Transportation,handling, and microbial growth performance of molded fiber and expanded polystyrene apple trays

Washington State apples are shipped all over the United States for retail sales. Adequate packaging is needed to minimize apple damage during distribution. Two common materials used for apple trays are expanded polystyrene (EPS) and molded fiber (MF). A recent industry change from MF to EPS trays provoked an interest in exploring the performance difference between the two. Distribution environment hazards include shock, vibration, and compression forces. Prior work has focused only on comparing vibration or shock performance of EPS and MF trays used in protecting apples. In this study, a variety of typical hazards encountered between case pack and retail preparation are considered on a larger sampling scale. The shock, vibration, and interlayer dynamic compressive forces are simulated as well as free‐fall drops possible with manual handling of the cases. A novel device and test method is developed to simulate the forces because of human hands removing trays of apples from the case at retail. Further, a microbial analysis of worst case apple condensation is performed to compare the tray materials effect on apple microbial populations. It is concluded through physical and microbial testing that there is no statistical difference in the physical protection or the growth of microbial populations between EPS and MF apple trays. Most significant tray damage is observed in the EPS trays because of free‐fall drop testing. Apple tray material selection can be shifted to other factors such as cost or consumer preference.     

1-MCP两次处理对寒富苹果腐烂调控及货架品质的影响

目的 探求贮藏前、后施用不同浓度1-MCP（1-甲基环丙烯）对寒富苹果货架期的生理品质和控制病害等方面的效果,并筛选出最佳浓度。方法 以寒富苹果为实验材料,采后立即用1-MCP（含量为1 μL/L）对其进行处理,于精准温控库贮藏6个月后出库,再分别用3,5 μL/L的1-MCP进行熏蒸处理,以7 d为周期,测定寒富苹果的腐烂率、抗病性相关酶活性、生理指标、贮藏品质等。结果 与对照组（CK）相比,1-MCP组能显著降低寒富苹果的腐烂率,提高抗病性相关酶的活性,减缓呼吸强度和乙烯释放速度,减小可滴定酸、可溶性固形物及Vc的流失;维持果实硬度。1-MCP+3组和1-MCP+5组可以显著抑制果实的腐烂速率,显著提高抗病性相关酶活性,并有效保持醛类物质的含量,但对于可溶性固形物、可滴定酸和Vc的保留效果不及1-MCP组。结论 贮藏前的1-MCP处理可以调控苹果的生理指标、贮藏品质等,贮藏后的1-MCP处理可以显著地抑制腐烂病害的发生,并提高抗病性相关酶的活性。贮藏前使用1-MCP（1 μL/L）处理,冷藏后出库时再次使用5 μL/L的1-MCP处理其结果最佳。     

Polyvinyl Acetate as a High-gloss Edible Coating

Edible coating formulations were made with food-grade polyvinyl acetate (PVA) dissolved in alcohol-water mixtures. PVA coatings had high gloss and relatively high permeance to O₂ and water vapor, and they formed glossy surfaces on chocolate candy, citrus fruit, and apples. Addition of propylene glycol helped to retain coating gloss when the alcohol content of the solvent was reduced to less than 70%. Fresh apples or citrus fruit with PVA coatings had higher internal O₂ than fruit with shellac and resin coatings and, consequently, less tendency to ferment and produce alcohol during storage. Fruit with PVA coatings did not whiten or ‘blush’ after contact with water.     

半胱氨酸控制鲜切苹果褐变的生理机制

为研究半胱氨酸对鲜切苹果褐变控制的生理机制,以鲜切苹果为研究对象,采用0.5 g/L的半胱氨酸溶液处 理1 min,分析贮藏过程中鲜切苹果褐变指数（browning index,BI）、多酚氧化酶（polyphenol oxidase,PPO）和 抗氧化酶活力、抗氧化物质和丙二醛（malondialdehyde,MDA）质量摩尔浓度及抗氧化能力的变化。结果表明, 与蒸馏水处理相比,半胱氨酸处理能够显著抑制鲜切苹果的褐变,在贮藏初期半胱氨酸处理降低了鲜切苹果的PPO 活力,同时在贮藏过程中不同程度提高了鲜切苹果的抗氧化酶活力以及抗氧化能力,减缓了抗氧化物质在贮藏过程 中的损失,并且抑制了MDA的积累。相关性分析显示,鲜切苹果的BI值与抗坏血酸含量、过氧化氢酶活力以及抗 氧化能力呈极显著负相关（P＜0.01）,与MDA质量摩尔浓度呈极显著正相关（P＜0.01）。因此,半胱氨酸可能是 一方面通过抑制鲜切苹果的PPO活力,另一方面通过提高其抗氧化能力,延缓贮藏过程中的组织褐变。     

我国北方高酸苹果综合品质评价

为了推动高酸苹果基地合理规划,提高产业竞争力,对我国北方高酸苹果综合品质进行了定量综合评价。基于2011—2014年我国8省区多点采样检验资料,采用层次分析法和K-均值聚类分析方法,综合高酸苹果榨汁和鲜食两种用途,将可滴定酸、可溶性固形物、VC含量、出汁率等主要品质因子根据生理品质、物理品质和外观品质分为3类,构建了高酸苹果品质评价指标和评价体系,对各地高酸苹果综合品质进行了评价。结果表明,我国宁夏、辽宁两省区采样点上高酸苹果综合评价等级较高,品质相对较好,陕西、河南两省采样区域高酸苹果品质不稳定,甘肃、山西和山东等省采样点上多数年份高酸苹果综合评价等级偏低,品质一般。2011—2012年各地高酸苹果品质多为良好,2013—2014年各地苹果品质则不稳定。所构建的评价体系能够反映高酸苹果品质地域和年际间的波动,评价结果可为高酸苹果产区结构调整和苹果果汁企业发展提供参考。     

1-MCP结合纳他霉素对富士苹果贮后货架品质和芳香物质的影响

以富士苹果为实验试材,研究1-甲基环丙烯（1-methylcyclopropene,1-MCP）（1 μL/L）结合不同质量浓度纳他霉素（0、400、800、1 200 mg/L）对贮后常温货架期间果实品质的影响及其货架期芳香物质的变化。结果表明,与对照组相比,1-MCP结合纳他霉素处理富士苹果后能更好地减缓果实质量损失率的增加和硬度的下降,保持果实VC、可滴定酸和可溶性固形物含量,其中800 mg/L纳他霉素处理保鲜效果优于其他处理;主要特征香气成分有己醛、反式-2-己烯醛、乙酸-2-甲基丁酯、乙酸己酯和正己醇等,不同处理富士苹果芳香物质种类存在一定差异性,其组成及相对含量在货架期内发生相应变化,4 种处理醇类物质相对含量均减少,对照组与1 200 mg/L纳他霉素组酯类、醛类物质以及总芳香物质相对含量增加,400 mg/L纳他霉素组酯类物质相对含量增加,800 mg/L纳他霉素组酯类物质相对含量减少,总芳香物质相对含量略有减少,其变化规律与理化指标分析结果相吻合。     

FUDT在苹果近红外光谱分类中的应用

苹果的分类是苹果采收后商品化处理的重要环节。为了快速、无损和有效地实现苹果的分类,利用近红外光谱技术采集四种苹果的近红外反射光谱,用主成分分析对高维的近红外光谱进行降维处理,分别运行线性判别分析,二次判别分析,模糊非相关判别转换和Foley-Sammon判别分析提取鉴别信息,用k-近邻分类器进行分类。分类结果表明,模糊非相关判别转换能更好地提取苹果近红外光谱的品种鉴别信息,达到了最高的分类准确率。