Sensory and compositional attributes of melting‐ and non‐melting‐flesh peaches for the fresh market

A study was conducted to determine differences in sensory and compositional characteristics of melting‐flesh (MF) and non‐melting flesh (NMF) fresh market peach genotypes. Sensory results showed that the NMF fruit (‘Oro A’ and FL 86‐28C) were ‘harder’, less ‘juicy’ and more ‘rubbery’ than their MF (FL 90‐20 and ‘TropicBeauty’) counterparts. A principal component analysis of the sensory data showed a clear distinction between the textural aspects of MF and NMF fruit, but not between their flavour aspects. Likewise, chemical analysis showed that while differences in pH, titratable acidity, and soluble solids were detected among the four genotypes, no consistent grouping could be made based on the MF/NMF nature of the fruit. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

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.     

Phytochemicals in fruits of two Prunus domestica L. plum cultivars during ripening

BACKGROUND: Plums are a rich source of nutritive and bioactive compounds. The objective was to evaluate the impact of fruit tissue (flesh and peel), ripening stage and cultivar on the composition of phytochemicals in plums (Prunus domestica L.) and to analyse the relation between total antioxidant activity (TAA) and the measured variables. RESULTS: The content of total sugars and total organic acids was higher in flesh but total phenolic content (TPC) and TAA was statistically higher in plum peel. The composition of sugars depended on fruit tissue, ripening stage and the cultivar. Ripening and fruit tissue affected the composition and concentrations of organic acids. TPC of ‘Haganta’ peel increased during ripening but there was no significant time trend for ‘Jojo’ peel and flesh of both cultivars. The composition of phenolics in peel depended on the cultivar, but in flesh on the cultivar and ripening. Ripening resulted in increased total anthocyanins and TAA in peel. TAA_peel was positively correlated with TPC_peel, total anthocyanins_peel, cyanidin 3‐glucoside_peel and peonidin 3‐rutinoside_peel in the cultivar ‘Haganta’. CONCLUSION: The composition of phytochemicals in P. domestica fruit depends on fruit tissue, ripening stage and the cultivar. Peel contributes to the TAA on average 20 times more than flesh. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

温度和乙烯对京白梨后熟进程及其品质的影响

研究温度、乙烯对京白梨果实后熟进程及品质的影响。测定果实乙烯释放量、呼吸强度、果实硬度、可溶性固形物含量、pH值、果皮颜色ΔE 值和h 值、失重率、病果率等指标,并进行感官评价。结果表明：温度和乙烯直接影响果实的后熟进程和后熟品质;后熟过程中果实硬度与后熟时间呈极显著线性负相关(P＜ 0.01),温度过高或过低均导致果皮转色和果实硬度后熟不一致,适度的低温(14℃)延迟了果实乙烯峰值的启动时间,高温(28℃)抑制乙烯的生成和果实的软化,温度越高,失重率和烂果率越高;外源乙烯有助于果实乙烯的生成和呼吸强度的增加,乙烯加快了果实的后熟进程,并且后熟更均匀一致,且品质最佳。研究表明：京白梨后熟的适宜温度范围17～23℃,最佳温度20℃,最佳乙烯催熟用量为100μL/L。     

Physiological and biochemical response of harvested plum fruit to oxalic acid during ripening or shelf-life

The effect of oxalic acid application on plum fruit (Prunus salicina cv. ‘Damili’) ripening properties during storage or shelf-life was determined. The fruits were dipped for 3 min in solutions containing 5 mmol/L oxalic acid and then were packed into polyethylene bags and stored at 25 °C for 12 days, or at 2 °C for 20 days and subsequently at 25 °C for 12 days. Ethylene production, fruit firmness, contents of pectin and anthocyanin, specific activities of polygalacturonase (PG), pectin methylesterase (PME) and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), and chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) were measured. The application of oxalic acid reduced ethylene production and delayed softening of plum fruit. The inhibition of softening was associated with decreased PG and PME activities; that is, the retardation of pectin solubilization/degradation. During storage or shelf-life, flesh reddening and anthocyanin synthesis were significantly inhibited in oxalic acid-treated plum fruit, accompanied with decreased PAL activity. Furthermore, it was found that variable:maximalchlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm), an indicator of ripening, senescence or stress injury of fruit and vegetable, decreased much more slowly in oxalic-treated plum fruits than in control fruits. Thus, oxalic acid treatment can be an effective means to extend the shelf life of plum fruit.     

Impact of exogenous salicylic acid treatment on the cell wall metabolism and ripening process in postharvest tomato fruit stored at ambient temperature

Tomato is a climacteric fruit susceptible to rapid softening and ripening after harvest. In this study, the changes of physicochemical characters, cell wall-degrading enzymes, cell wall compositions and ethylene production of ‘Hisar Arun’ and ‘BSS-488’ tomato fruits were investigated under the influence of salicylic acid treatment. Salicylic acid treatment effectively delayed firmness decline and increase in PLW, TSS and lycopene content. The treated fruits maintained the integrity of cell wall composition by delay in increase in activities of cell wall-degrading enzymes (pectin methylesterase, polygalacturonase and cellulose) and cell wall components (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and pectin) decline. Moreover, salicylic acid treatments significantly suppress expression level of ethylene-producing genes (ACO1 and ACS2) and inhibited ethylene production during storage. Overall, the salicylic acid-induced delay in the ripening process occurs via the strong inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis, lowered cell wall-degrading enzyme activities and slowed cell wall degradation.     

Changes of Bioactive Compounds and Ethylene Production of Japanese Plums Treated with Pre-Harvest Aminoethoxyvinylglycine

The effects of pre-harvest aminoethoxyvinylglycine treatments on bioactive compounds, fruit ripening, and quality of plum fruits (Prunus salicina Lindell cvs. “Black Beauty,” “Black Amber,” and “Friar”) were investigated in this research. Whole trees were sprayed once with an aqueous solution containing aminoethoxyvinylglycine (0, 100, and 200 mg L^–1) two weeks before the anticipated commercial harvest for each cultivar separately. In all plum cultivars, the results showed that aminoethoxyvinylglycine treatments were effective in reducing ethylene production and respiration rate. The red color development was delayed by aminoethoxyvinylglycine treatments during the ripening. The fruit mass and geometric mean diameter significantly decreased, while loss of flesh firmness was decelerated with aminoethoxyvinylglycine concentrations. Aminoethoxyvinylglycine treatments decelerated loss of flesh firmness. Soluble solid content was reduced, whereas titratable acidity and ripening index increased with aminoethoxyvinylglycine treatments. Aminoethoxyvinylglycine-treated fruits exhibited lower levels of total phenolics, total antioxidant activity, and individual phenolics. This study revealed that pre-harvest aminoethoxyvinylglycine treatments were more effective in delaying plum fruit softening. The main advantage is to maintain the firmness of late-harvested fruit by retaining bioactive compounds of plum fruit.     

Development of off‐flavour in non‐melting flesh peach genotypes

Studies performed to investigate the development of off‐flavour in some NMF peach genotypes revealed that there were certain chemical components that were consistently associated with the disorder. Generally there was a significant increase in total soluble phenolics, polyphenoloxidase (PPO) activity and ethanol with an increase in both the percentage of off‐flavoured fruit and the degree of off‐flavour with time in storage at 8 °C in NMF genotypes. Total soluble sugars and soluble solids decreased significantly during the storage period. These changes in chemical composition of NMF genotypes were not observed in MF and NMF genotypes that did not show off‐flavour development. Highly significant linear correlations were detected between off‐flavour development and soluble phenolics, PPO activity, ethanol, total soluble solids and soluble sugars in Fla 92‐21C and USDA 87P285, lines with the highest percentage of off‐flavoured fruit. Soluble phenolics, chlorogenic acid, PPO activity and ethanol were positively correlated but soluble sugars and soluble solids were negatively correlated with off‐flavour development. The accumulation of soluble phenolics and ethanol and the reduction in soluble solids and sugars appear to be associated with the development of off‐flavour in NMF peach genotypes. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Determination of optimum harvest maturity and physico-chemical quality of Rastali banana (Musa AAB Rastali) during fruit ripening

BACKGROUND: A series of physico‐chemical quality (peel and pulp colours, pulp firmness, fruit pH, sugars and acids content, respiration rate and ethylene production) were conducted to study the optimum harvest periods (either week 11 or week 12 after emergence of the first hand) of Rastali banana (Musa AAB Rastali) based on the fruit quality during ripening. RESULT: Rastali banana fruit exhibited a climacteric rise with the peaks of both CO₂ and ethylene production occurring simultaneously at day 3 after ripening was initiated and declined at day 5 when fruits entered the senescence stage. De‐greening was observed in both of the harvesting weeks with peel turned from green to yellow, tissue softening, and fruits became more acidic and sweeter as ripening progressed. Sucrose, fructose and glucose were the main sugars found while malic, citric and succinic acids were the main organic acids found in the fruit. CONCLUSION: Rastali banana harvested at weeks 11 and 12 can be considered as commercial harvest period when the fruits have developed good organoleptic and quality attributes during ripening. However, Rastali banana fruit at more mature stage of harvest maturity taste slightly sweeter and softer with higher ethylene production which also means the fruits may undergo senescence faster than fruit harvested at week 11. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

番茄果实货架期硬度变化及其影响因素的研究

本项研究选取硬果肉番茄新品种“百利”、“卡特琳娜”、“R144”及星光种业育成的番茄新品种“盖伦99“TF99099“TF997”、“TF998”为试材，以“利生8号”为对照，研究了上述果实货架期间硬度变化规律及其影响因素。结果表明：果实硬度和果肉硬度是衡量果实货架寿命长短的指标。货架期间果实硬度、果肉硬度与不溶性果胶含量呈极显著正相关；与可溶性果胶呈极显著负相关。不溶性果胶、可溶性果胶含量是影响果实硬度和果肉硬度的直接因素。PG酶和PE酶是影响果实变软的间接因素。     

Quality of Fresh-Market Melting- and Nonmelting-Flesh Peach Genotypes as Affected by Postharvest Chilling

After storage for 3 wk at 4°C and ripening 3 days at 20°C, nonmelting-flesh peaches(‘Oro A’, FL 90–35C, FL 90–47C) did not develop visual symptoms of mealiness, while melting-flesh (MF) fruit (FL 90-20, FL 90-21, FL 91-16) did. Sensory evaluation showed that only MF fruit were more “mealy” and less “sweet” and “peachy” as a result of chilling. Volatile analysis revealed that chilling caused increases in(E)-2-hexenal and decreases in γ and δ decalactones in both MF and NMF types. However, the decline was considerably less in NMF than in MF fruit. Results indicate that chilling affects the quality of MF more than NMF genotypes.     

PRECONDITION OF 'D' ANJOU' PEARS FOR EARLY MARKETING BY ETHYLENE TREATMENT

'D' Anjou' pears (Pyrus communis, L.) harvested at an optimum maturity with the flesh firmness (FF) of 66.7N required 8 weeks of chilling at- 1C in order to initiate normal ripening in an ethylene-free environment at room temperature. If harvested fruit were not exposed to chilling or chilled at- 1C for less than 8 weeks, they could be preconditioned with 100 ppm ethylene for 3 days at 20C to initiate normal ripening. Fruit preconditioned with ethylene were capable of softening normally, reducing extractable juice, decreasing titratable acidity, and showing the climacteric rise of ethylene production during ripening at 20C when treated fruit had been further held at -1C in air for 14 days. The properly ripened fruit developed an acceptable dessert quality. When ‘d'Anjou’fruits had been stored at -1C in air for 8 weeks or longer, they could also be preconditioned without ethylene for 3 days at 20C to enhance ripening capacity. The nonethylene preconditioned fruit were capable of ripening normally following 14 days in simulated transit at -1C and upon arrival in retail markets at room temperature.     

Seasonal changes in olive fruit characteristics and oil accumulation during ripening process

Olive fruits of three of the most important Spanish and Italian cultivars, ‘Picual’, ‘Hojiblanca’ and ‘Frantoio’, were harvested at bi‐weekly periods during three crop seasons to study their development and ripening process. Fresh and dry weights and ripening index were determined for fruit, while dry matter, oil and moisture contents were determined in both fruit and pulp (flesh). Fruit growth rate and oil accumulation were calculated. Each olive cultivar showed a different ripening pattern, ‘Hojiblanca’ being the last one to maturate. Fruit weight increased, decreasing its growth rate from the middle of November. Dry matter and moisture contents decreased during ripening in pulp and fruit, ‘Hojiblanca’ showing the highest values for both. Oil content, when expressed on a fresh weight basis, increased in all cultivars, although for the last time period showed variations due to climatic conditions. During ripening, oil content on a dry weight basis increased in fruit, but oil biosynthesis in flesh ceased from November. Olive fruits presented lower oil and higher dry matter contents in the year of lowest rainfall. Therefore fruit harvesting should be carried out from the middle of November in order to obtain the highest oil yield and avoid natural fruit drop. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

60Co-γ辐照对冷藏蓝莓果实软化相关指标的影响

为探讨辐照对蓝莓果实硬度的影响机制,本研究围绕不同辐照剂量对冷藏蓝莓腐烂率、失重率、果实硬度、细胞壁物质、细胞壁多糖含量以及细胞壁水解酶活性的影响展开系统的研究。结果发现较低剂量的辐照处理（0.5 kGy）对蓝莓冷藏保鲜的效果不显著,较高剂量的辐照剂量（3.0 kGy）加速了冷藏后期蓝莓果实的软化进程,2.5 kGy辐照处理能够降低冷藏期间蓝莓果实中PE（果胶甲酯酶）、PG（多聚半乳糖醛酸酶）、Cx（纤维素酶）三种水解酶的活性,抑制WSP（水溶性果胶）含量升高和ESP（离子型果胶）、SCSP（共价型果胶）、4KSF（连接松散半纤维素）、24KSF（连接紧密半纤维素）含量的下降,从而降低果胶不溶性向可溶性的转变和保证半纤维素的连接作用,最终有效延缓冷藏蓝莓果实软化进程。     

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.     

The effect of postharvest calcium application on tissue calcium concentration, quality attributes, incidence of flesh browning and cell wall physicochemical aspects of peach fruits

The effects of postharvest calcium applications on cell wall properties and quality attributes of peach fruits (Prunus persica L. Batsch, cv. ‘Andross’) after harvest or cold storage up to 4 weeks were determined. The fruits were immersed in deionised water or in different calcium sources (calcium chloride, calcium lactate and calcium propionate) at two calcium concentrations (62.5 and 187.5 mM Ca). Calcium concentration profiles in fruits (peel and flesh), in cell wall and in pectin fractions were determined. The calcium content in the peel increased up to 2.7-fold, whereas flesh calcium increased up to 74%, 1 day after immersion. The increase of flesh calcium was accompanied by increase of cell wall calcium, which corresponded to a significant increase of calcium in the water-insoluble pectin fraction. However, calcium became saturated in the water-insoluble, but not water-soluble, pectin fraction with 62.5 mM Ca treatment. Treatment with 62.5 mM Ca salts was as effective as higher concentrations of calcium chloride maintaining tissue firmness during storage. Inversely, calcium lactate and calcium propionate at high concentrations (187.5 mM Ca) caused toxicity symptoms on the fruit surface, expressed as skin discoloration and superficial pitting, leading to additional chemical changes and reduced tissue firmness. Postharvest calcium applications limited the intense of chilling injury symptoms, expressed as flesh browning after 4 weeks cold storage. Peach fruits with severe flesh browning symptoms were characterized by reduced ethylene production, and reduced activities of the pectin modifying enzymes poly-galacturonase and pectin-methyl-esterase.     

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TEXTURE AND PECTIN CONSTITUENTS OF JAPANESE PEAR

The relationship between texture and pectin constituents and some related compounds of the Japanese pear (Pyrus serotina Render var. culta 'Housui') during fruit enlargement and ripening was studied. The modulus of elasticity, deformation ratio, and relaxation value from the flat plate compression test, and all the properties from the puncture test were affected by the pectin constituents, alcohol insoluble solids, and soluble solids. The hardness and deformation of the fruit obtained from the plate compression test might depend on the combination of the alcohol insoluble solids in fresh weight and weight of the fruit. The oxalate soluble pectin both in alcohol insoluble solids and in fresh weight affected the fruit texture more than the water soluble pectin. The solubitization of nonsoluble pectin to water soluble pectin appeared to influence the textural properties more than that of the nonsoluble pectin to oxalate soluble pectin. The puncture test was superior in analyzing the textural properties of the Japanese pear fruits with regard to changes in the pectin constituents.     

硬溶质型桃果实成熟过程中细胞壁多糖降解特性及其相关酶研究

以硬溶质型桃‘晚湖景’为试材,研究细胞壁多糖降解以及细胞壁多糖降解相关酶对硬溶质型桃果实成熟软化的影响。结果表明:硬溶质型桃果实成熟过程中,CDTA-1果胶含量上升,两种Na2CO3溶性果胶含量在成熟末期减少率分别为22.5%和27.4%。KOH溶性果胶含量在整个成熟过程中变化不明显。果实CDTA、Na2CO3组分中果胶多糖主链的断裂、半纤维素和纤维素组分中阿拉伯糖和半乳糖的降解主要发生在成熟末期;β-半乳糖苷酶(β-Gal)与桃果实成熟软化启动密切相关,多聚半乳糖醛酸酶(PG)和纤维素酶(Cx)对桃果实成熟后期快速软化起重要作用。Na2CO3-1溶性果胶多糖的降解与硬溶质型果实采后软化密切相关,KOH-1、KOH-2半纤维素多糖的降解可能促进硬溶质型桃果实成熟软化进程,富含半乳糖醛酸的果胶多糖主链的断裂以及果胶、半纤维素、纤维素中阿拉伯糖、半乳糖等中性糖的降解都可能是果肉软化的重要因素,并有多种多糖降解酶参与其中。     

Pectin Transitions During Blueberry Fruit Development and Ripening

Quantitative and qualitative changes in the pectin composition of “Bluetta” blueberries were determined during fruit development between 30 and 57 days after full bloom. The contribution of alcohol insoluble solids (AIS) to the total fruit mass decreased threefold with maturation, while the pectin contribution decreased twofold in the fruits. Within the AIS fractions during ripening there was a reduction in dilute alkali soluble pectin (DASP) from about 65% to 20% of the AIS. A corresponding increase was observed in water soluble pectin (WSP), from about 20% to 60%, while chelator soluble pectin (CSP) increased slightly.