Effect of methyl jasmonate on quality and antioxidant activity of postharvest loquat fruit

BACKGOUND: Loquat fruit is rich in natural antioxidants and has shown a remarkably high antioxidant activity. To search for an effective method for maintaining or even improving antioxidant activity during postharvest storage, we investigated the effect of 10 µmol L^?1 methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment on levels of major individual sugars and organic acids, total phenolics, total carotenoids, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity in loquat fruit during storage at 1 °C for 35 days. RESULTS: The MeJA‐treated fruit exhibited significantly lower levels of respiration rate, ethylene production, phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase and polyphenol oxidase activities, and higher levels of sugars, organic acids, total phenolics and total flavonoids than control fruit. Meanwhile, the treatment also maintained significantly higher antioxidant activity as measured by the scavenging capacity against 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, and by the reducing power test compared to the control. There was a significant positive linear relationship between total phenolic content and DPPH radical scavenging activity. CONCLUSION: MeJA treatment can improve the quality and functional properties of harvested loquat fruit by maintaining a higher level of antioxidants and enhancing antioxidant activity. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

茉莉酸甲酯预处理对鲜切火龙果品质和 抗氧化活性的影响

目的研究茉莉酸甲酯(Me JA)预处理对鲜切火龙果在10℃,4 d贮藏期间品质和抗氧化活性的影响。方法完整火龙果先用浓度分别为0、1、10和100μmol/L的Me JA熏蒸,再进行鲜切处理,测定其贮藏期间的品质和理化指标。结果 100μmol/L的Me JA熏蒸处理能最显著地诱导鲜切火龙果贮藏期间总酚、总黄酮等次级代谢产物的积累,提高鲜切火龙果贮藏期间DPPH自由基清除能力。Me JA预处理能有效地促进鲜切火龙果贮藏期间超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)等抗氧化酶活性的提高。同时,Me JA预处理抑制了可滴定酸(TA)含量的下降,对可溶性固形物(TSS)、维生素C含量无不良影响。结论 100μmol/L的Me JA预处理能较好地保持鲜切火龙果的品质,并有效地提高其抗氧化能力,最终提高鲜切火龙果的营养品质。     

Delayed harvest and cold storage period influence ethylene production,fruit firmness and quality of ‘Cripps Pink’ apple

The effects of harvest date and cold storage period on ethylene production, fruit firmness and quality of ‘Cripps Pink’ apple were investigated. Fruit were harvested from Perth Hills and Donnybrook (Western Australia) at commercial maturity (CM), 2, 4 and 6 weeks after CM prior to 0, 45, 90 and 135 days cold storage in 2003 and 2004. Delayed harvest significantly increased ethylene production, CIE values a* and C* at both locations in 2 years. Delayed harvest and extended cold storage period increased the internal ethylene production and reduced fruit firmness, soluble solids concentration: titratable acidity (SSC:TA) ratio and reduced CIE values L*, b*, h° during both years and locations. Fruit harvested 2 weeks after CM can be cold‐stored for 90 days with acceptable fruit quality. If the fruit is intended to be sold fresh immediately in local markets, the harvest can be delayed up to 6 weeks after CM to harness substantially improved fruit colour with acceptable fruit quality.     

Effect of nitrogen fertilisation levels on melon fruit quality at the harvest time and during storage

BACKGROUND: The quality of melon fruit depends upon many factors that can be affected by growing conditions and post-harvest management. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of nitrogen fertilisation levels on the fruit quality at harvest time and during storage. Experiments were performed in an open field using melon plants (Cucumis melo L. Var. Reticulatus cv. Prodigio). The nitrogen (N) was applied through fertigation using four fertilisation levels: 0, 55, 110 and 165 kg ha⁻¹. After harvest the fruits were stored at 10 °C for 8 days. At harvest time the yield, flesh firmness, skin and pulp colours, content of carotenoids, total phenols, ascorbic acid (AsA) and ethylene production were measured on fruits differently fertilised. RESULTS: The total marketable fruit yield and fruit nitrogen content linearly increased with N levels. Antioxidant compounds decreased after storage but were not affected by N fertilisation levels. However, total carotenoids, total phenols, and AsA declined during storage. CONCLUSION: All the quality parameters did not appear to be affected by N level at either harvest time or after storage. Therefore it is advisable to reduce nitrogen input for cultivation without compromising quality and yields. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of preharvest sprays containing calcium,magnesium and titanium on the quality of peaches and nectarines at harvest and during postharvest storage

Peach and nectarine trees were foliar sprayed with a formulation containing Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ti⁴⁺. Parameters related to fruit quality were evaluated at harvest, after 7–28 days of cold storage and after subsequent ripening for 4 days at 20 °C (shelf life). At harvest, treated fruits from both cultivars had higher weight and pulp firmness than control fruits, while no effect was observed for either colour, total soluble solid content (TSS) and titratable acidity (TA) or the time required to ripen on the tree. During cold storage, lower levels of weight loss, colour evolution, TSS/TA ratio and ethylene production and higher pulp firmness were found in treated peaches and nectarines compared with control fruits. Also, the storability of treated fruits was extended for up to 14 days more than that of control fruits. During ripening at 20 °C after different periods of cold storage, parameters related to ripening evolved faster in control than in treated fruits. Also, the occurrence of the climacteric peak of ethylene production was delayed and its intensity was lower in treated peaches and nectarines than in controls. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of pre‐harvest salicylic acid spray treatment on post‐harvest antioxidant in the pulp and peel of ‘Cara cara’ navel orange (Citrus sinenisis L. Osbeck)

BACKGROUND: Exogenous salicylic acid (SA) pretreatment could change the antioxidant system and maintain the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables, which have a higher ability to withstand oxidation injuries. However, the relationship between a pre‐harvest SA spray and post‐harvest antioxidant compounds in fruit remains unknown. RESULTS: The post‐harvest behaviour of antioxidant compounds in ‘Cara cara’ navel orange (Citrus sinenisis L. Osbeck) fruit was investigated in relation to the pre‐harvest SA applications. Pre‐harvest SA treatment significantly increased the content of carotenoids (lycopene and α‐carotene), ascorbic acid, glutathione, total phenolics, and total flavonoids in the pulp and peel during storage. Furthermore, the values of these antioxidant compounds were high in the fruit treated with high SA concentrations (1.0 and 2.0 mmol L^?1). High antioxidant activity was also observed in the SA pre‐harvest treated fruit when compared with the control. The positive relationships were found between the antioxidant activity and the content of these active compounds. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that SA could maintain fruit antioxidant activity and nutrition which was shown by the increase in content of antioxidant compounds and suggested that pre‐harvest treatment with SA promised a novel technology, which was a substitute for the perplexing programme control of post‐harvest nutrition in fruit. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

超声波处理对黑米酒中酚类物质、颜色及抗氧化性的影响

研究了超声处理对黑米酒中酚类物质、颜色及羟基自由基清除能力的影响。结果显示:超声波处理后黑米酒中总酚含量、总黄酮含量、总花青素含量及清除自由基能力均有不同程度下降,而黑米酒亮度(L*)、红色(a*)及黄色(b*)的颜色特性均有一定程度增加;不同超声条件处理后,黑米酒中总花青素含量与其a*有明显相关性,表明总花青素是黑米酒呈现红色的主体物质;超声处理后黑米酒清除羟自由基的能力与黄酮、花青素等的变化呈明显相关性。上述部分指标的变化与自然熟化过程变化基本一致,表明超声在一定程度上可以起到辅助黑米酒熟化的作用。     

Effect of shading on yield, sugar content, phenolic acids and antioxidant property of coffee beans (Coffea Arabica L. cv. Catimor) harvested from north-eastern Thailand

BACKGROUND: Environmental conditions, including shading, generally influence the physical and chemical qualities of coffee beans. The present study assessed the changes in some phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity and agronomic characters of coffee beans (Coffea arabica L. cv. Catimor) as affected by different shading conditions including full sun, three artificial shading conditions using a saran covering (50% shade, 60% shade, and 70% shade) and lychee shade. RESULTS: Bean weight and bean size increased significantly (P < 0.05) when the shade level was progressively increased. The coffee beans grown under lychee shade exhibited superior bean yield, 1000‐bean weight, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity compared to all other beans. Chlorogenic acid was the most predominant phenolic acid in all samples studied, being the highest in the beans grown under lychee shade, followed by 60% shade, 70% shade, 50% shade and full sun, respectively. In contrast, bean grown under full sun had the highest amount of vanillic acid and caffeic acid. CONCLUSIONS: Antioxidant activity was highly positively associated with chlorogenic acid content. The content of total sugar (fructose, glucose and sucrose) was found highest in coffee beans grown in 60% shade, with fructose the predominant sugar. Under climatic conditions similar to this experiment, it is advisable that growers provide shade to the coffee crop to reduce heat from direct sunlight and promote yield as well as obtain good quality coffee beans. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of ethylene and 1‐MCP treatments on strawberry fruit ripening

BACKGROUND: Strawberry is a soft fruit, considered as non‐climacteric, being auxins the main hormones that regulate the ripening process. The role of ethylene in strawberry ripening is currently unclear and several studies have considered a revision of the possible role of this hormone. RESULTS: Strawberry fruit were harvested at the white stage and treated with ethephon, an ethylene‐releasing reagent, or 1‐methylcyclopropene (1‐MCP), a competitive inhibitor of ethylene action. The effects of the treatments on fruit quality parameters and on the activity of enzymes related to anthocyanin synthesis and cell wall degradation were evaluated. Some aspects of ripening were accelerated (anthocyanin accumulation, total sugar content and increment of phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (PAL; EC 4.3.1.24) and β‐galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) activities), while others were repressed (chlorophyll levels and increment of endo‐1,4‐β‐glucanase (EC 3.2.1.4) and β‐xylosidase (EC 3.2.1.37) activities) or unchanged (reducing sugar content, pH, titratable acidity and α‐L ‐arabinofuranosidase (EC 3.2.1.55) activity) by ethylene. 1‐MCP treatment caused the opposite effect. However, its effects were more pronounced, particularly in anthocyanin accumulation, phenolics, PAL and polygalacturonase (EC 3.2.1.15 and EC 3.2.1.67) activities. CONCLUSION: These observations probably indicate that strawberry produces low levels of ethylene that are sufficient to regulate some ripening aspects. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Pre‐harvest calcium treatments in relation to the respiration rate and ethylene production of ‘Golden Smoothee’ apples

Multivariate procedures were used to evaluate the effect of different pre‐harvest calcium treatments on the changes of respiratory rate and ethylene production in apples both at harvest and after extended cold storage. The study was carried out over two years on ‘Golden Smoothee’ apple trees from Lleida (Spain). Trees were sprayed with a calcium chloride based formulation (STOPIT) at a concentration of 1% (v/v). The first (6 applications) and second (12 applications) treatments began 60 days after full bloom (DAFB) and were repeated at intervals of 15 and 7 days respectively. After harvesting, the fruit was stored for 4 and 6 months under controlled ultra‐low oxygen atmosphere conditions (CA‐ULO). Each time fruit was withdrawn from storage, carbon dioxide and ethylene production were measured for 14 days at 20 °C. Independently of the calcium treatments, respiration rates fell from harvesting until 6 months of storage, while ethylene production was greater on withdrawal from storage than at harvest. Respiratory rate and ethylene production correlated negatively with calcium content. However, calcium apparently had a greater effect on the respiratory capacity (CO₂) of fruit than on ethylene production. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of foliar sprays containing calcium,magnesium and titanium on peach (Prunus persica L) fruit quality

Sprays containing Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ or Ti⁴⁺ were applied to peach trees in several combinations. Effects of treatments on the commercial quality of fruits, especially focused on improving their mechanical properties, are discussed. All treatments containing titanium increased tree performance (branch elongation, flowering and fruit set intensities) and fruit size. At harvest, fruits from Ti‐treated trees showed improved resistance to compression and penetration, as well as a decrease in weight loss during postharvest storage. A similar response was obtained for external colour, though all treatments seemed to delay somewhat the apparent ripening status. Nevertheless, fruits from Ti‐treated trees showed better behaviour in the evolution of colour parameters during storage than did control fruits. Titanium application showed significant increases in iron, copper and zinc concentrations in the peel and calcium concentration in the peel and flesh. This improvement in calcium absorption is explained as a consequence of the beneficial effect of titanium on the absorption, translocation and assimilation processes. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

茉莉酸甲酯对草莓果实采后腐烂、苯丙烷类代谢及抗氧化活性的影响

为研究茉莉酸甲酯处理(Methyl jasmonate,MeJA)对草莓果实采后腐烂、苯丙烷类代谢及抗氧化活性的影响,将果实先于20℃下以10μmol/L MeJA熏蒸处理6h,然后转入(1±1)℃下贮藏12d,每隔3d测定果实腐烂率、苯丙烷类代谢相关酶苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)、对香豆酰-CoA连接酶(4-CL)、肉桂酸羟化酶(C4H)和二氢黄酮醇还原酶(DFR)活性以及总酚、总花色苷和酚类和花色苷类单体物质含量,并且同时测定果实DPPH(1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl)自由基清除率和总还原力。结果显示,MeJA处理可显著抑制草莓果实贮藏期间腐烂率的上升;同时MeJA可诱导PAL、4-CL、C4H和DFR活性的上升,从而有效延缓了酚类和花色苷类物质含量的下降,提高了果实DPPH自由基清除率和总还原力,维持了果实的抗氧化活性。这些结果表明,MeJA处理在草莓果实保鲜中具有较好的应用前景。