QUALITY CURVES FOR MANGO FRUIT (CV. TOMMY ATKINS AND PALMER) STORED AT CHILLING AND NONCHILLING TEMPERATURES

“Tommy Atkins” and “Palmer” mangoes were harvested medium‐ripe held for 7–20 days at five different temperatures and evaluated for quality attributes. The objective of this work was to obtain quality curves at chilling and nonchilling temperatures and to identify, for each temperature, which quality factors limit mango marketability. Chilling injury and increased fruit softness were the limiting quality factors for mango stored at 2 and 5C. Softening of the fruit, changes in color and development of decay were the limiting quality factors for mango stored at 12, 15 and 20C. Prediction of mango shelf life calculated from the data reported in the literature is not precise unless the characteristics of the fruit and environmental factors involved are well known. The curves obtained from quality evaluations for each temperature showed that a single quality attribute cannot be used to express loss of quality of mango over the normal physiological range of temperatures.     

Effects of Electron Beam Irradiation on Physical, Textural, and Microstructural Properties of "Tommy Atkins" Mangoes (Mangifera indica L.)

This research focused on determining the dose levels suitable for electron beam irradiation of mangoes without detriment to the fruit's quality characteristics. Physicochemical, textural, respiration rates, microstructural, and sensory characteristics of “Tommy Atkins” mangoes irradiated at 1.0, 1.5, and 3.1 kGy using a 10 MeV (10 kW) linear accelerator with double‐beam fixture were determined. Fruits were stored at 12 °C and 62.7% RH for 21 d and evaluated at days 0, 5, 10, and 21. Nonirradiated mangoes served as controls. Irradiation did affect the textural characteristics of mangoes at doses higher than 1.0 kGy. Mangoes exposed to 1.5 and 3.1 kGy were softer and less stiff throughout storage. The radiation‐induced softening of the fruits may be associated with changes in the structural cell such as cracks and depressions on the surface and the breakdown of the cells and its components. Irradiation at 3.1 kGy affected the color of mangoes by the end of storage. Doses up to 1.5 kGy kept respiration rates at a normal level. Irradiation did not affect the specific gravity of mangoes, a parameter associated with fruit maturity levels. No effect of irradiation on pH, water activity, moisture content, acidity, and juiciness of mangoes was detected at the dose levels used in this study. Only fruits irradiated at 3.1 kGy were unacceptable to the sensory panelists in terms of overall quality, texture, and aroma. Electron beam irradiation of “Tommy Atkins” mangoes at 1.0 kGy is the recommended treatment to maintain the overall fruit quality attributes.     

Compositional Changes in Mango Fruit During Ripening at Different Storage Temperatures

Chemical changes in Haden, Irwin, Kent, and Keitt mangos stored at 16-28°C and 85-90% RH were followed to determine the optimum storage and ripening conditions. Weight loss was slightly higher at 25° and 28°C than at 16-22°C. Breakdown in acidity during ripening was slower at 16°C. Vitamin C showed two basic trends; a general decrease as in Haden, Irwin, and Keitt or a steady increase as in Kent. Total and β-carotenoids were significantly higher at 22-28°C than at 16-20°C. No significant differences were observed with respect to carbohydrate and soluble solids content. However, sucrose increased spectacularly at all temperatures contributing most to the increase in sweetness. The pattern of chemical changes were strikingly similar in all the varieties. Temperatures of 20-22°C and 85-90% RH are recommended for storage and ripening of mangos to obtain sufficiently acceptable quality attributes.     

Cassava Starch Coating and Citric Acid to Preserve Quality Parameters of Fresh-Cut “Tommy Atkins” Mango

Abstract: Combination of citric acid dipping (5 g/L) and cassava starch coating (10 g/L), with and without glycerol (10 g/L), was studied to verify the effectiveness of these treatments to inhibit enzymatic browning, to reduce respiration rate, and to preserve quality parameters of “Tommy Atkins” fresh-cut mangoes during storage at 5 °C. Color characteristics (L* and C*), mechanical properties (stress at failure), weight loss, β-carotene content, sensory acceptance, and microbial growth of fruits were evaluated during 15 d. The respiration rate of fruit subjected to the treatments was also analyzed. Nontreated fresh-cut mango was used as a control sample. Cassava starch edible coatings and citric acid dipping promoted a decrease in respiration rate of mango slices, with values up to 41% lower than the control fruit. This treatment also promoted better preservation of texture and color characteristics of mangoes and delayed carotenoid formation and browning reactions during storage. Moreover, the treated fruit showed great sensory acceptance by consumers throughout the whole storage period. However, the use of glycerol in the coating formulation was not efficient in the maintenance of quality parameters of fresh-cut mangoes, promoting a higher weight loss of samples, impairing fruit texture characteristics, increasing carotenogenesis, and favoring microbial growth during storage. Practical Application: Consumer demand for tropical fresh-cut products is increasing rapidly in the world market. Fresh-cut mangoes are appreciated world-wide for its exotic flavor. However, its shelf life is limited by changes in color, texture, appearance, off-flavors and microbial growth. The edible coatings act as gas and water vapor barrier, extending the storage time of fresh-cut fruit and vegetables. Thus, cassava starch is an alternative to preserve minimally processed mangoes and the quality parameters of fresh fruit. The information of this work is useful for the fresh-cut produce industry to increase shelf life of fresh-cut mangoes, which can be considered an alternative to fast food and other ready-to-eat products, attending the demand for healthy and convenient foodstuffs.     

Quality evaluation of peaches and nectarines by electrochemical and multivariate analyses: relationships between analytical measurements and sensory attributes

A propagation programme for peaches and nectarines has been targeted to select genotypes having taste attributes such as high sugar levels and well-balanced sugar/acid ratios. The analytical measurements of some soluble sugars and nonvolatile acids were carried out using innovative analytical procedures based on fast and selective devices which require very little or no sample pre-treatment whatsoever. These devices have found a unique application in detecting fructose, glucose and malic acid for the improvement of fruit genetics.

The present study examines relationships between the analytical measurements of sugars and non-volatile acids and the sensory attributes (sweetness and sourness) of 21 peach and nectarine cultivars. Certain chemical parameters were correlated with the organoleptic acceptance of common commercial cultivars and recently introduced high and low-acid genotypes. Multivariate statistical analyses were found to be useful in describing the variability of the chemical and sensory parameters which characterise peach quality, as they enabled the identification of sets of variables that could be used to classify peaches and nectarines into high and low-acid categories. Malic and citric acids, minor components of these fruits, were important taste attributes as they contributed to the sensory perception of sourness.     

Effects of 1‐Methylcyclopropene and Hot Water Quarantine Treatment on Quality of “Keitt” Mangos

The optimal 1‐methylcyclopropene (1‐MCP) treatment to slow ripening of whole “Keitt” mangos, either alone or in combination with hot water treatment (HWT) (prior to or post 1‐MCP) was identified. USDA‐APHIS mandates that HWT can be used for control of fruit flies, but this may affect fruit response to 1‐MCP. Mangos were evaluated by repeated measurement of nondestructive firmness, peel color, and ethylene production on the same mango fruits during 2 wk of ripening at 20 °C after treatment. The magnitude of ethylene production increased as a result of both 1‐MCP and HWT. With softer mangos (65 N), treatment with 1‐MCP alone delayed fruit softening and extended the number of days to full‐ripeness (25 N) from 5 d in untreated fruit to 11 d. For these riper fruit, application of 1‐MCP prior to HWT extended the days to full‐ripeness to 9 d compared with 7 d when 1‐MCP was applied after HWT. With firmer mangos (80 N), 1‐MCP treatments alone prolonged the days to full‐ripeness to 13 d as compared to 11 d for the untreated fruit. There was no significant concentration effect on firmness retention among 1‐MCP treatments (0.5, 1.0, or 10.0 μL/L). HWT resulted in a faster rate of fruit softening, taking only 7 d to reach full‐ripeness. Combining 1‐MCP with HWT reduced the rate of softening compared to HWT alone, resulting in 9 to 11 d to full‐ripeness. Application of 1‐MCP before HWT showed a greater ability to reduce the rate of fruit softening compared with 1‐MCP treatment after HWT.     

EFFECT OF PHYSIOLOGICAL MATURITY AT HARVEST ON PEACH QUALITY DURING LOW TEMPERATURE STORAGE

Peaches (cvs ‘Loring’ and ‘Redglobe’) were collected from five packinghouses within a 20 km radius on a single harvest date. Using color chips to categorize harvest maturity, fruit color and firmness were evaluated on the day of harvest. After 7 day storage at 5°C, designed to simulate maintenance of a cold-chain during wholesale distribution, peach color, firmness and sensory quality were determined. Color and flavor development were inhibited at 5° C but the softening rate increased at increasing levels of maturity. Separation of softening from flavor and color development has implications in study of ripening physiology of the peach and in assessing current handling practices.     

Assignation of Sweet Cherry Selections to 3 Taste Groupings Based on Perceived Sweetness and Sourness

ABSTRACT: Providing consumers with basic taste properties of sweet cherries at point of purchase would allow consumers to make purchase decisions based on fruit's intrinsic sensory attributes. The objective of this study was to develop a model to predict taste-grouping assignation of cherries into the following categories: (1) low sweetness/high sourness, (2) balance between sweetness and sourness, and (3) high sweetness/low sourness. A sensory panel (n = 10) was trained to recognize sweetness and sourness in 5 cultivars of sweet cherries and assign a taste grouping based on the perceived balance of sweetness and sourness. Four of these same cultivars were then evaluated for sweetness and sourness by a consumer panel (n = 117) and instrumentally for titratable acidity (TA) and soluble solids concentration (SSC). Results showed that for 3 of the 4 cherry cultivars, the sweetness/sourness balance of the cherries was not significantly different as evaluated instrumentally or by the trained panel. However, the balance determined by the consumer and the trained panel was different for 3 of the 4 cherry cultivars (P < 0.05). Based on trained panel perceived sweetness and sourness, a multinomial logit model was developed to predict the assignation of cherry taste grouping. The likelihood of group assignment depended on both the perceived sweetness and sourness of the cherry, with taste groupings agreed upon for 3 of 5 sweet cherry cultivars. As previous studies have indicated a positive relationship between cherry sweetness and sourness to consumer acceptance, these groupings show promise for assisting consumers in cherry selection at the point of purchase. Practical Applications: The prediction models proposed in this study suggest that both sweetness and sourness are important in the cherry characterization and the ratio between the 2 attributes may be appropriate for making taste-grouping assignments. These groupings may then be used to provide additional sensory information to consumers to assist them in cherry selection at the point of purchase.     

CHANGES IN QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS DURING PEACH (CV. ‘MAJESTIC’) MATURATION1

Changes in the physical, chemical and sensory characteristics of peaches (cv. ‘Majestic’) were determined. Size, weight, ground color “a” values and SS/TA ratio increased significantly with increased degree of maturity; whereas, firmness, DLE, hue angle, titratable acidity, quinic acid, and citric acid decreased significantly. Malic acid increased significantly with maturity up to grade 5 then significantly decreased. In general sucrose content and total sugars increased through grade 6 and then decreased for tree ripe fruit. Sensory evaluation results showed no significant differences among maturity grades for sweet, sour, juice and overall peach flavor attributes. However, grade 1 and 2 fruit had lower scores for sweet and overall peach flavor attributes and tended to be more sour than grades 3–6 and tree ripe fruit. Correlation coefficients between maturity grade and all the selected quality parameters, except for the sour flavor attribute, were significant at the 1% level. DLE had the highest correlation with maturity grade followed by ground color “a” value, SS/TA ratio and firmness.     

Predictive packaging design: Tasting shapes,typefaces, names,and sounds

Many studies have documented that people match a variety of tastes, aromas, and flavours crossmodally to other sensory features, such as abstract shapes, names, and speech sounds. These findings have had a significant impact on how the sensory attributes of product packaging are understood and how they can contribute to product communication and hence enhance brand value. Here, we report on a study designed to assess how rounded vs. angular shapes, typefaces, and names, and high vs. low pitched sounds, can be combined in order to convey information about the taste (sweetness and sourness) of a product. Our results support the view that “sweet” tastes are better expressed by means of rounded shapes, typefaces, and names, and low-pitched sounds, whereas “sour tastes” are better conveyed by means of angular shapes, typefaces, and names, and high-pitched sounds. These results are discussed in light of the literature on crossmodal correspondences and predictive packaging design.     

乳酸菌发酵蜜桃果酱过程中风味物质变化规律研究

目的 探究乳酸菌发酵制备蜜桃果酱过程中挥发性风味物质变化规律,进而筛选出特征香气化合物。方法 采用顶空-气相色谱-离子迁移谱技术(headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry, HS-GC-IMS)分析乳酸菌混合发酵蜜桃果酱制作过程中不同时期挥发性风味物质变化规律,并结合主成分分析、偏最小二乘判别分析进行统计学分析。结果 共检测到60个信号峰,鉴定出挥发性化合物32种,包括醛类、酮类、醇类、酯类等。其中,醛类化合物种类最丰富。通过多元统计学方法,实现了蜜桃果酱制作不同时期的很好区分,特别是发酵阶段明显与未发酵阶段不同,并筛选出17种特征性风味物质,如2,3-丁二酮、壬醛,赋予蜜桃果酱较好的风味特性。感官特性方面,乳酸菌的添加改善了果酱的适口性,酸甜度更容易接受。结论 HS-GC-IMS可以有效用于发酵型果酱制作过程的品质评价,该研究结果为乳酸菌发酵水果制品的品质调控提供了新的分析方法和重要科学依据。     

Sensory Characteristics of Cottage Cheese Whey and Grapefruit Juice Blends and Changes During Processing

Studies were conducted to determine the sensory characteristics of pasteurized blends of cottage cheese whey and grapefruit juice (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% whey), and the effects of processing alternatives and storage at 3°C. A trained sensory panel rated six attributes (grapefruit, sweetness, sourness, astringency, cheesiness, saltiness). Cheesiness and saltiness increased, while sourness, astringency, sweetness, and grapefruit flavor decreased as the percentage of whey increased. Protein removal did not affect the sensory characteristics, but vacuum stripping reduced cheesiness and increased grapefruit flavor and sweetness. Lactose hydrolysis increased sweetness and decreased cheesiness in blends with more than 50% whey. The flavor of most blends was stable for 14 wk at 3°C.     

Prediction of Sensory Profile of Mango Using Textural Attributes During Ripening

Mango is an important commercial fruit and is marketed based on their colour, firmness and taste. These sensory parameters vary with individual mango and person involved in testing. There is little or no information available on the instrumental estimation of these sensory attributes. The present study, therefore, was conducted to correlate sensory and instrumental textural attributes to explore the possibility of predicting them for seven major cultivars of mango influenced by harvesting dates and ripening period (10 days). In general, the textural property of peel, pulp and fruit decreased while sensory attributes increased during fruit ripening. Sensory qualities like taste, flavour and overall acceptability were significantly affected by harvesting date, cultivar and ripening period. Harvesting time and cultivars, however, did not influence the fruit appearance. Among textural attributes, peel firmness was closely associated with all the sensory parameters indicating that textural parameters could be useful to predict sensory profile of mango cultivars during their ripening. Cultivar-specific variations were observed while evaluating various equations (linear/polynomial/exponential/logarithmic/power) for correlating their textural and sensory attributes. Polynomial equation was found to be the best fit (highest coefficient of determination, R ²) for prediction of sensory quality using textural properties of majority of mango cultivars. All cultivars under study except Alphonso collected from Maharashtra showed R ² value above 0.911 which indicated potentiality of the fitted equations for the prediction of sensory attributes using textural characteristics of mango.     

Ripening and Cold Storage Changes in the Quality Characteristics of Nonmelting Clingstone Peaches (FLA 9-20C)

Minolta “a” values, SS/TA ratio, sucrose, total sugar contents, and sweet sensory scores increased significantly with increased degree of maturity of unripened peaches. Firmness, Minolta “L” values, hue angle, TA, sorbitol, green and sour flavor attributes, and peach complex and fruity/ester aromas decreased significantly with maturity. Maturity 1 and 2 peaches stored for 8 wk at 0° C and subsequently ripened showed no significant change in physical characteristics except for firmness which increased at 8 wk storage. Maturity 1 and 2 peaches could be ripened at 20° C for up to 15 days and stored at 0° C for 8 wk without notable change in quality.     

Effects of temperature on the ripening of mango fruit (mangifera indica L. var. tommy atkins)

The effects of temperature on the ripening of Tommy Atkins mango were studied. Ripening temperature can affect fruit colour, flavour and texture development differently. Fruits at 12°C did not ripen to full eating quality during the 16 days of the experiment. Sugar levels were comparable with those at other temperatures, but acid levels were higher; they retained some green coloration, had lower pulp carotenoids and showed incomplete softening. After 15 days at 17°C, fruits had softened and degreened to an acceptable level but had a poor pulp colour. They were comparatively high in sugars but were also high in acids, resulting in a low sugar:acid ratio. Fruits kept at 22, 27 and 32°C all showed the development of good quality characteristics of high chlorophyll breakdown, high pulp carotenoids, a good texture and a balanced sugar: acid ratio. Similar characteristics were shown at 37°C, although the peel generally appeared mottled and the pulp had slightly lower sugar:acid ratios.     

Instrumental based flavour characterisation of banana fruit

Different instrumental techniques are used to evaluate the integrated flavour profile, including taste and volatile components, of a common export banana cultivar (Gran Enano) during ripening. Besides standard techniques to assess fruit quality (firmness, soluble solids content), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) with headspace solid-phase micro-extraction (HS SPME) was used for the quantification of the different volatile components. The most important taste components with respect to sweetness (d-glucose, d-fructose, sucrose) and sourness (l-malic acid and citric acid) were determined using an enzymatic high-throughput (EHT) method. The different parameters were monitored during a ripening process starting from a green colour stage until fully ripened bananas. Clear differences were observed between bananas at different ripening stages with respect to the main instrumental attributes (total acid and sugar content, total volatile production, SSC, and firmness) and the individual volatile components. In addition, differences in flavour profile were observed between ethylene and non-ethylene treated bananas at the same colour stage and between bananas from different origins.     

Maintaining mango (Mangifera indica L.) fruit quality during the export chain

Mangoes are tropical/sub tropical fruit with a highly significant economic importance. Preferable quality attributes include freedom from external damages such as bruises, latex or sap injury and decay, uniform weight, colour, aroma, firmness (with little give away, not soft), shape and size. The fruit is rich in antioxidants and recommended to be included in the daily diet due to its health benefits such as reduced risk of cardiac disease, anti cancer, and anti viral activities. Maintenance of mango fruit quality during the supply chain depends on many aspects including adequate orchard management practices, harvesting practices, packing operation, postharvest treatments, temperature management, transportation and storage conditions, and ripening at destination. Postharvest losses are high during the supply chain due to harvesting fruit at improper maturity, mechanical damage during the whole chain, sap burn, spongy tissue, lenticels discolouration, fruit softening, decay, chilling injury, and disease and pest damage. The aim of postharvest treatments and management practices in the supply chain is to create suitable conditions or environments to extend the storage life and retain the quality attributes, nutritional and functional compositions. This review summarises the available research findings to retain the overall mango fruit quality and to reduce postharvest losses during supply chain by adopting suitable postharvest novel technologies.