Effect of nitrogen fertilization on quality markers of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch. cv. Aromas)

BACKGROUND: Nitrogen is an indispensable element for fruit metabolism and low or excessive N levels can affect the accumulation of the most important components that contribute to the flavour and aroma of the fruit. Among them, sugars, acids and volatile compounds can be considered quality markers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of N fertilization on these quality markers of the fruit at two harvest dates. RESULTS: Strawberry plants were grown in a hydroponic system and N was applied as Ca(NO₃)₂ at concentrations of 0.3, 3 and 6 mmol L^?1 in the nutrient solution. Total soluble solids, soluble carbohydrates, amino acids and organic acids and volatile compounds of the fruit were analyzed. The fruits produced at 3 and 6 mmol L^?1 N had higher contents of esters, soluble carbohydrates and amino acids. The hexanal content increased with the 6 mmol L^?1 dose. The effect of fertilization was more marked at the second harvest date. CONCLUSION: The availability of N in strawberry plants affected the accumulation of quality markers. The fruits expected to have the best flavour and aroma, with both high levels of soluble carbohydrate and esters and low levels of hexanal, were obtained with 3 mmol L^?1 nitrate in the solution. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Root colonisation by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices alters the quality of strawberry fruits (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) at different nitrogen levels

BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) increase the uptake of minerals from the soil, thus improving the growth of the host plant. Nitrogen (N) is a main mineral element for plant growth, as it is an essential component of numerous plant compounds affecting fruit quality. The availability of N to plants also affects the AMF–plant interaction, which suggests that the quality of fruits could be affected by both factors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of three N treatments (3, 6 and 18 mmol L^?1) in combination with inoculation with the AMF Glomus intraradices on the quality of strawberry fruits. The effects of each factor and their interaction were analysed. RESULTS: Nitrogen treatment significantly modified the concentrations of minerals and some phenolic compounds, while mycorrhization significantly affected some colour parameters and the concentrations of most phenolic compounds. Significant differences between fruits of mycorrhizal and non‐mycorrhizal plants were found for the majority of phenolic compounds and for some minerals in plants treated with 6 mmol L^?1 N. The respective values of fruits of mycorrhizal plants were higher. CONCLUSION: Nitrogen application modified the effect of mycorrhization on strawberry fruit quality. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Elevated carbon dioxide affects fruit flavor in field‐grown strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch)

The effect of elevated carbon dioxide on fruit quality and aroma volatile composition in field‐grown strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch) was studied. Elevating the ambient CO₂ concentration (ambient + 300, and ambient +600 µmol mol^?1 CO₂) resulted in high fruit dry matter, fructose, glucose and total sugar contents and low citric and malic acid contents. High CO₂ growing conditions significantly enhanced the fruit content of ethyl hexanoate, ethyl butanoate, methyl hexanoate, methyl butanonate, hexyl acetate, hexyl hexanoate, furaneol, linalool and methyl octanoate. Thus, the total amounts of these compounds were higher in berries grown in CO₂‐enriched conditions than those grown in ambient conditions. The highest CO₂ enrichment (600 µmol mol^?1) condition yielded fruit with the highest levels of these aroma compounds. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

气调包装对草莓货架期延长保鲜内在品质的影响

植物组织或器官在衰老过程中常伴随细胞膜结构的破坏,导致组织结构和细胞区域化的丧失。研究经过气调包装(MAP)处理后草莓超微结构的变化,结果表明经过MAP处理能较好地维持草莓细胞形状。果胶酯酶(PE)活性是影响草莓货架期的内在因素之一。采用NaCl盐析法得到了草莓果胶酯酶粗提液,对草莓果胶酯酶的特性进行了探索。试验结果表明,氯化钙溶液对果胶酯酶的活性影响很大,植酸同样可抑制果胶酯酶的活性,以0.05%效果最好。     

气调包装条件下草莓、平菇呼吸特性变化规律

温度和包装内的气体组分是控制新鲜果蔬呼吸、延长超市新鲜果蔬货架期的有效手段.实验对草莓和平菇在MAP条件下呼吸特性的变化进行了研究,建立了以φ[CO2]、φ[O2]、温度(T)和贮藏时间(t)的多元方程,并与其呼吸作用的酶的米氏模型进行了比较,结果显示三次项模型略优于米氏方程模型.     

Enhancement of phenolic compounds content and antioxidant activity of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) juice by block freeze concentration technology

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of freeze concentration of strawberry juice on content of total phenolic, anthocyanins content and antioxidant activity of the concentrated fluid and the ice obtained. An increase in the values of phenolic content was observed in the concentrate fraction for all the freeze concentration stages (five stages). The process efficiency presented a reduction when compared with the first stage, and however, the average efficiency remained around 65% in all the stages. The concentration of pelargonidin‐3‐O‐glycoside present in samples was increased in all stages. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of the concentrated fluid of each stage, measured by DPPH and ABTS methods, was significantly higher in comparison with the juice feed. Also, antioxidant activity can be correlated with the content of pelargonidin‐3‐O‐glycoside presented in the strawberry juice. Freeze concentration can be considered a good alternative for improving the antioxidant activity of strawberry juice.     

Evaluation of chemical constituents and antioxidant activity of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars

This research was undertaken to evaluate the sugars, organic acids, phenolic compositions and antioxidant capacities of sweet cherry cultivars (Van, Noir de Guben, Larian and 0‐900 Ziraat) grown in Turkey. High‐performance liquid chromatographic methods were used to identify and quantify four sugars (sucrose, glucose, fructose and sorbitol) and four organic acids (malic, citric, shikimic, and fumaric acid). The major organic acid was found as malic acid (8.54–10.02 g kg^?1 of FW). With regard to sugars, glucose was present in the largest amounts (44.71–48.31 g kg^?1 of FW) for sweet cherry cultivars. The sum of sugars ranged from 103.87 (Larian) to 113.13 g kg^?1 of FW (0‐900 Ziraat) and that of organic acids from 12.01 (0‐900 Ziraat) to 14.17 g kg^?1 of FW (Noir de Guben). A total of eleven phenolic compounds were identified and quantified in sweet cherry cultivars, including hydroxycinnamic acids (3), anthocyanins (5), flavan‐3‐ols (2) and flavonol (1) compounds. Total phenolic contents ranged from 88.72 (Van) to 239.54 (Noir de Guben) mg/100 g of FW, while antioxidant activities ranged from 2.02 to 7.75 μm Trolox equivalents g^?1 of FW.     

The aroma of strawberry (Fragaria ananassa): Characterisation of some cultivars and influence of freezing

The volatiles of six strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch) cultivars, both fresh and deep-frozen, were isolated by direct dichloromethane extraction. Sixty compounds were identified and quantified by GC—MS. Characterisation of cultivars was achieved by applying principal component analysis to the chromatographic data. Great differences were observed. Maxim and Directeur Paul Wallbaum are rather low in volatiles while Gariguette and Tioga are rich in mesifurane (2,5-dimethyl-4-methoxy-2,3-dihydrofuran-3-one), furaneol' (2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-2,3-dihydrofuran-3-one) and nerolidol. Esters are the major compounds in Senga Sengana and Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury. This last cultivar is also characterised by high concentrations of γ-decalactone. Trans-hex-2-enal and hexanal are found mainly in fresh fruits. Determinations of volatiles in stored frozen fruits have shown only slight influence on mesifurane and furaneol while the concentration of nerolidol increases and that of esters decreases.     

Comparative study of primary and secondary metabolites in apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) cultivars

BACKGROUND: Apricot is one of the most popular Prunus species grown in the temperate zone and great variation in the contents of primary and secondary metabolites has been reported in its fruit. However, little is known on the phenolic profiles and antioxidant potential of important local cultivars. The objective of the study was to identify valuable parental lines for breeding of cultivars with high health‐promoting effects. RESULTS: Primary metabolites (sugars, organic acids) and secondary metabolites (phenolics) were quantified by high‐performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) in fruit of 13 apricot cultivars: total sugars ranged from 59.2 to 212.5 g kg^?1 fresh weight (FW) and total organic acids from 4.2 to 20.8 g kg^?1 FW. Four hydroxycinnamic acids and three flavonols were quantified; their content was significantly higher in skin compared to pulp. Similarly, antioxidative potential was significantly higher in skin and ranged from 125.4 to 726.5 mg ascorbic acid equivalents kg^?1 FW. A positive correlation between total phenolic content and antioxidant potential was determined. Multivariate analysis subdivided the cultivars into five major groups, mostly influenced by the content of individual and total phenolics as well as the antioxidant potential of apricot skin and pulp. CONCLUSION: In regard to high phenolic content in connection with antioxidant potential, three cultivars stand out as the richest in analyzed quality parameters: ‘Mula Sadik’, ‘Bergeron’ and ‘Chuan Zhi Hong’. They also contained high amounts of primary metabolites and should be promoted for further planting and included in apricot breeding programs. Copyright © 2010 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。     

Combining quality and antioxidant attributes in the strawberry: The role of genotype

The nutritional value of fruit has been widely studied and is demanded by consumers, especially for protection against cardiovascular disorder, cancer and other diseases, as well as for general health benefits. These benefits can also be ascribed to the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of fruit.Fruit nutritional quality can be described by a standard quality parameter and the analyses of nutritional parameters, such as antioxidant capacity (and specific related compounds). In this study, firmness, colour, soluble solids content and titratable acidity were considered as quality parameters and TAC and total phenolic content as nutritional parameters. All these attributes were screened in 20 strawberry genotypes (cultivars and selections) for the selection of new improved genetic material (offspring) originating from different cross combinations, including an F1 Fragaria virginiana spp. glauca among parents.Results indicate that the effect of the genotype on strawberry nutritional quality is stronger than that of the cultivation conditions. However, commercial cultivation did not show a high range of variation of fruit nutritional quality, particularly for the nutritional parameters.The study of offspring originating from different cross combinations showed that fruit nutritional quality can be considered an inheritable trait and that the variability of fruit nutritional quality among commercial cultivars can be improved by breeding.Finally, results demonstrate the role of F. virginiana spp. glauca as an important genetic source of the fruit nutritional quality.     

Chemical,antioxidant and sensory properties of tomato‐watermelon‐pineapple blends,and changes in their total antioxidant capacity during storage

A conductometric analysis of the effect of condensate of peroxides generated during lipid oxidation in an accelerated stability test was adapted to test the hypothesis that total antioxidant capacity of tomato products would sometimes increase during processing and in storage. Tomato pulp blends made from a mixture of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum var Roma VF), watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris var Babylack) and pineapple (Ananas comosus var Smooth cayennes) were analysed for basic quality profiles of dry matter, Brix, titratable acidity (TTA) and pH, total reducing sugars, Component antioxidants phytochemicals and total antioxidant capacity. The lowest sensory score (overall impression) of 4.80 ± 2.59 was recorded for tomato juice while, blend TWP 111p had highest score of 6.20 ± 1.99. There was significant difference (P < 0.05) in the basic quality profile of the pulp blends except for TTA values (0.37 ± 0.02 to 0.45 ± 0.05) and 2‐Furfurals (2.47 ± 0.03 to 2.71 ± 0.01). The fresh blend of 50% tomato, 25% watermelon and 25% pineapple had the highest total antioxidant capacity of 3.69 ± 0.52 mg 100 mL^?1 catechin equivalent. The total antioxidant capacity of the stored pulp increased from 2.95 ± 0.13 to 6.22 ± 0.32 mg 100 mL^?1 catechin equivalent in pasteurised TWP 211p blend by 60 days when stored at 40 °C. Total antioxidant status of tomato‐based fruit mix increased during the first 80 days.