Effects of postharvest treatments on fruit quality of sweet pepper at low temperature

BACKGROUND: Postharvest storage of sweet pepper fruits (Capsicum annuum L.) at low temperatures could impair their physical and chemical composition. Therefore, maintenance of essential nutrition support or altered gas exchange could preserve fruit quality, minimizing chilling injury. Thus our aim was to determine the response to postharvest application of a low concentration of nitrogen (urea) or antitranspirant (pinolene) during a period of 21 days at 5 °C. RESULTS: The results indicate that storage at 5 °C was effective with respect to maintaining firmness of sweet pepper fruits for 21 days, while application of antitranspirant increased firmness compared with non‐sprayed fruits. Additionally, urea maintained color while increasing total phenolics and the activity of catalase and ascorbate peroxidase, lowering lipid peroxidation. Composition of free amino acids was affected to a minor extent. CONCLUSION: Maintaining quality is of paramount importance in the postharvest period. This study shows the effect of both temperature and spraying treatments with regard to maintaining fruit quality during this period, and provides new insights into the physiological role of enzymes of the antioxidant system during pepper storage at low temperature. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Sustainable nitrogen fertilisation in sweet pepper: assessing growth and fruit quality and the potential nitrate pollution from different organic manures

BACKGROUND: The use of organic cultivation with manures does not avoid the risk of high nitrate concentrations if nutrient management is inefficient. So we studied the influence of three organic manures combined or not with additional chemical fertilisers on growth and yield of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), and on the soil and plant N concentrations. RESULTS: After 3 years of organic cultivation, poultry manure caused the highest soil pollution. The evolution of nitrate and organic matter in soil showed a pattern close to that of plant growth. The addition of mineral fertiliser increased vegetative growth and yield, and a cumulative season effect was observed. In treatments with no additional mineral fertiliser N translocation from leaves to fruits happened. A cumulative effect of seasons on fruit quality and a reduction near to 30% was observed in the first fruit quality category after 3 years. The fruit vitamin C content was reduced by increasing N fertilisation. CONCLUSION: The effects of organic fertiliser on soil and plant growth and yield depended on the type of manure used, its rate, and consecutive crop seasons. Horse manure gave the best combination of agricultural and environmental characteristics and could be used without additional fertigation. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of short‐term N2 treatment on quality and antioxidant ability of loquat fruit during cold storage

BACKGROUND: Loquat fruit is susceptible to microbial decay and quality deterioration during postharvest distribution. In this study, in a search for effective alternatives to methods currently used for quality maintenance, the effects of short‐term pre‐storage N₂ treatment on the quality and antioxidant ability of loquat fruit were investigated. RESULTS: Loquat fruits were exposed to 100% N₂ for 6 h at 20 °C and then stored at 5 °C for 35 days. Short‐term N₂ treatment significantly delayed the increase in fruit decay rate and decreases in total soluble solid and titratable acidity contents, thereby maintaining better eating quality and extending the storage life of fruits. It also markedly delayed increases in membrane permeability, malondialdehyde content and superoxide anion production rate. In addition, N₂‐treated fruits exhibited significantly higher superoxide dismutase and catalase activities and lower lipoxygenase activity than control fruits. CONCLUSION: Short‐term pre‐storage N₂ treatment effectively reduced fruit decay and maintained quality in loquat fruits during cold storage. The reduction in fruit decay and quality deterioration by the treatment was correlated with enhanced antioxidant ability and reduced lipid peroxidation. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of Ca2+, K+ and NO3− fertilisation on nutritional quality of pepper

A study was conducted in order to assess the effect of different fertilisation levels of Ca²⁺, K⁺ and NO₃^? on the bioactive nutrient content in red pepper (Capsicum annuum L) fruits. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, under hydroponic culture. Lycopene, β‐carotene, vitamin C, total phenolic compound, sugar, nitrate and potassium contents and antioxidant activity were determined. Increasing Ca²⁺ and NO₃^? concentrations in the root medium increased the lycopene and β‐carotene contents in pepper. Antioxidant activity was determined in the hydrophilic (HAA) and lipophilic (LAA) fractions. HAA was increased by intermediate and high Ca²⁺ concentrations in the culture medium. However, LAA was raised only by NO₃^? treatments. Vitamin C, sugar and total phenolic acid contents were not affected by Ca²⁺ or NO₃^? treatments. K⁺ treatments had no effect on nutritional quality of pepper. An increased supply of Ca²⁺ and NO₃^? in the culture medium could constitute a useful practice for improving the nutritional attributes of pepper as well as its commercial quality. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

余甘子多酚响应面法优化提取及其抗氧化活性研究

以余甘子干粉为原料提取余甘子多酚,比较了乙醇浓度、浸提时间、温度、pH、料液比及提取次数对总多酚提取率的影响,并以乙醇浓度、浸提时间、温度、pH为考察因素,采用RSA响应面分析法,确定了余甘子多酚提取的最佳工艺参数,即乙醇浓度为60%,浸提温度50℃,浸提时间4h,pH3.50。在此优化工艺下余甘子多酚提取率为0.218gGAE/g,还原力为1.019。同时,以茶多酚、维生素C、维生素E及BHT为对照,测定了余甘子多酚对DPPH、超氧阴离子及羟基自由基的清除活性及抗脂质过氧化活性。结果表明,余甘子多酚具有较强的抗氧化活性,是一种极具潜力的抗氧化剂。     

Influence of source and quality on the color characteristics of annatto dyes and formulations

Annatto dyes containing different strengths of bixin, norbixin and their formulations such as water-soluble liquid, and oil soluble liquid were measured for L*, a* and b* in a Hunter color meter and the Yellow (Y) and red (R) units in a Lovibond tintometer. Seed source and dye purity had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on the color characteristics L*, a*, b* and Y and R units of bixin/norbixin dyes and their formulations. These characteristics behaved independently when different dyes diluted to a common concentration of 50 mg bixin or norbixin/L. However, when individual bixin/norbixin dyes serially diluted L*, b* decreased and a* values increased with increase in concentration of bixin/norbixin. Similarly the increase in concentration of bixin/norbixin have shown decreasing trend on Y/R values due to increase in R-values in the tintometer. It has been observed that a* and R units generally increased with increase in concentration, and L* and b* values decreased and Y values are almost constant in both the bixin and norbixin dyes. However the b*/a* values showed lower values in bixin dyes and higher in norbixin dyes. Similarly R-values were higher in bixin dyes when compared to norbixin dyes.