Postharvest quality of arazá fruit during low temperature storage

Arazá (Eugenia stipitata Mc Vaugh) fruits at breaker stage of maturity were stored at 7, 10, 12, or 20 °C and 85-90% RH for 2 weeks, with or without an additional simulated shelf-life period (3 days at 20 °C and 70% RH). Some half-yellow (turning) arazá fruit were also stored at 7 or 12 °C. Respiration rate, ethylene production, quality traits and physiological disorders and decay were monitored. Arazá fruit of both stages of maturity showed a climacteric pattern of ripening, with the maximum levels of respiration being reached after 5 days at 20 °C for breaker fruit, while half-yellow fruit ripened totally after one day. Weight loss was the most limiting quality trait for arazá fruit. Chilling injury symptoms included skin scald (only at 7 °C), uneven ripening (at 7 or 10 °C, including uneven softening during storage, particularly in breaker fruit), and slight acidification at 7 °C. Decay in the post-storage shelf-life periods (mainly Gloesporium sp.) was particularly high after storage at 7 °C in breaker fruit. The storage of breaker arazá fruit at 12 °C is recommended because this prevents chilling injury and flesh acidification, and allows normal fruit ripening during a post-storage shelf-life at 20 °C, as revealed by the lower organic acids (mainly malic) content and increased sugar (glucose, fructose and sucrose) content.     

SOFTENING AND BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES OF SAPOTE MAMEY FRUIT (POUTERIA SAPOTA) AT DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENT AND RIPENING STAGES

We investigated some of the physicochemical and biochemical factors associated with flesh softening of sapote mamey fruit during development and ripening. The activities of pectinmethylesterase (PME), polygalacturonase (PG) and β‐galactosidase (β‐GAL) enzymes were measured in fruits harvested at different development stages, and postharvest in two production seasons. The textural changes were most noticeable at the preclimacteric stage in ripening fruit. The water‐soluble pectin (WSP) increased at a different rate than firmness decreased. No correlation between PG or PME activity and changes in firmness was observed in ripening fruits, though a low correlation was seen between β‐GAL activity and softening in climacteric stage. Greatest loss of firmness occurred in climacteric stage. Fruit pulp softening was not dependent on a single enzyme activity.     

1-MCP结合PVC对小包装青脆李果实常温贮藏品质的影响

通过研究1-甲基环丙烯（1-Methylcyclopropene,1-MCP）贴剂结合聚氯乙烯（Polyvinyl chloride,PVC）包装处理对常温贮藏青脆李果实衰老软化相关指标、色泽及氨基酸含量等的影响,建立青脆李果实常温小包装流通保鲜技术。结果表明:与对照相比,1 μL/L 1-MCP贴剂结合PVC处理能显著降低青脆李果实贮藏过程中的腐烂率和失重率（P<0.05）,抑制果实转黄,延缓果实衰老进程;该处理通过降低果实多聚半乳糖醛酸酶（Polygalacturonase,PG）和果胶甲酯酶（pectinmethylesterase,PME）活性,抑制果实原果胶的降解以及可溶性果胶的形成,进而延缓果实软化进程。此外,该处理能一定程度上延缓青脆李中抗坏血酸及可滴定酸的降低,维持果实较好品质;并且处理组果实中天冬氨酸、谷氨酸、半胱氨酸、苯丙氨酸、组氨酸、脯氨酸含量均显著性高于对照组（P<0.05）。因此,1 μL/L 1-MCP贴剂结合PVC处理能明显延长常温贮藏青脆李果实的货架期,该研究可为青脆李果实的常温小包装流通提供一定的技术指导和理论参考。     

Effect of 1-methylcyclopropene on ripening of postharvest persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) fruit

Postharvest persimmon fruit (Diospyros kaki L. cv. Qiandaowuhe) was stored at 20 °C after being exposed to 3 μl l⁻¹ 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) for 6 h or not (control). Several parameters (firmness, respiration and ethylene production, pectic substances and cell wall hydrolysis enzymes activities) were examined to determine the efficacy of 1-MCP treatment in delaying persimmon fruit ripening. Results showed that ‘Qiandaowuhe’ persimmon fruit displayed a typical climacteric pattern of respiration and ethylene production. Peak CO₂ production and ethylene production was observed on the fourth day. Fruit softening was accompanied by a progressive increase in water-soluble pectic substances (WSP) and a progressive decrease in chelator-soluble pectic substances (CSP) and alkali-soluble pectic substances (ASP). The activities of pectinmethylesterase (PME) and polygalacturonase (PG) started increasing sharply and reached a maximal value on days 4 and 6, respectively, and then decreased slowly. 1-MCP treatment delayed the onset of climacteric ethylene production and respiration in persimmon fruit, and also significantly retarded the activities of PME and PG during ripening at 20 °C. Consistent with the activity trends of cell wall hydrolysis enzymes, 1-MCP treatment also delayed the depolymerization of CSP and ASP and reduced the increase of WSP compared with the control fruit. Thus, application of 1-MCP can greatly extend the postharvest life of ‘Qiandaowuhe’ persimmon fruit.     

QUALITY ATTRIBUTES, PECTOLYTIC ENZYME ACTIVITIES AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES DURING POSTHARVEST RIPENING OF NECTARINE

The postharvest ripening at 20C and 90–95% RH for 10 days of ‘Armking’ nectarine grown in a greenhouse was investigated over two seasons. Firmness, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, pH and maturity index were all adequate to stablish the rate of ripening. However, soluble solids content and reducing and non-reducing sugars showed no significant changes. It took about 10 days for very early ripening fruit (100 g weight and 82 N firmness) and 6 days for normal early ripening fruits (115 g weight and 46 N firmness), both harvested at preclimacteric stage, to become eating ripe (near 20 N). Total weight loss and decay after 10 days was approximately 11%. During ripening there was a temporal coincidence among higher rates of ethyleneproduction, higher pectinmethylesterase (PME) and polygalacturonase (PG) activities, lower firmness and acidity and higher maturity index. PME and PG activities increased during ripening, with a highly negative linear correlation between activities of the two enzymes and firmness. In very early ripening fruit, PME activity was more closely related to softening than PG, whereas in normal early ripeningfruit, PG activity was slightly more closely linked to the loss offirmness than PME.     

Expression of expansin gene, MiExpA1, and activity of galactosidase and polygalacturonase in mango fruit as affected by oxalic acid during storage at room temperature

An expansin gene, MiExpA1, from mango fruit (Mangifera indica L. cv. Zill), which had highest homology with MiExpA1 from cv. Dashehari by 96.43% in nucleotide sequence and 95.79% in amino acid sequence, was cloned and characterised. Moreover, effects of oxalic acid on MiExpA1 expression and enzymatic activities of α-galactosidase (α-Gal), β-galactosidase (β-Gal), and polygalacturonase (PG) were investigated after Zill fruit were dipped in 5 mM oxalic acid solution for 10 min and then stored at 25 °C. Application of oxalic acid significantly inhibited decrease in flesh firmness, notably suppressed and delayed MiExpA1 expression in the peel and the flesh, and also significantly decreased activities of these pectolytic enzymes in the flesh. It was suggested that these effects of oxalic acid might collectively contribute to alleviating cell wall disassembly, thereby slowing the process of softening and ripening in mango fruit during storage.     

Pectic polysaccharides during ripening of mango (Mangifera indica L)

The content of pectin decreased from 2.0 to 0.7% fresh weight (FW) and there was a concomitant increase in free galacturonic acid from 36 to 168 mg% FW during ripening of mango. Ion exchange chromatography on DEAE/cellulose resolved the pectic fraction into seven distinct peaks, with all of them showing a drastic decrease in pectin content and molecular weight as fruit ripening progressed, which indicated significant depolymerisation in vivo. Fraction I appeared to be an arabinogalactan‐type polymer, while fractions II and III were heterogalacturonans containing more than 60% galacturonic acid. Hydrolases implicated in pectin depolymerisation were polygalacturonase (PG), pectin methyl esterase (PME), galactanase, arabinanase and β ‐galactosidase. They all showed a climacteric peak in activity during ripening, except for PME which showed a continuous decrease in activity after an initial increase. These results are discussed in the light of fruit softening during ripening. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Diverse metabolism of cell wall components of melting and non‐melting peach genotypes during ripening after harvest or cold storage

The mode of change in a range of physiological, physicochemical and biochemical parameters during fruit ripening between distinct peach genotypes (Prunus persica L. Batsch) after cold storage for up to 4 weeks was determined. The nectarine cultivar ‘Caldesi 2000’ was selected as a genotype with melting flesh (MF) characteristic (fruits characterized by extensive flesh softening during ripening) and the cultivar ‘Andross’ as a genotype with non‐melting flesh (NMF) characteristic (fruits characterized by limited flesh softening during ripening). Flesh firmness, ethylene production, physicochemical and biochemical properties of the cell wall were determined and significant differences between the fruits of the two genotypes were recorded. Fruits of the NMF genotype were characterized by higher tissue retention and ethylene production during their ripening, higher content of uronic acids, as well as higher capacity for calcium binding in the water‐insoluble pectin fraction compared with fruits of the MF genotype. Additionally, the ripening of MF‐type fruits was characterized by higher losses of neutral sugars, especially those of arabinose and galactose than the NMF‐type fruits and these losses were more intense after extended cold storage periods. In fruits of the NMF genotype the decreased activity of pectin methyl esterase (PME) combined with higher levels of calcium in the water‐insoluble pectin fraction possibly provided less substrate for polygalacturonase (exo‐, endo‐PG) activity and less solubility of cell wall pectin compared with fruits of the MF genotype. Overall, the data indicate the existence of a wide range of diverse metabolic pathways during fruit ripening of fresh fruits with MF and NMF characteristics. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

茄子果实采后软化过程中细胞壁组分及其降解酶活性的变化

研究了细胞壁组分及其降解酶活性的变化与茄子果实采后软化的关系。结果表明,采后茄子果肉硬度随贮藏时间的延长而不断下降。贮藏期间果肉水溶性果胶(WSP)含量在贮藏前12天不断增加,之后快速下降,而共价结合型果胶(CSP)、半纤维素和纤维素等细胞壁组分含量持续减少。果肉果胶甲酯酶(PME)、多聚半乳糖醛酸酶(PG)和纤维素酶(CX)活性均呈先升高后下降趋势,分别在贮藏至第6、9、12天达到最大值;β-半乳糖苷酶(β-Gal)活性始终保持较高水平,且在整个贮藏期间活性变化不明显。相关性分析结果表明,CSP、半纤维素和纤维素的降解与采后茄子果实软化密切相关,PG和CX在茄子果实采后软化过程中起着重要的作用。     

The kinetics of inactivation of pectin methylesterase and polygalacturonase in tomato juice by thermosonication

The ultrasonic inactivation kinetics of polygalacturonase (PG) and pectin methylesterase (PME) in tomato juice were studied at a frequency of 20 kHz, amplitude of 65 μm and temperatures between 50 and 75 °C. Thermal treatments at the same temperatures were conducted to separate the effects of heat and ultrasound. The thermal inactivation of PG was described by a fractional conversion model with PG 1 remaining stable, whereas the inactivation of PG by combined ultrasonic and heat treatment (thermosonication) was best described by first order biphasic kinetics, with both PG1 and PG2 inactivated at different rates. The thermal and thermosonication inactivation of PME was described well by first order kinetics. The inactivating effect of combined ultrasound and heat was synergistic. Thermosonication enhanced the inactivation rates of both PME and PG. The inactivation rate of PME was increased by 1.5–6 times and the inactivation rate of PG2 by 2.3–4 times in the temperature range 60–75 °C, with the highest increase corresponding to the lowest temperature.     

EFFECT OF GAMMA IRRADIATION ON SOFTENING CHANGES AND ENZYME ACTIVITIES DURING RIPENING OF PAPAYA FRUIT

The aim of this work was to study the role of cell wall and ethylene related enzymes to papaya fruit firmness. Irradiation treatment was used as an imposed stress to cause changes in firmness. Physiologically mature papaya fruits were irradiated (500 Gy) and allowed to ripen at 22C and 90% RH. Polygalacturo‐nase (PG), pectinmethylesterase (PME), βgalactosidase, cellulose and 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate oxidase (ACC‐oxidase) activities were followed during ripening and correlated to changes in firmness, skin and pulp color, respiration and ethylene production. The firmness of irradiated fruits was retained at least 2 days longer than in normal fruits and also had a slower rate of softening. Total soluble solids (d?Brix), cellulase activity and ethylene production were not altered by irradiation treatment. The activity patterns of PG, PME and β‐galactosidase were related to pulp softening and affected by irradiation. ACC‐oxidase activity was influenced by irradiation treatment, but its changes were not temporally related to those in firmness. It was concluded that irradiation had no direct effect on firmness but it acted by altering the ripening induced synthesis of cell wall enzymes, mainly PME.     

采前喷施水杨酸对红地球葡萄采后果实软化的影响

为探究采前喷施水杨酸(salicylic acid,SA)处理对红地球葡萄采后果实软化进程的影响,以红地球葡萄为材料,采前喷施1.0 mmol/L SA处理,采收预冷后在常温(22±1)℃贮藏,分析果实品质、原果胶(protopec-tin,PP)、纤维素、水溶性果胶(water soluble pectin,WSP)...     

高能电子束辐照对猕猴桃细胞壁降解相关酶活性和基因表达的影响

以‘海沃德’猕猴桃为试材,经剂量0（对照）、300、400和500 Gy高能电子束辐照后,于0~1 ℃、RH 90%~95%冷库中贮藏90 d,研究电子束辐照对果实硬度、细胞壁组分、软化相关酶活性及其基因表达量的影响。结果表明:高能电子束辐照显著维持了果实的硬度,有效抑制了细胞壁骨架物质原果胶和纤维素的分解,延迟了果实后熟软化。同时,辐照抑制了多聚半乳糖醛酸酶（polygalacturonase,PG）、果胶甲酯酶（pectin methylesterase,PME）、β-半乳糖苷酶（β-D-galaetosidase,β-Gal）和纤维素酶（cellulase,Cx）的活性,降低了PG、PME、β-Gal和Cx编码基因的表达。综合认为,以400 Gy高能电子束辐照对抑制细胞壁降解相关酶活性及基因表达,保持细胞结构的完整性,维持贮藏期间果实硬度效果最好。研究结果为高能电子束用于猕猴桃采后保鲜提供理论依据。     

NO处理对采后莲雾果实絮状绵软进程的影响

探明NO处理对采后莲雾果实成熟衰老过程中絮状绵软进程的影响。以台湾‘黑珍珠’莲雾果实为材料,用不同用量（5、10、20 μL/L）外源NO熏蒸处理莲雾果实,以0 μL/L NO熏蒸处理作对照,研究其对采后莲雾果实生理及品质、细胞壁代谢及木质素代谢的影响。结果表明：与对照相比,不同用量外源NO熏蒸处理能够显著抑制莲雾果实贮藏过程中絮状绵软指数及质量损失率的上升,保持果实硬度,延缓果实纤维素含量的下降,10 μL/L NO显著降低了多聚半乳糖醛酸酶（PG）、果胶甲酯酶（PME）、β-半乳糖苷酶（β-Gal）活性。同时,不同用量外源NO熏蒸处理能够延缓果实木质素含量的上升,10 μL/L NO显著降低了苯丙氨酸解氨酶（PAL）、过氧化物酶（POD）、4-香豆酸辅酶A连接酶（4-CL）活性。相关性分析表明,絮状绵软指数与质量损失率、果肉硬度、纤维素含量和木质素含量之间均存在显著相关性,且与原果胶含量呈极显著负相关,与可溶性果胶含量呈极显著正相关。NO处理能够抑制细胞壁类物质降解酶活性,延缓采后莲雾果实絮状绵软进程,延长果实贮藏期,其中以10 μL/L NO处理效果最好。     

氯吡苯脲浸泡处理延缓采后芒果成熟和软化的生理机制

以采后‘贵妃’芒果为试材,使用10 mg/L氯吡苯脲（forchlorfenuron,CPPU）溶液对果实浸泡处理10 min,晾干后在室温（25 ℃）条件下贮藏8 d,研究CPPU浸泡处理对芒果果实贮藏期间成熟与软化相关生理指标的影响。结果显示：CPPU浸泡处理明显抑制了芒果果实的呼吸作用并推迟了果肉色泽、硬度、可溶性固形物质量分数和可滴定酸质量分数的变化;CPPU浸泡处理有效抑制了果实1-氨基环丙烷-1-羧酸合成酶和1-氨基环丙烷-1-羧酸氧化酶活性,导致乙烯释放量降低;此外,CPPU浸泡处理显著抑制了果实多聚半乳糖醛酸酶、果胶甲酯酶、β-半乳糖苷酶等果胶水解酶活性变化,并较大程度抑制了果胶多糖的增溶与解聚作用,故而延缓了果实的软化进程。结论：CPPU浸泡处理能有效延缓采后芒果果实的成熟与软化,从而延长果实货架寿命。     

1-Methylcyclopropene delays arazá ripening and improves postharvest fruit quality

Six different experiments were conducted to give some practical recommendation to apply 1-MCP during the postharvest handling chain of arazá fruit (Eugenia stipitata McVaugh). Fruit were harvested in three stages of maturity (mature-green primarily, turning and mature) and treated for 1 to 12 h with 0 (control in air) or 1 μL L⁻¹ 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) at 20 °C. The mature-green fruit were subjected to different storage conditions (7, 10, 12, 13, 20 or 27 °C). The treatment of mature-green fruit with 1-MCP for 1 h, and storage at 12 °C for up to 2 weeks prolonged the shelf-life about one week by delaying or reducing the respiration and ethylene production rates, skin colour changes, the loss of organic acids, and softening, with or without a further shelf-life period of 3 days at 20 °C. At 7 °C, 1-MCP also reduced mature-green fruit weight loss and shrivelling. Extending 1-MCP treatment periods at 20 °C to 6 or 12 h caused partial and uneven ripeness. Treating fruit in their post-climacteric stage of maturity had little effect on ripening compared with the mature-green stage. 1-MCP increased the respiration rate and/or the ethylene production in certain combinations of advanced harvest maturities and/or unfavourable storage temperatures. Recommendations for maintaining postharvest quality are harvesting at the mature-green stage, treatment with 1 μL L⁻¹ of 1-MCP for 1 h, and storage at 12 °C for up to 2 weeks.     

Enzyme activity and biochemical changes of three date palm cultivars with different softening pattern during ripening

The physicochemical composition changes during palm ripening were studied. The activities of invertase and cell wall-modifying enzymes, namely pectin methylesterase (PME), β-galactosidase (β-Gal), endo-1,4-β-d-glucanase (EGase), and cellulase were monitored during growth and ripening of Shahani, Piarom and Deiry cultivars with different textures. Also, we estimated the concentrations of six organic acids by HPLC. Reducing sugars, most of organic acid, pH and TSS increased up to the full-ripe stage of all date types. On the contrary, moisture, macro and microelements and proteins decreased during the same period. Despite a considerable rise in invertase activity (200 units) during ripening of Shahani, no significant trend could be discerned in Deiry cultivar (8 units) at different stages. Our results also showed that cell wall enzymes were increased in activity during ripening and these increases were coincident with fruit softening. Furthermore, our results showed that the composition and the variation of the chemical compositions mainly depended on the cultivar and maturity stage.     

采前氯吡脲处理对‘秦美’猕猴桃贮藏期间果实硬度及细胞壁降解的影响

以‘秦美’猕猴桃果实为试材,于盛花期后28 d分别采用0（对照,清水）、5、10、20 mg/L 4 个质量浓度的氯吡脲（1-(2-chloropyridin-4-yl)-3-phenylurea,CPPU）溶液进行蘸果处理,蘸果时间3～5 s,研究采前CPPU处理对‘秦美’猕猴桃贮藏期间果实硬度及细胞壁降解酶活力的影响。结果表明：CPPU处理加速了果实硬度、原果胶和纤维素质量分数的下降,提高了可溶性果胶质量分数及多聚半乳糖醛酸酶（polygalacturonase,PG）、果胶甲酯酶（pectin methylesterase,PME）、纤维素酶（cellulase,Cx）和β-半乳糖苷酶（β-D-galaetosidase,β-Gal）细胞壁降解活力。各处理组果实硬度与可溶性果胶质量分数和PG、Cx活力呈极显著负相关（P＜0.01）,与原果胶、纤维素质量分数呈极显著正相关（P＜0.01）;20 mg/L CPPU处理组果实的β-Gal活力与硬度呈显著负相关（P＜0.05）。CPPU处理提高了果实细胞壁降解酶的活力,促进了细胞壁的降解,加速了贮藏期间果实的软化,降低了果实的耐贮藏性。为维持猕猴桃采后果实硬度,延长贮藏期,生产中不宜使用CPPU处理,或使用的质量浓度不宜超过5 mg/L。     

Evaluation of processing qualities of tomato juice induced by thermal and pressure processing

Effects of processing conditions including hot-break processing (92 °C for 2 min), cold-break processing (60 °C for 2 min) and hydrostatic pressure treatments (100-500 MPa) at different temperatures (4, 25 and 50 °C) for 10 min on quality aspects of tomato juice were investigated. Both hot- and cold-break processing induced significant changes in color, viscosity and radical-scavenging capacity of tomato juice compared with control (fresh tomato juice); moreover, hot-break processing induced a specific range of reduction of pectin methylesterase (PME) and polygalacturonase (PG) activities. Pressure treatments at and below 200 MPa at 4 and 25 °C maintained the color, extractable total carotenoids and lycopene, and radical-scavenging capacity; further, those at 500 MPa at 4 and 25 °C improved all the quality attributes the most except inactivation of PME in this study. The residual activity of PME showed the lowest after treating by 200 MPa at 25 °C; however, the PME activity was enhanced by treatments at 300-500 MPa and various temperatures. The residual activity of PG decreased gradually to 72% with pressure elevated from 100 to 400 MPa at 4 and 25 °C, further, that declined quickly to 10% after 500 MPa treatments. This research clearly shows that it is possible to selectively produce good tomato juice products by high pressure processing at ambient temperature.     

Effects of nitric oxide fumigation on phenolic metabolism of postharvest Chinese winter jujube (Zizyphus jujuba Mill. cv. Dongzao) in relation to fruit quality

The effect of nitric oxide fumigation on phenolic metabolism of harvested Chinese winter jujube in relation to the fruit quality was investigated. The fruits were fumigated for 3 h with NO (0, 10, 20 and 30 μl/l) then stored at 22 °C and RH 95%. Changes in color, phenol and anthocyanin levels in pericarp, activities of the related enzymes, and total soluble solids and vitamin C from mesocarp were measured. The results showed that treatment with 20 μl/l NO significantly slowed the increase in red index, inhibited changes of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activities, maintained a low total anthocyanin content and a high total phenol content, and delayed the increase of soluble solids and decrease of vitamin C. Treatment with NO solution at less than 1 μmol/l exhibited inhibitory effects on in vitro PPO and PAL activities in a dose-dependent manner.