Monitoring the sensorial quality and aroma through an electronic nose in peaches during cold storage

BACKGROUND: The poor eating quality of fresh peaches transported to far markets is one of the main problems that fresh‐fruit exporting countries have to face. This research is focused on the evaluation of the sensorial quality, with emphasis on aroma, of four peach cultivars kept in long‐term storage, through maturity parameters, sensorial attributes and electronic nose (e‐nose) assessments. Fruits were stored at 0 °C and 90% elative humidity, for 14, 28 and 42 days. Evaluations were carried out after the fruit was taken out of cold storage and after a variable period of ripening at 21 °C, until flesh firmness reached 1–2 kgf. RESULTS: On fruit recently harvested, the e‐nose was suitable for discriminating among cultivars, even if it corresponded to an early pre‐climacteric phase. As cold storage proceeded, liking degree, and specially aroma, declined for each cultivar tested. Cultivars showed different behavior patterns for liking degree and especially aroma during cold storage. Flavor showed significant correlation with sweetness (r = 0.92), juiciness (r = 0.92) and texture (r = 0.93), but not with aroma and acidity, being these last ones being independent from each other. CONCLUSION: Post‐harvest storage life of peaches is limited by loss of quality. ‘Tardibelle’ peaches showed the highest quality attribute scores after 42 days of cold storage. This evidences the availability of commercial peach cultivars which are able to withstand long‐term storage periods, allowing far markets to be reached with high quality standards. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preconditioning treatment maintains taste characteristic perception of ripe ‘September Sun’ peach following cold storage

Preconditioning is a thermal treatment that consists in maintaining stone fruits immediately after harvest and prior to cold storage at 20 °C for 24–48 h in special chambers aimed to extend fruit market life reducing chilling injury symptoms. This work investigates whether preconditioned ‘September Sun’ peaches had better eating quality than control fruit. Commercially harvested peaches were preconditioned and transferred to cold storage for 12, 26 and 40 days and evaluated for sensory characteristic perception after a ripening period at 20 °C. Acceptability of preconditioned fruit was higher than control fruit during this 40‐day cold‐storage period. Preconditioned and control fruit were also segregated into two clusters by PCA analysis; preconditioned fruit clustered together and show association to acceptability, sweetness and juiciness, while the second cluster was associated with flesh texture, acidity and aroma, suggesting the positive effect of preconditioning on final fruit quality. Preconditioned fruit maintained their sensory characteristics longer than control fruit during this 40‐day cold‐storage period.     

Reducing Chilling Injury of Loquat Fruit by Combined Treatment with Hot Air and Methyl Jasmonate

The effects of a combined treatment of hot air (HA, 38 °C for 6 h) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA, 16 μmol L^?1) on chilling injury, fruit quality, and physiological changes in loquat fruit stored at 1 °C were investigated. The results showed that treatment with HA or MeJA alone both significantly alleviated chilling injury in loquat fruit compared with the control, while their combination had the lowest level of chilling injury symptoms and highest quality. The activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and catalase were enhanced by the combination of HA and MeJA. In addition, the combined treatment significantly inhibited the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase, which resulted in lower lignin content. Highest level of polygalacturonase activity and water-soluble pectin content and lowest level of protopectin content were also observed in the combined treatment. These results suggested that the enhanced chilling tolerance by combination of HA and MeJA treatment in loquat fruit was related to the induction of antioxidant enzymes and the inhibition of lignin biosynthesis. The combination of HA and MeJA treatment could be a useful technique to alleviate chilling injury and maintain quality of loquat fruit during cold storage.     

Enhancing disease resistance in peach fruit with methyl jasmonate

BACKGROUND: Peaches are susceptible to microbial decay during postharvest distribution at ambient temperature. To search for effective alternatives to currently used fungicides for disease control, in this study the effect of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on disease resistance and fruit decay of peaches after harvest in response to pathogen attack was investigated. RESULTS: Freshly harvested peaches were treated with 1 µmol L^?1 MeJA vapour at 20 °C for 24 h. At 0, 12, 24 and 36 h after this treatment, both treated and untreated fruits were artificially wounded and inoculated with Penicillium expansum, Botrytis cinerea or Rhizopus stolonifer spore suspension (1 × 10⁵ spores mL^?1) and then incubated at 20 °C for 6 days. MeJA treatment significantly reduced the postharvest diseases. Incubation for 12 h was the optimal length of time after MeJA treatment, resulting in the lowest disease incidence and lesion diameter for all pathogens. The activities of defence enzymes including chitinase, β‐1,3‐glucanase, phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase, polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase were enhanced by MeJA treatment, and the level of total phenolics in MeJA‐treated fruit was also higher than that in control fruit. In addition, MeJA affected hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)‐metabolising enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase and induced a higher level of H₂O₂ during incubation, which might serve as a signal to induce resistance against P. expansum. CONCLUSION: MeJA was effective in reducing decay and might enhance disease resistance in peach fruit by increasing levels of antipathogenic proteins and antimicrobial phenolic compounds. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of 1-methylcyclopropene on chilling injury and quality of peach fruit during cold storage

The effects of different concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 5 μL/L) of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on chilling injury (CI), fruit quality, and antioxidant enzyme activities in cold-stored peach fruit (Prunus persica Batsch cv Baifeng) were investigated. The results showed that treatment with 0.5 μL/L 1-MCP significantly alleviated CI symptoms, including internal browing (IB) and flesh mealiness (FM), and maintained higher fruit quality. In addition, 1-MCP inhibited the activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD), maintained higher activities of antioxidant enzymes and kept the balance of the polygalacturonase (PG)/pectinmethylesterase (PME) ratio. The treatment of 1-MCP markedly inhibited the increase of electrolyte leakage and the accumulation of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide. Thus, 1-MCP (0.5 μL/L) treatment is effective in preventing CI and maintaining overall quality in peach fruit. The effect of 1-MCP on alleviating CI may be due to its capability to enhance antioxidant enzyme activities and to reduce oxidative damage. Practical Application: Treatment with 0.5 μL/L 1-MCP significantly prevented chilling injury and maintained fruit quality in "Baifeng" peaches. In addition, 1-MCP could enhance antioxidant enzyme activities and alleviate oxidative damage. Thus, 1-MCP has the potential for application in the Asiatic peach industry.     

γ-Aminobutyric acid treatment reduces chilling injury and activates the defence response of peach fruit

Peach fruit were immersed in 5 mM γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) solution for 10 min at 20 °C and then stored at 1 °C for 5 weeks to investigate the effect of GABA treatment on chilling injury (CI), antioxidant enzymes and energy status in peach fruit. The results showed that GABA treatment significantly inhibited CI incidence of peaches and enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, monodehydroascorbate reductase and dehydroascorbate reductase. The treatment also increased contents of adenosine triphosphate and adenosine diphosphate, but lowered adenosine monophosphate content, which resulted in a higher level of energy charge in treated fruit. These results indicated that GABA increased chilling tolerance of peach fruit through enhancing its enzymatic antioxidant system and maintaining energy status in peach fruit.     

Effects of preharvest application of antagonistic yeast combined with chitosan on decay and quality of harvested table grape fruit

BACKGROUND: Decay caused by fungal pathogens is responsible for significant economic loss of grape fruit in vineyards worldwide. However, postharvest treatment is not advisable for this fruit owing to its thin waxy pericarp and succulent flesh, which are easily damaged. Therefore preharvest treatment even at 1 day before harvest has been considered as a promising method to control postharvest decay of table grape fruit in storage. Integrative effects of preharvest application of Cryptococcus laurentii combined with low‐concentration chitosan on decay and quality of table grape fruit during storage were investigated in this study. RESULTS: Spraying of antagonistic yeast combined with chitosan before harvest significantly reduced natural decay of fruit stored at 0 °C. Preharvest treatment stabilised polyphenol oxidase activity, increased peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase activities and decreased superoxide dismutase activity compared with control fruit. There was a higher ratio of soluble solid content to titratable acidity in treated fruit than in control fruit during storage. In addition, preharvest treatment affected the total phenolic content in fruit during storage. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that integrative application of C. laurentii and low‐concentration chitosan before harvest may be a promising technology to control decay of table grape fruit in storage. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of exogenous nitric oxide on contents of soluble sugars and related enzyme activities in 'Feicheng' peach fruit

BACKGROUND: Sugar content is one of the main characteristics related to the quality of fruit. Research confirms that nitric oxide (NO) involves a physiological process and prolongs the storage life of fruit. However, little attention has been paid to the effects of NO on sugar metabolism in fruit during storage. In this study, the effect of different concentrations (0, 10, 30 µmol L^?1) of exogenous NO treatment on sugar content and related enzyme activities in ‘Feicheng’ peach fruit was investigated during storage (0–12 days after harvest) at room temperature (25 °C). RESULTS: Results showed that the decrease of firmness and accumulation of sugar and acid:sugar ratio in peach fruit during storage were significantly inhibited by treatment with 10 µmol L^?1 NO. Treatment with 10 µmol L^?1 NO could promote fructose and glucose metabolism during the first 4 days of storage, and increase the content of sucrose and the activities of sorbitol dehydrogenase, sorbitol oxidase and sucrose phosphate synthase in peach fruit during storage. However, acid invertase activity from 8 to 12 days of storage and neutral invertase activity during the first 4 days of storage were inhibited by treatment with 10 µmol L^?1 NO. At the same time, treatment with 10 µmol L^?1 NO inhibited sucrose synthase (SS) activity in decomposition during storage and SS activity in synthesis from 8 to 12 days of storage. CONCLUSION: Treatment with 10 µmol L^?1 NO had a significant impact on content of soluble sugars and related enzyme activities in ‘Feicheng’ peach fruit during storage (0–12 days) at room temperature (25 °C). Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Combination of salicylic acid and ultrasound to control postharvest blue mold caused by Penicillium expansum in peach fruit

The effect of ultrasound (40 kHz, 10 min) and salicylic acid (SA, 0.05 mM) either separately, or combined on blue mold caused by Penicillium expansum in peach fruit was investigated. The results showed that the application of SA alone could reduce blue mold, while the use of ultrasound had no effect. Our results also revealed that SA combined with ultrasound treatment was more effective in inhibiting fungal decay during storage than the SA treatment alone. The combined treatment increased the activities of defense enzymes such as chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase, which were associated with higher disease resistance induced by the combined treatment. Furthermore, the combined treatment did not impair the quality parameters of peach fruit after 6 days of storage at 20 °C. These results suggested that the combination of ultrasound and SA treatment may be a useful technique to reduce blue mold in peach fruit.

Industrial relevance

This paper investigates the effect of ultrasound combined with SA on decay incidence of peach fruit. The results presented demonstrate that the effect of the combined treatment on the disease resistance and fruit quality should be considered by processors prior to its adoption as a preservation technique.     

The effects of the combination of Pichia membranefaciens and BTH on controlling of blue mould decay caused by Penicillium expansum in peach fruit

The feasibility of 0.2 g l⁻¹ benzo-thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester (BTH) to improve the efficacy of Pichia membranefaciens in controlling postharvest blue mould decay in peach fruit was investigated. Our results showed that biocontrol activity of P. membranefaciens against blue mould caused by Penicillium expansum in peach fruit could be enhanced by addition of 0.2 g l⁻¹ BTH. The combination of P. membranefaciens and BTH resulted in a more effective control of blue mould than individual treatment of P. membranefaciens or BTH alone. The combined treatment had a synergistic effect on the induction of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase activities, which induced stronger disease resistance in fruit than BTH or yeast alone, and resulted in a lower lesion diameter and disease incidence of blue mould decay in peaches. Furthermore, the combined treatment did not impair the quality parameters including fruit firmness and contents of total soluble solids, titratable acidity and vitamin C of peach fruit after 6 days of storage at 20 °C. These results suggested that the use of BTH may be an effective method to improve the biological activity of P. membranefaciens.     

外源p-香豆酸处理对采后桃果实苯丙烷代谢和抗氧化能力的影响

为探究外源p-香豆酸（p-coumaric acid,p-CA）处理对采后桃果实冷害和相关机制的影响,本实验以‘沙红’桃果实为试材,研究了0、0.5、1.0 mmol/L p-CA浸泡处理对采后桃果实于4 ℃贮藏期间冷害指数和丙二醛含量的影响,并得出最优浓度（0.5 mmol/L）,在此条件下继续研究其对桃果实苯丙烷代谢和抗氧化能力的影响。结果显示：p-CA处理延缓了桃果实冷害的发生和丙二醛的生成;p-CA处理激活了莽草酸脱氢酶、苯丙氨酸脱氨酶、肉桂酸-4-羟化酶和4-香豆酸辅酶A连接酶活力,并抑制了多酚氧化酶及过氧化氢酶活力,这使桃果实中总酚含量增加,进而提高了清除1,1-二苯基-2-三硝基苯肼自由基、羟自由基、O2－·的能力。以上结果表明p-CA处理对桃果实低温贮藏期间冷害发生的延缓作用与其对苯丙烷代谢和抗氧化能力的调控有关。     

Reductions in flesh discolouration and internal morphological changes in Nanhui peaches (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, cv. Nanhui) by electrolysed water and 1-methylcyclopropene treatment during refrigerated storage

The effects of electrolysed water (EW) and EW in combination with 1-methylcyclopropene (EW/MCP) on flesh discolouration of Nanhui peaches (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, cv. Nanhui) were examined during storage at 2°C. Changes in flesh colour, ethylene production, membrane permeability, malondialdehyde (MDA), total phenolic contents and the activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) were assayed periodically after harvest and during 44days of storage. The internal morphological characteristics of Nanhui peaches were monitored using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the beginning and end of storage. These data revealed that the EW/MCP treatment is more effective than the EW treatment for decreasing ethylene production and maintaining fruit cell membrane integrity, delaying increases in MDA and total phenolic contents, and lessening changes in PPO and POD activities and the internal morphology of peaches. Each of these effects contributes to suppressing flesh discolouration and maintaining the quality of Nanhui peaches during storage.     

臭氧结合1-MCP对桃子货架期品质的影响

为研究臭氧结合1-MCP对桃子货架期品质的效果,以"红桃"桃子为试验材料,采用3种不同地处理(臭氧、1-MCP、臭氧+1-MCP)及对照(CK)对桃子进行货架期贮藏(20±0.5℃)保鲜,研究不同处理对桃子货架期间品质的变化。结果表明,与对照组比较,3种处理均能够推迟桃子的生理代谢水平,保持桃子的货架期品质。其中,臭氧结合1-MCP对桃子的保鲜效果更好,能够显著抑制桃子腐烂指数、呼吸强度及乙烯生成速率的上升,推迟桃子硬度和可溶性固形物含量的降低,保持桃子过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、过氧化物酶(POD)和脂氧合酶(LOX)的活性。因此,臭氧结合1-MCP处理对桃子的保鲜效果最好,能够更好地保持桃子的货架期品质。     

The effect of delay between heat treatment and cold storage on alleviation of chilling injury in banana fruit

BACKGROUND: To understand the mechanisms leading to the enhanced chilling resistance of banana by hot‐water dipping (HWD, 52 °C for 3 min), we investigated the effect of a 0.5–24 h delay between HWD and cold storage on chilling resistance and the change related to the metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS). RESULTS: The HWD‐treated fruit with a delay of less than 6 h exhibited markedly less chilling injury than the non‐heated control fruit, while a delay more than 6 h resulted in significant loss in chilling resistance. Increased hydrogen peroxide content and rate of superoxide radical production were detected in the fruit at 0.5–1.5 h after HWD treatment, and the levels declined with a longer delay, which may be correlated with the enhanced gene expression levels of the gene coding for a ROS‐generating related enzyme, NADPH oxidase (MaNOX). Enhanced activities and gene expression of an ascorbate peroxidase (MaAPX) were recorded in the fruit at 1.5–6 h after the treatment, and after 6 h the ascorbate peroxidase levels decayed to the levels as the control fruit. The higher APX gene expression was maintained in the treated fruit with a 3 h delay during the subsequent cold storage at 7 °C, correlating with the enhanced chilling resistance. CONCLUSION: The HWD‐treated fruit left at ambient temperature up to 6 h prior to cold storage maintained the effect of heat treatment and transiently increased ROS content, and the ascorbate peroxidase activity that occurred 0.5–6 h after the treatment may be correlated with the elevated chilling resistance induced by HWD treatment. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Increased ethylene biosynthesis elevates incidence of chilling injury in cold‐stored ‘Amber Jewel’ Japanese plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) during fruit ripening

Mature ‘Amber Jewel’ Japanese plum fruit were stored at 0 or 5 °C for 3 and 6 weeks to investigate their effects on ethylene (C₂H₄) biosynthesis during ripening at ambient temperature in the development of chilling injury (CI) and fruit quality. CI (internal breakdown and browning) and fruit softening were higher during ripening, in the fruit stored at 5 °C than 0 °C, irrespective of storage period (SP). C₂H₄ production and activities of 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid synthase (ACS) and 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid oxidase (ACO) enzymes, and 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid (ACC) content were higher during ripening in fruit stored at 5 °C than 0 °C. The fruit stored at 5 °C also exhibited higher respiration rate and higher soluble solids concentration/titratable acidity ratio. In conclusion, increase in storage temperature and SP elevates the activities of ACS and ACO enzymes and consequently C₂H₄ production which leads to the development of CI in plum fruit with advancement of ripening.     

采收期对“大久保”桃贮藏期间果肉褐变的影响

以不同采收期的“大久保”桃为试材,分别研究其在冷藏期和货架期的酚类物质含量和多酚氧化酶(PPO)、过氧化物酶(POD)活性的变化,探讨其对果实褐变的影响。结果表明：采收期越早,酚类物质含量和多酚氧化酶、过氧化物酶活性越高,果肉褐变越严重,适时延迟采收可以有效减轻果肉褐变。八成熟(7 月22 日采摘于河北辛集市)桃果肉褐变程度最低。     

Effects of heat treatment on internal browning and membrane fatty acid in loquat fruit in response to chilling stress

BACKGROUND: Chilling injury (CI) limits the storage period and shelf‐life of red‐fleshed loquat fruit (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.), which leads to a remarkable loss after cold storage. To develop an effective technique to reduce CI, the effects of a 38 °C heat treatment in air for 5 h, plus storage at 1 °C for 35 days, on internal browning (IB) and membrane fatty acid composition of the loquat cv. Jiefangzhong were investigated. RESULTS: Heat treatment delayed the occurrence of IB and inhibited the increase of IB index in ‘Jiefangzhong’ loquat fruit. Heat treatment maintained lower levels of electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content, and inhibited the increases in phospholipase D and lipoxygenase activities compared with the control fruit. Meanwhile, heat treatment inhibited the increases in palmitic, stearic and oleic acid levels and delayed the decreases in linoleic and linolenic acid contents, thus maintaining higher unsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio than the control. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the reduction of IB in chilled loquat fruit by heat treatment might due to maintenance of membrane integrity and higher unsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

外源蔗糖处理对采后桃果皮色泽形成的影响

为探究外源蔗糖处理对采后桃果皮着色的影响,本研究以套袋采收的'春美'桃为试材,采后用200 mmol/L的蔗糖浸泡处理后于常温((20±1)℃)条件下贮藏,并测定采后蔗糖处理桃的品质指标、果皮花色苷含量、内源糖含量和花色苷代谢相关酶活力.结果 表明,外源蔗糖处理对桃果实呼吸强度、乙烯释放速率、可溶性固形物质量分数和硬度...     

Effect of cold‐shock treatment on chilling injury in mango (Mangifera indica L. cv. ‘Wacheng’) fruit

To investigate how cold shock may affect chilling injury in mango fruit (Mangifera indica L. cv. ‘Wacheng’), the fruit were treated for 3, 4 or 5 h at 0 °C, or treated for 8, 10 or 12 h at 4 °C, respectively, then transferred to 20 °C for 20 h prior to being stored at 2 °C, 85–95% RH. The chilling injury index of mango treated at 0 °C for 4 h was 59.7% lower than that of the control fruit directly stored at 2 °C, 85–95% RH. Some attributes were assayed in the fruit treated at 0 °C for 4 h. Ion leakage of the cold‐shock fruit at 0 °C for 4 h was 16% or 10% lower than that of the control on day 9 or day 12 of storage, respectively. Malondialdehyde content of the cold‐shocked fruit was 70% or 50% lower than that of the control on day 6 or day 12 of storage at 2 °C, respectively. Activities of catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and contents of glutathione and phenolic compounds in the fruit during storage were all markedly enhanced by the cold‐shock treatment, whereas activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and content of ascorbic acid in the mango were slightly influenced by the cold‐shock treatment. These results suggest that cold‐shock treatment may hold promise as an alternative approach to reduce chilling injury in mango fruit during cold storage. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

CHANGES OF SUGAR PROFILES IN CANNED CLINGSTONE PEACHES

The effect of post-canning storage on sugar profiles in canned clingstone peaches (Primus persica var. ‘Halford’) sweetened with various combinations of sucrose, 62 D. E. corn syrup and 42% high fructose corn syrup was investigated. The sugars in the peach syrups were monitored at 1, 20 and 30° C after storage for 0, 6, 9 and 12 months. The individual sugars in the peach syrups were separated and analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Storage of the canned peaches at 30° C resulted in a rapid decrease in sucrose and a simultaneous increase in fructose and glucose. The hydrolysis of sucrose was successively slower at 20 and 1°C. It was observed that the sugar profiles were also dependent on the initial concentration of the sugar components, time of storage and acidity of the canned peaches. The concentration of maltose showed great fluctuation during storage. The rapid loss in quality acceptance of canned clingstone peaches at high storage temperature was explained by the changes in sugar profiles and the accompanying undesirable chemical and physical changes.