identified a crucial functional gene for fruit firmness. The results provide insights into the genetic control and molecular mechanism of the fruit firmness trait and present useful molecular markers for molecular‐assisted breeding for fruit firmness in sweet cherry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the smaller size of berries plants and some vegetables, their production in containers has grown worldwide. To understand the effect of increasing doses of ammoniacal N, we evaluated production, firmness and size of fruits and concentration of macronutrients in leaves of four blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) cultivars (Duke, Legacy, Cargo, and Suziblue) in south central Chile. All were grown in pots with substrate during their third growing season. The results showed an interaction of ammoniacal N dose with blueberry cultivar in most of the parameters evaluated, except for firmness and size of fruits. The increasing dose of ammoniacal N allowed higher production per plant in only two of the four cultivars without effects on the quality attributes firmness and size of fruits. Differences in production per plant and fruit firmness were obtained between cultivars, with production values per plant between 86-210, 142-219, 195-203, and 504-979 g in Duke', Legacy', Cargo', and Suziblue', respectively, and greater fruit firmness in Suziblue'. The concentrations of macronutrients in leaves showed interactions between cultivar and doses of ammoniacal N, which did not allow obtaining a single dose of ammoniacal N that generate nutritional concentration values in leaves associated with greater fruit production in the four blueberry cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sour cherry is a non-climacteric fruit that quickly loses its quality after harvest, so effective storage and packaging are essential to minimize postharvest decay. Our study aimed to (i) evaluate fruit decay incidence during shelf-life for both freshly harvested and six-week-cold-stored sour cherry fruits, comparing normal atmospheric conditions with modified atmosphere packaging across three sour cherry cultivars (‘Érdi bőtermő’, ‘Újfehértói fürtös’, and ‘Petri’); and (ii) assess postharvest fruit decay incidence across the following three production systems: conventional, integrated pest management (IPM), and reduced IPM, for the cultivar ‘Érdi bőtermő’. The results showed that modified atmosphere packaging effectively preserved or slightly increased fruit firmness (ranging from 27.1 to 46%) compared to control fruits across all cultivars. Fruit weight loss (ranging from 1.18 to 26.1%) was also significantly reduced under modified atmosphere packaging compared to normal atmospheric storage. Over a 14-day period, the decay incidence of harvested fruits consistently increased, with major losses from day 6 onward (ranging from 17.7 to 77.0% at shelf-life day 14) across all cultivars and years. After six weeks of normal atmospheric cold storage, decay incidence remained low (ranging from 0 to 9.4%) and was comparable across all cultivars. Both normal atmospheric and modified atmosphere packaging storage maintained sour cherry quality during cold storage, but the shelf-life of the fruits was significantly shorter at room temperature, regardless of the storage methods. Fruit decay incidence at harvest was highest in the reduced IPM system (ranging from 3.2 to 6.4%), significantly exceeding those observed in the conventional and IPM systems. In post-MAP cold storage, decay incidence followed the following order: conventional < IPM < reduced IPM, with significant differences observed only between the conventional and reduced IPM systems. In conclusion, our results suggest that sour cherries produced under conventional or IPM systems and stored in modified atmosphere packaging offer an effective postharvest strategy for preserving fruit quality.

Since fresh cherry tomatoes have a high likelihood of spoilage during post-harvest transport and storage, assessing the fruit grade based on its firmness or predicting its potential storage time becomes necessary. The study proposes a method for non-destructive fruit firmness detection using a photometric stereo vision-based tactile sensor. The tactile sensor can measure the three-dimensional deformation of cherry tomatoes by mapping between pixel color and surface normal using a gradient prediction network. The summation of the deformation heights measured by a tactile sensor pressing on the cherry tomatoes can accurately describe fruit firmness, which was also verified by a comparative experiment with the Texture Analyzer. To create a model of firmness variation over time, a group of tomatoes of the same variety and origin were measured for firmness at various storage dates following harvest in subsequent experiments. An experiment was conducted to measure and predict the variation in the firmness of cherry tomatoes using a tactile sensor. The results indicate that the firmness of cherry tomatoes decreases linearly over time under similar conditions. The relative prediction errors were found to be mostly within ± 15% and ± 25% during 1 and 2 weeks of storage, respectively. All findings indicate that the proposed method can effectively measure the firmness of cherry tomatoes and accurately predict their short-term variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit softening is a prominent attribute governing both longevity on shelves and commercial worth. Polygalacturonase (PG) plays a major role in strawberry fruit softening. However, the PG gene family in strawberry has not been comprehensively analyzed. In this study, 75 FaPG genes were identified in the octoploid strawberry genome, which were classified into three groups according to phylogenetic analysis. Subcellular localization prediction indicated that FaPGs are mostly localized to the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and chloroplasts. Moreover, the expression of FaPGs during strawberry development and ripening of ‘Benihoppe’ and its softer mutant was estimated. The results showed that among all 75 FaPGs, most genes exhibited low expression across developmental stages, while two group c members (FxaC_21g15770 and FxaC_20g05360) and one group b member, FxaC_19g05040, displayed relatively higher and gradual increases in their expression trends during strawberry ripening and softening. FxaC_21g15770 was selected for subsequent silencing to validate its role in strawberry softening due to the fact that it exhibited the highest and most changed expression level across different developmental stages in ‘Benihoppe’ and its mutant. Silencing FxaC_21g15770 could significantly improve strawberry fruit firmness without affecting fruit color, soluble solids, cellulose, and hemicellulose. Conversely, silencing FxaC_21g15770 could significantly suppress the expression of other genes related to pectin degradation such as FaPG-like, FaPL, FaPME, FaCX, FaCel, FaGlu, FaXET, and FaEG. These findings provide basic information on the FaPG gene family for further functional research and indicate that FxaC_21g15770 plays a vital role in strawberry fruit softening.

Blueberries are prone to dehydration during storage. Firmness is one of the most critical quality attributes associated with this period, with the loss of water from the fruit representing the most significant limitation for the fresh market. Therefore, one of the great challenges is maintaining the quality characteristics of the fruit in shipments by sea, which can take up to 60 days when sent from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere. The random arrangement of each fruit within a packaging unit (different proportions of the stem scar and cuticular surface exposed to the environment) represents an essential source of variation in the prediction of softening during the storage period. A special device, referred to as a dangler for accelerated dehydration (DAD), was designed to expose nearly the entire fruit surface to the environment and determine the impact of factors such as relative humidity and the role of the stem scar and cuticle on fruit water loss. Consequently, to evaluate the ability of DADs to find differences in fruit dehydration, blueberries sampled at early, peak, and late harvest dates were placed in DADs and exposed to three controlled levels of relative humidity (30%, 65%, and 96% relative humidity; 1.2 ± 0.7 °C) for 10 days. Berries within the DADs were untreated, immersed in hexane for 5 seconds to remove bloom, painted with quick-drying nail polish on the pedicel end to seal the stem scar or immersed in hexane for 5 seconds, and painted with quick-drying nail polish on the pedicel end. At each harvest, fruit weight loss was significantly affected by the fruit and RH treatments, as well as the interaction between them. A regression analysis of the control treatment indicated that water loss at lower relative humidities occurred faster in fruit from the first harvest. The results reveal that DADs can be used to characterize preharvest and postharvest stimuli at an individual level and within a short time (10 days).

The use of covers to protect blueberry orchards from adverse weather events has increased due to the variability in climate patterns, but the effects of rain covers and netting materials on yield and fruit quality have not been studied yet. This research evaluated the simultaneous effect of an LDPE plastic cover, a woven cover, and netting material on environmental components (UV light, PAR, NIR, and growing degree days (GDDs)), plant performance (light interception, leaf area index, LAI, yield, and flower development), and fruit quality traits (firmness, total soluble solids, and acidity) in two blueberry cultivars. On average, UV transmission under the netting was 11% and 43% higher compared to that under woven and LDPE plastic covers, while NIR transmission was 8–13% higher with both types of rain covers, with an increase in fruit air temperature and GDDs. Yield was 27% higher under the woven cover with respect to netting, but fruit firmness values under the netting were 12% higher than those of the LDPE plastic cover. Light interception, LAI, and flower development explained 64% (p = 0.0052) of the yield variation due to the cover material's effect. The obtained results suggest that the type of cover differentially affects yield and fruit quality in blueberries due to the specific light and temperature conditions generated under these materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit softening is a crucial factor that controls shelf life and commercial value. Pectate lyase (PL) has a major role in strawberry fruit softening. However, the PL gene family in strawberry has not been comprehensively analyzed. In this study, 65 FaPL genes were identified in the octoploid strawberry genome. Subcellular localization prediction indicated that FaPLs are mostly localized to the extracellular and cytoplasmic spaces. Duplication event analysis suggested that FaPL gene family expansion is mainly driven by whole genome or segmental duplication. The FaPL family members were classified into six groups according to the phylogenetic analysis. Among them, FaPL1, 3, 5, 20, 25, 42, and 57 had gradually increased expressions during strawberry fruit development and ripening and higher expression levels in the fruits with less firmness than that in firmer fruit. This result suggested that these members are involved in strawberry softening. Furthermore, overexpression of FaPL1 significantly reduced the fruit firmness, ascorbic acid (AsA), and malondialdehyde (MDA) content but obviously increased the anthocyanins, soluble proteins, and titratable acidity (TA), while it had no apparent effects on flavonoids, phenolics, and soluble sugar content. These findings provide basic information on the FaPL gene family for further functional research and indicate that FaPL1 plays a vital role in strawberry fruit softening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to contribute to the solution of the short storage and shelf life of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.), which has a delicate fruit structure. The effect of post-harvest melatonin application at different doses [0.00 (control), 0.01, 0.10, and 1.00 mM] on fruit quality characteristics and biochemical content during storage was determined. Fruits harvested from trees of the Lapins cherry variety grafted onto MaxMa 60 rootstock, established in an orchard in 2005, were used as the plant material. The research findings revealed that the weight loss, which increased with storage time, was lower in melatonin-treated fruits, and differences occurred depending on the application dose. Melatonin application was effective in preserving fruit firmness during storage. Fruits treated with 0.01 mM melatonin exhibited higher flesh firmness during storage. Significant changes in color values occurred during storage, and it was determined that melatonin application had an effect on color changes, which varied depending on the dose. The soluble solid content values in cherry fruits decreased linearly throughout the storage period, but the decrease was lower in melatonin-treated fruits. The titratable acidity values decreased in all applications during storage, with the lowest values obtained from the control group. Melatonin application was effective in maintaining the concentration of organic acids during storage, but it had both positive and negative effects depending on the concentration. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that melatonin can be used to preserve fruit firmness and reduce weight loss during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruits are important agricultural products in the current society. The demands for high-quality fruits have promoted the development of various nondestructive firmness evaluation methods in recent 20 years. The nondestructive and fast techniques used in the prediction of the firmness of various fruits can be divided into two categories: optical-based methods and mechanical-based methods. Optical-based methods mainly refer to visible/near-infrared (Vis/NIR) spectroscopy, hyperspectral or multispectral imaging (HIS/MSI), spatially resolved reflectance spectroscopy (SRRS), laser light backscatter imaging (LLBI), and others. Mechanical-based methods including several techniques such as micro-deformation, vibration measurements, acoustic impact response, falling impact, hammer impact, and ultrasonic methods. Fundamental principles, as well as measured performances of mechanical-based methods and optical-based methods for measuring the firmness of fruit, are discussed in detail in this paper. The techniques that can be applied to on-line sorting are considered emphatically. Both mechanical-based and optical-based methods have advantages and disadvantages in predicting fruit firmness. The correlations between the firmness measured by mechanical-based methods and puncture firmness are poor in some studies, and the optical methods also have not obtained satisfactory results. Therefore, the on-line measurement of fruit firmness with high accuracy is still facing some challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peach fruit (Prunus persica L.) was harvested at the stage of commercial harvest and was then treated with 0, 1, 2, 3 mM citric acid (CiA). A factorial model was planned on a completely randomized block design with three replications. Two factors were used in the experimental design, i.e. 4 storage durations × 4 concentrations of CiA. The impact of CiA was evaluated on postharvest quality parameters, decay incidence (DI), vitamin C, total phenolic compounds, and antioxidant capacity, as the peach fruits were maintained in cold storage at 0 ± 0.5 °C and 85-90% relative humidity (RH) for 40 days. By the end of the storage time, peach fruits that were treated with 3 mM CiA showed statistical significance and resulted in the highest values of fruit firmness (FF) (1.75 N), titratable acidity (TA) (0.24%), vitamin C (VC) (3.58 mg.100g-1 FW), total phenolic compounds (TPC) (58.49 mg GAE.100g-1 WF) and antioxidant capacity (AC) (52.96%). CiA treatments significantly controlled the DI by about 30.17 % and remarkably extended the shelf life by about 11.66 days, compared to the control samples during the cold storage. Our findings suggested that using CiA, especially at 3 mM, could be a promising treatment in helping to maintain edibility and to inhibit decay in peach fruits. While these can play an important role in the marketing and export of peach fruits, other benefits include a low cost of the chemical inputs and more safety for human consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using organic and inorganic substances is a healthy and affordable way to enhance fruit quality during storage. Apple is a popular fruit with high nutritional value and mainly experiences prolonged storage periods. The present study was conducted to optimize the shelf-life of apple fruits (Malus domestica Borkh. 'Golden Delicious') by Aloe vera gel and calcium chloride (CaCl2) and to evaluate apple characteristics after 90 days of cold storage. Using response surface methodology (RSM), measurements were aimed at fruit weight loss, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), total sugar (TS), fruit firmness, and juice content. As evidenced from RSM analysis, optimal conditions for apple shelf-life were achieved by 5.9% CaCl2 and 33.6% Aloe vera gel, which reduced weight loss and maintained fruit firmness, pH, total soluble solids, total sugars, and juice content. Aloe vera gel and CaCl2 showed similar modes of action in each case of the measured traits, except for TSS where the Aloe vera gel increased apple TSS, whereas CaCl2 decreased it. Therefore, an optimized combination of Aloe vera gel and CaCl2 offered a promising approach to the maintenance of apple quality in storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet cherry, which affects consumers’ preferences with its aroma, taste and sensory properties, is a significant fruit species for human health with its bioactive compounds such as organic acids, vitamins and anthocyanins. However, its post-harvest shelf life is very short due to its sensitive fruit structure. Thus, the significant economic losses occur. In the study, effects of pre-harvest Aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), Salicylic acid (SA) and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) applications on fruit quality characteristics and biochemical content in sweet cherry were determined. SA and PGPR treatments increased fruit size, but AVG decreased (If the fruit weight is 4.51 in the control application, 4.49 in the SA application and 4.10 in the PGPR, how can it be said that SA and PGPR increase the fruit weight). The fruits treated with SA, AVG and PGPR had higher fruit firmness values than the control’-fruits. Salisylic acid treatmens did not affect the rate of soluble solids content(SSC) in fruit, SSC rate was higher in PGPR treated-fruit, but AVG decreased the SSC. Titratable acidity (TA) was lower in PGPR treated-fruit, but was higher in the AVG and SA treated-fruit. Fruits treated with the SA and AVG had higher fruit color values than control fruits, while the lowest color values was obtained with PGPR treatment. In general; PGPR, SA and AVG were effective in the concentration of organic acids, but their effects varied depending on the organic acid compounds. As a result, AVG and SA delayed fruit ripening and fruit softening while PGPR, AVG and SA improved fruit quality (It is not clear how this idea was reached). These applications can be considered as a promising method for improving fruit quality at harvest and maintaining post-harvest fruit quality of sweet cherry.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the most appropriate harvesting time and to evaluate the storage period of some new quince cultivar and the promising genotype. Research method: The fruits of ‘Isfahan’ and ‘Behta’ cultivars along with NB4 promising genotype were harvested on 6th, 14th, and 21st October from Isfahan Agricultural Research Station, Iran. The fruits were transferred to the storage and placed at a temperature of 0±1°C and relative humidity of 90±5%. Traits were evaluated at harvesting time and also at one-month intervals for five months after storage using a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design. Main findings: The highest percentage of total soluble solids (TSS) was obtained in the third harvesting time and after five months of storage for ‘Isfahan’. The highest firmness was obtained at the first harvesting time without storage for ‘Behta’. ‘Isfahan’ at the time of the second and third harvest showed the highest total phenol content and ‘Behta’ at the first harvest and five months after storage showed the lowest value of this trait. The most weight loss was observed in ‘Isfahan’ in the third harvest and the fifth month of storage. Experimental treatments had no effect on pectin content. The highest surface browning was observed in the third harvest and the fifth month of storage. Research limitations: No limitations were found. Originality/Value: The best harvest time for ‘Isfahan’, ‘Behta’, and NB4 was similarly 193 days after flowering. As well as storage of these fruits for four months is recommended.

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of N Pro and Seactiv Complex technologies based on sea algae extracts on the yield and quality of Golden Delicious apple trees compared to the standard fertilization program. Research conducted in the years 2008–2017 showed that the tree fertilization technology and the year of research had a significant impact on the quality and yield parameters. The abundance of seaweed extracts had a positive effect on the greater number of fruits per tree (pcs.), their weight (t × ha−1; kg tree−1), the percentage of fruits exceeding 7.5 cm in size (%) and the average weight of fruits (g) compared to the control combination. In most of the analyzed study years, total yield exceeded the 90 t × threshold regardless of the fertilization program. The use of technology based on sea algae extracts during 10 years of research had a positive effect on the quality and weight compared to the standard fertilization technology commonly used in cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the fruit quality characteristics and biochemical properties of Mondial Gala, Jeromine, and Granny Smith cultivars grafted on M9 full-dwarf clonal rootstock and Granny Smith, Fuji, Galaxy Gala, Red Chief, and Scarlett Spur cultivars grafted on MM 106 semi-dwarf clonal rootstock grown in Ordu (Türkiye) ecological conditions. During the research, fruit weight, fruit dimensional characteristics, fruit firmness, color characteristics, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, pH, vitamin C, total phenolic, total flavonoid and antioxidant activity of the cultivars were investigated. In the study, it was determined that, fruit weight, fruit firmness, SSC and Vitamin C 185.40 g (Mondial Gala/M9)- 284.03 g (Scarlet Spur/MM 106), 69.73 N (Galaxy Gala/MM 106)-84.47 N (Granny Smith/M9), 8.29% (Scarlett Spur/MM 106)-14.27% (Fuji/MM 106), 58.00 mg (Scarlet Spur/MM 106)-112.33 mg (Granny Smith/M9), respectively. In addition, it was determined that Granny Smith, Red Chief, Mondial Gala, and Jeromine cultivars stand out in terms of bioactive compounds that positively affect human health compared to other cultivars. As a result, it has been revealed that apple cultivars grafted on M9 and MM 106 clone rootstocks examined in the study can be grown in high quality in Ordu ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blueberries are prone to dehydration during storage. Firmness is one of the most critical quality attributes associated with this period, with the loss of water from the fruit representing the most significant limitation for the fresh market. Therefore, one of the great challenges is maintaining the quality characteristics of the fruit in shipments by sea, which can take up to 60 days when sent from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere. The random arrangement of each fruit within a packaging unit (different proportions of the stem scar and cuticular surface exposed to the environment) represents an essential source of variation in the prediction of softening during the storage period. A special device, referred to as a dangler for accelerated dehydration (DAD), was designed to expose nearly the entire fruit surface to the environment and determine the impact of factors such as relative humidity and the role of the stem scar and cuticle on fruit water loss. Consequently, to evaluate the ability of DADs to find differences in fruit dehydration, blueberries sampled at early, peak, and late harvest dates were placed in DADs and exposed to three controlled levels of relative humidity (30%, 65%, and 96% relative humidity; 1.2 ± 0.7°C) for 10 days. Berries within the DADs were untreated, immersed in hexane for 5 seconds to remove bloom, painted with quick-drying nail polish on the pedicel end to seal the stem scar or immersed in hexane for 5 seconds, and painted with quick-drying nail polish on the pedicel end. At each harvest, fruit weight loss was significantly affected by the fruit and RH treatments, as well as the interaction between them. A regression analysis of the control treatment indicated that water loss at lower relative humidities occurred faster in fruit from the first harvest. The results reveal that DADs can be used to characterize preharvest and postharvest stimuli at an individual level and within a short time (10 days). Blueberries are prone to dehydration during storage. Firmness is one of the most critical quality attributes associated with this period, with the loss of water from the fruit representing the most significant limitation for the fresh market. Therefore, one of the great challenges is maintaining the quality characteristics of the fruit in shipments by sea, which can take up to 60 days when sent from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere. The random arrangement of each fruit within a packaging unit (different proportions of the stem scar and cuticular surface exposed to the environment) represents an essential source of variation in the prediction of softening during the storage period. A special device, referred to as a dangler for accelerated dehydration (DAD), was designed to expose nearly the entire fruit surface to the environment and determine the impact of factors such as relative humidity and the role of the stem scar and cuticle on fruit water loss. Consequently, to evaluate the ability of DADs to find differences in fruit dehydration, blueberries sampled at early, peak, and late harvest dates were placed in DADs and exposed to three controlled levels of relative humidity (30%, 65%, and 96% relative humidity; 1.2 ± 0.7°C) for 10 days. Berries within the DADs were untreated, immersed in hexane for 5 seconds to remove bloom, painted with quick-drying nail polish on the pedicel end to seal the stem scar or immersed in hexane for 5 seconds, and painted with quick-drying nail polish on the pedicel end. At each harvest, fruit weight loss was significantly affected by the fruit and RH treatments, as well as the interaction between them. A regression analysis of the control treatment indicated that water loss at lower relative humidities occurred faster in fruit from the first harvest. The results reveal that DADs can be used to characterize preharvest and postharvest stimuli at an individual level and within a short time (10 days). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firmness is an important fruit quality trait in northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum). Many researchers, growers, and packers rely on machines for measuring firmness right after harvest and during postharvest cold storage of fresh fruit. In this study, we compared two machines that use compression firmness measurements to determine a force-deformation value. The first firmness-testing machine has been in use for the past 30 years by blueberry (Vaccinium) researchers and packers worldwide. The second has been on the market for the past 5 years. We compared fruit firmness and size measurements for several commercial cultivars and breeding accessions of northern highbush blueberry by both machines at harvest and 2 weeks postharvest. In general, we found there were slight differences in fruit firmness and size measurements between the two machines, but these measurements were generally consistent across the machines. Our study suggests that, in general, one machine can predict the measurements taken on the other machine.

Fruit firmness is an important quality trait of apple fruit texture, and the pre-harvest ripening period is the key period for the formation of apple fruit texture. Expansin is a cell wall loosing protein family that has four subfamilies: α-expansin (EXPA), β-expansin (EXPB), expansin-like A (EXLA), and expansin-like B (EXLB). In this study, we investigated the key period of pre-harvest texture formation in ‘Golden Delicious’ apples based on fruit longitudinal diameter, transverse diameter, firmness, tissue structure, respiration intensity, ethylene release rate, and expansin activity. Within the 10 days before harvest, the fruit was found to reach maturity. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR revealed that most of the expansins were expressed at the ripening stage before harvest. The biological function of the EXLB subfamily gene, MdEXLB1, was further identified, and its subcellular localization on the cell wall was confirmed by transient transformation experiments. Compared with the wild type (WT), the transgenic tomato lines overexpressing MdEXLB1 had lower plant height, earlier fruiting period, fewer days for fruit ripening, higher fruit maturity, lower fruit firmness, higher fruit expansin activity, more discrete flesh cell structure, and accelerated fruit ripening process. Overall, this is the first study to propose that the apple EXLB subfamily gene, MdEXLB1, has biological functions and plays an important role in promoting fruit ripening and softening.

Calcium (Ca) and carbohydrate (CHO) supply in sweet cherry have been associated with fruit quality at harvest and during storage. There is little published information integrating CHO and Ca availability and distribution in sweet cherry and their effects on fruit quality. Accordingly, in the 2019–20 season, vascular restrictions were imposed on the phloem (girdling, G, stopping phloem flow) and xylem (transverse incision, S, cutting 50% of xylem cross–section area) of individual vertical branches of the sweet cherry combination 'Lapins'/Colt trained as Kym Green Bush system to modify mineral and CHO composition in fruit and associate such changes with quality at harvest and storage. The girdling to the phloem was used to induce changes in CHO distribution. The transverse incision to the xylem was a tool to modify Ca distribution. Five treatments (TR) were implemented: TR1–CTL = Control (without vascular restriction), TR2–G, at its base, TR3–G + G: at its base, and G further up at the change of year between the second and the third years of growth TR4––S and TR5–S + G. The vegetative (i.e., shoot and leaf growth), reproductive (i.e., fruit set and yield) development and stomatal conductance were monitored. Each branch was divided into the upper (1–and 2–year–old wood) and the lower (3–and 4–year–old wood) segments of the restriction applied. The quality and mineral composition (Ca, Mg, K, and N) of fruit borne on each segment were measured at harvest. The upper segment of TR3–G + G branches were harvested 10 d before the lower segment. The fruit from the upper segment of TR3–G + G was the largest, the sweetest, and had the higher titratable acidity concentration. However, fruits of this segment were the softest, had the lowest Ca concentrations, and had the highest ratios of N:Ca and K:Ca, compared with the other TRs. TR3–G + G branches developed the highest number of lateral current season shoots including shoots below the second girdling in the lower segment of the branch. This vegetative flow of growth would explain the mineral unbalance produced in the fruit from the upper segment of the branch. TR2–G did not register changes in fruit quality and mineral concentration compared with TR1–CTL. Surprisingly, the fruit from the branches with xylem restriction did not show changes in Ca concentration, suggesting that the xylem stream was enough to supply the fruit in branches without lateral shoot development. Fruit firmness was positively related to fruit Ca concentration and negatively related to the ratios of K:Ca and N:Ca. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit firmness is of vital importance in various links of the fruit supply chain, such as determining harvest time, choosing packaging and transportation methods, regulating storage conditions and predicting shelf life. Portable devices are useful tools to perform on-site measurements of fruit firmness to guide production, optimize processing procedures, improve handling practices and formulate supply strategies. This paper reviews the recent advances in the design and development of portable devices to evaluate fruit firmness based on sensing mechanical, sonic, vibrational and optical properties of fruits. The principle, structure, composition, application and performance of different portable devices are presented. Since each sensor has its merits and limitations, the integration of multiple microsensors to develop a miniaturized, low-cost and facile-operation device may achieve higher sensing performance in determining fruit firmness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium is the third most crucial nutrient for andean blackberry; however, its absorption is limited in acid soils, and its low mobility in the plant decreases its effects on fruits. Therefore, the effect of foliar fertilizers with calcium on andean blackberry fruits was estimated. In three locations, experiments were established with five calcium sources (Ca chelate, CaB nitrate, Ca oxide, CaB and CaBZn gluconate) and a control without calcium, applied in three phenological stages and recording: weight, diameters, firmness, color, juice, pulp, pH, soluble solids, acidity, dehydration, and damage. Soil and tissue analysis was performed to identify the relationship between the plant's nutritional conditions and its fertilization response. For the statistical analysis were used mixed models, tests of means, and principal components. Foliar fertilization with chelate, nitrate, and calcium oxide in andean blackberry crops with thorns, in production, with pruning management, and in the phenological stages of flower bud, fruit set, and red fruit, is a viable alternative to improve firmness, weight, and diameter of the fruits. In contrast, the chemical and color parameters in andean blackberry fruits depend on the edaphoclimatic conditions of each zone. This fertilization should be considered as a complement in soils without acidity problems and with balanced cationic saturations.

Loquats have drawn much attention due to their essential nutrients and unusual phenology, which fills a market gap in early spring. Fruit firmness (FF) is one of the most important quality attributes. Dynamic changes in FF, cell wall (CW) polysaccharides, CW hydrolase activity, and expression of CW metabolism-related genes during the fruit development and ripening stages of two contrasting loquat cultivars were compared. Although the two cultivars possessed similar FF at the initial fruitlet stage, Dawuxing was significantly firmer than Ninghaibai at all subsequent time points. FF was positively correlated with the contents of covalent-soluble pectin and hemicellulose, activity of peroxidase, and gene expressions of PME, EG, CAD6, and POD; and negatively correlated with the contents of water-soluble pectin, activities of polygalacturonase, endo-glucanase, cellobiohydrolase, and xylanase, and gene expressions of PG, EG2, PAL1, PAL3, and CAD5. Identifying molecular mechanisms underlying the differences in FF is useful for fundamental research and crop improvement in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista U.D.C.A Actualidad & Divulgación Científica is the property of Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales U.D.C.A 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.)

Kamchatka berries contain many valuable organic and mineral compounds. However, the ripe berries are not very firm and have low transport resistance. We aimed to study the effect of chitosan solutions of different molecular weights on the growth, yield, and quality of Kamchatka berries. Chitosan with lower molecular weights, 3 and 12 kDa, stimulated plant growth, while those with molecular weights above 50 kDa reduced plant growth compared with control shrubs. Chitosan 125 and 500 kDa increased Kamchatka berry yield. In addition, chitosan 125 kDa increased fruit weight throughout the yield period. Fruit sprayed with chitosan 3, 5, and 50 kDa were dark in colour at harvest. Chitosan 3, 5, 12, and 50 kDa increased fruit/skin resistance to mechanical damage. Finally, chitosan 3, 5, 50, and 950 kDa increased average fruit firmness. Overall, we recommend higher molecular weight chitosan to increase yield and lower molecular weight chitosan to increase firmness and resistance to damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality 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 research was conducted on the genotypes of P. edulis and P. edulis var. Flavicarpa species cultivated in the Manavgat region of Antalya. When the genotypes were analyzed, fruit weight varied between 42.65-47.14 g, fruit size between 47.85-49.53 mm, and fruit length between 7.24-59.65 mm. Among the genotypes, the highest fruit flesh weight was determined in Genotype 2 with 21.54 g. The average peel weight varied between 23.00 g and 25.87 g, and fruit peel firmness varied between 3.93 mm and 4.67 mm. The number of seeds and seed ratio, which is an important fruit quality characteristic of passion fruit, was found to be Genotype 2. It was also determined that seed weights varied between 1.75 g and 2.46 g. When the genotypes were compared in terms of fruit color, it was determined that the L* value of the fruits belonging to Genotype 3 was higher than the other genotypes, thus forming brighter fruits. In addition, the lowest a* value and the highest b* value were determined in Genotype 3. In the study, the hardest-firmness fruits were obtained as 9.33 kg/N in Genotype 3. This was followed by Genotype 1 with 7.88 kg/N and Genotype 2 with 6.63 kg/N, respectively. The highest total phenolic content was measured in Genotype 3 with 216.00 mg GAE/100g, the highest total flavanoid content was measured in Genotype 2 with 16.37 mg catechin/g, the highest total antioxidant value was measured in Genotype 1 with 100.72 μmol Trolox/L fresh weight and the highest vitamin C content was measured in Genotype 3 with 14.00 100 g/mg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Apples cultivated in Mexico generally are smaller and softer than those produced in other geographical latitudes considered as optimal for apple production. The aim of this evaluation was determine the effect of applications with calcium, nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, sulfur and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), as well as the harvest date on the quality of apple fruits. Methodology: 'Golden Smoothie' apple trees were treated foliarly with CaCl2 with and without NAA, and with a mixture of N, K, Mg and S or gypsum applied to soil for two years. Apples were harvested at 141 (regular harvest date), 161 (mid-late harvest) and 171 days (late harvest) after full bloom (DAFB) and evaluated for quality at harvest time and during their storage at 0 °C for up to 179 days. Results: Foliar applications of CaCl2 significantly increased the calcium content in fruit and leaves, but fruit quality, including firmness, was not influenced. Fertilization of soil with the mixture of nutrients, including CaSO4, did not influence the fruit quality. Lately harvested fruit was 14.9% heavier but 17.1% softer than fruit picked at the commercial harvest date. Delaying of fruit harvest reduced about 43 d the storability of fruit. Based in these results, the relative softness of apples grown in Mexico is not related with its calcium content, hence unlikely to be overcome with the application of this mineral. Conclusions: Even in the control fruits, both seasons, the stored fruits do not show some physiological disorder as bitter pit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of covers to protect blueberry orchards from adverse weather events has increased due to the variability in climate patterns, but the effects of rain covers and netting materials on yield and fruit quality have not been studied yet. This research evaluated the simultaneous effect of an LDPE plastic cover, a woven cover, and netting material on environmental components (UV light, PAR, NIR, and growing degree days (GDDs)), plant performance (light interception, leaf area index, LAI, yield, and flower development), and fruit quality traits (firmness, total soluble solids, and acidity) in two blueberry cultivars. On average, UV transmission under the netting was 11% and 43% higher compared to that under woven and LDPE plastic covers, while NIR transmission was 8–13% higher with both types of rain covers, with an increase in fruit air temperature and GDDs. Yield was 27% higher under the woven cover with respect to netting, but fruit firmness values under the netting were 12% higher than those of the LDPE plastic cover. Light interception, LAI, and flower development explained 64% (p = 0.0052) of the yield variation due to the cover material’s effect. The obtained results suggest that the type of cover differentially affects yield and fruit quality in blueberries due to the specific light and temperature conditions generated under these materials.

Sweet cherry fruit of the cultivar ‘Kordia’ derived from trees growing on the GiSelA 5®, Colt and Mazzard F12/1 rootstocks were harvested at the stage of consumption maturity and stored for three weeks in control atmosphere – CA (20% CO2 and 3% O2, RH 90%, 2 ±0.5°C), modified atmosphere packaging – MAP (2–4% CO2, 13–18% O2, 2°C ± 0.5°C) and air atmosphere – AA (RH 80%, 2 ±0.5°C). The rootstocks had a significant effect on all tested fruit quality parameters directly after harvest, except for respiration rate in the first year and fruit titratable acidity in the second year of the study. After sweet cherry storage, the influence of the rootstock on most of fruit quality parameters was proven. The GiSelA 5® rootstock contributed to the preservation of high firmness, high soluble solids content and high soluble solids content/titratable acidity (SSC/TA) ratio. MAP retained good fruit quality, although more favorable quality parameters were recorded after sweet cherry storage in CA, especially with regard to such features as fruit firmness, low respiration rate, small mass loss, low percentage of fungal diseases and good preservation of green color of the stem.

The Cellulose synthase (CesA) and Cellulose synthase-like (Csl) gene superfamilies encode key enzymes involved in the synthesis of cellulose and hemicellulose, which are major components of plant cell walls, and play important roles in the regulation of fruit ripening. However, genome-wide identification and functional analysis of the CesA and Csl gene families in strawberry remain limited. In this study, eight CesA genes and 25 Csl genes were identified in the genome of diploid woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca). The protein structures, evolutionary relationships, and cis-acting elements of the promoter for each gene were investigated. Transcriptome analysis and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results showed that the transcript levels of many FveCesA and FveCsl genes were significantly decreased during fruit ripening. Moreover, based on the transcriptome analysis, we found that the expression levels of many FveCesA/Csl genes were changed after nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) treatment. Transient overexpression of FveCesA4 in immature strawberry fruit increased fruit firmness and reduced fresh fruit weight, thereby delaying ripening. In contrast, transient expression of FveCesA4-RNAi resulted in the opposite phenotypes. These findings provide fundamental information on strawberry CesA and Csl genes and may contribute to the elucidation of the molecular mechanism by which FveCesA/Csl-mediated cell wall synthesis regulates fruit ripening. In addition, these results may be useful in strawberry breeding programs focused on the development of new cultivars with increased fruit shelf-life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet cherry fruit of the cultivar ‘Kordia’ derived from trees growing on the GiSelA 5®, Colt and Mazzard F12/1 rootstocks were harvested at the stage of consumption maturity and stored for three weeks in control atmosphere – CA (20% CO2 and 3% O2, RH 90%, 2 ±0.5°C), modified atmosphere packaging – MAP (2–4% CO2, 13–18% O2, 2°C ± 0.5°C) and air atmosphere – AA (RH 80%, 2 ±0.5°C). The rootstocks had a significant effect on all tested fruit quality parameters directly after harvest, except for respiration rate in the first year and fruit titratable acidity in the second year of the study. After sweet cherry storage, the influence of the rootstock on most of fruit quality parameters was proven. The GiSelA 5® rootstock contributed to the preservation of high firmness, high soluble solids content and high soluble solids content/titratable acidity (SSC/TA) ratio. MAP retained good fruit quality, although more favorable quality parameters were recorded after sweet cherry storage in CA, especially with regard to such features as fruit firmness, low respiration rate, small mass loss, low percentage of fungal diseases and good preservation of green color of the stem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mango (Mangifera indica L) is one of the most important tropical fruits worldwide; however, being a climacteric fruit, its postharvest deterioration is rapid, which implies that the presence of anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloesporioides and the long storage periods for its commercialization affect the shelf life of the fruit. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of three concentrations of a shellac-based wax and three concentrations of a biological coating (bioprotectant) made with Bacillus spp. and Streptomyces spp. as coatings for the preservation of physicochemical and microbiological quality parameters in Keitt mangoes stored for 35 days at 7 ºC ± 3. Mangoes with 0.5% bioprotectant and 30% wax showed an incidence of 40% up to day 35, which was significantly lower than that reported for the control group (80%). In the physicochemical parameters, the 30% wax preserved firmness, maintained a weight loss percentage of less than 10% during 35 days and presented the lowest pH values and the highest percentages of citric acid as of day 21 of storage, and the 0.5% bioprotectant in the variables of pH, total soluble solids and titratable acidity were similar to those reported in the control group; firmness was not affected during the days of storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of shade screens on the physiological activity, growth parameters and fruit characteristics of the paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) plant. Plants were grown in a protected greenhouse and treated under two different shade screens, S1 (single screen) and S2 (double screens; 10% low light intensity compared to S1), during summer at a particular time of the day. The results revealed that the plant height was significantly enlarged by the S2 treatment. However, the number of leaves, leaf fresh weight and leaf dry weight were significantly decreased under S2-treated plants compared to those grown in the S1 treatment. The stem diameter and shoot fresh weight were not significantly different between the treatments. The sap flow and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) were higher in S1-treated plants than in those grown in the S2 treatment. The chlorophyll fluorescence fluctuated in both treatments. The fruit fresh weight, number of fruits, fruit pericarp thickness, fruit firmness, fruit volume, sugar content and acidity were significantly higher in S1-treated plants than in S2. Hunter values a and b were significantly higher in S2-treated plants. Moreover, the fruit length and width were not significantly different between the two treatments. The sugar content and acidity of paprika showed a positive correlation. These results suggest that, compared to a double screen for shade in the greenhouse, a single screen is suitable for the growth of paprika plants and enhanced their fruit production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper studied the effects of sericin‐based edible coating material on the quality and shelf‐life of tomatoes over 40 days of storage at 25°C and relative humidity of 70%. The key constituents of the coating material are sericin (1.5%), chitosan (1.0%), Aloe vera (1.0%), and glycerol (1.5%) in an aqueous solution and applied onto tomatoes in a simple dip‐coating technique. Weight loss, firmness titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), pH, and lycopene content were investigated and scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the semipermeable nature and the thickness of the coating layer. The results stated that the developed coating material reduced weight and firmness losses in tomatoes. With increased storage time, fruit TA content was increased and the values of pH, TSS, lycopene content, total phenolic content, and total antioxidant concentration stood low in comparison with uncoated tomatoes. With no evidence of wrinkles (up to 21 days), visible cracks, or deterioration on coated fruits during the study period, the application of sericin‐based coating might be useful commercially for maintaining the postharvest quality control of tomatoes and even other fruits as well.