Physical and chemical changes in developing strawberry fruits

Strawberry fruits of thevariety Red Gauntlet were harvested at 7 day intervals after petal fall. Changes in fruit weight, percentages survival on the plant, chlorophyll: carotenoid and anthocyanin, titratable acid, pH of extracts and sugar content were measured. Also changes in soluble and total pectic polysaccharides in alcoholinsoluble residues of harvested fruits were followed during development. Fruit growth was not exponential and in later stages of growth the falling survival rate was correlated to fruit softening. Net synthesis of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments took place up to 28 days and anthocyanin synthesis commenced 28 to 35 days after petal fall. The sugar content of berries increased with time and titratable acid concentrations increased slightly during development, falling in ripening fruits. The specific viscosity of soluble pectic polysaccharides fell from 28 days after petal fall. There was net synthesis of polyuronide but not neutral polysaccharide during the development of fruits and the amount of insoluble pectic polysaccharide became small and relatively constant compared with the amount of soluble polysaccharide by 21 days after petal fall. Fruits undergoing senescence lost almost all their insoluble pectic polysaccharides. The developmental processes taking place in growing fruits, especially with respect to changes in cell wall structure, and the relevance of results to fruit storage are discussed.     

红肉桃果实发育过程中色素含量及PAL活性的变化

研究红肉桃"天仙红"在发育过程中果皮和果肉中各种色素含量变化及苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)活性变化,并对其变化进行相关性分析。结果表明:随着果实生长,红肉桃果肉及果皮中叶绿素及类胡萝卜素含量均呈逐渐下降趋势。果皮及果肉中花青素在果实成熟期出现,其含量呈现逐渐上升趋势,红肉桃果肉及果皮的花青素含量最大值分别为27.8、48.7mg/100g·FW。在整个生长发育过程中,PAL活性不断波动,有逐渐减小的趋势。通过相关性分析得出红肉桃中花青素含量与叶绿素含量变化呈负相关,红肉桃在成熟期时果肉中PAL活性与花青素含量呈显著正相关。由此可见,红肉桃中叶绿素含量下降引起花青素的合成,PAL是红肉桃成熟期果肉中促使花青素合成的关键酶。     

套袋对红地球葡萄果实色素形成及PPO和PAL活性的影响

以红地球葡萄为试材,研究了套袋对葡萄果皮色素形成及多酚氧化酶(PPO)、苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)活性的影响。结果表明:套袋处理总体上降低了葡萄果皮叶绿素、类胡萝卜素、花青苷、类黄酮、总酚含量及PPO活性,且类黄酮、总酚、PPO等物质含量的变化与花青苷含量的变化具有显著或极显著的相关性;葡萄果皮花青苷含量与果皮PAL活性二者并非呈简单的正相关关系,套袋处理明显降低了二者的相关系数;但未显著影响葡萄果皮着色,说明红地球可能为散射光着色品种。     

Comparative study of the effect of the maturation process of the olive fruit on the chlorophyll and carotenoid fractions of drupes and virgin oils from Arbequina and Farga cultivars

Two varieties of olive fruit (Arbequina and Farga) have been characterized by their contents and types of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments during the olive ripening. Independently of the initial content, the pigment concentrations decreased with fruit maturity. Chlorophyllides a and b, esterified xanthophylls and α-carotene were only detected in Arbequina fruits. Moreover, the synthesis of esterified xanthophylls, when the skin fruit colour changed from green to turning-colour only, was observed in this variety. The pigments transferred from fruit to the oil were also studied. All the pigments that were found in the fruit were transferred to the oils, in addition to derivative pigments associated with acidic medium in the oil extraction process. The destruction of the chlorophyll fraction was greater than of the yellow pigments during the olive oil extraction process.     

‘澳洲青苹’果实解袋后果皮花青苷合成的变化

以‘澳洲青苹’为材料,测定套袋果实(对照组)与解袋后(处理组)果实果皮色泽参数、花青苷含量、多酚类物质含量以及与花青苷合成相关的调控基因(Md MYB1、Mdb HLH3、Mdb HLH33、Md TTG1)和结构基因(Md CHS、Md DFR、Md ANS、Md UFGT)表达水平的变化。结果显示:光是影响果实着色的重要因素,套袋遮光抑制了果实着色,套袋果实解袋后果皮L*、b*值逐渐降低,a*值逐渐升高,果实红色加深;套袋抑制了果皮花青苷和黄酮醇合成,套袋果实解袋后果皮中矢车菊素-3-O-半乳糖苷、槲皮素-3-半乳糖苷和槲皮素-3-芦丁糖苷的含量逐渐升高,而套袋对其他的酚类物质影响不显著;套袋抑制了与花青苷合成相关基因的表达,套袋果实解袋曝光后,果皮中与花青苷相关调控基因和结构基因的表达水平均存在不同程度的升高,并且与果皮中花青苷含量变化的趋势基本一致,表明‘澳洲青苹’果实解袋后,果皮中与花青苷合成相关的基因迅速表达,从而促进了果皮中花青苷合成,而套袋抑制了果皮中与花青苷合成的相关基因的表达,从而抑制了花青苷合成。     

套袋对红地球葡萄果皮色素和果实品质的影响

以红地球葡萄为试材,研究了不同栽培条件下套袋对葡萄果皮花青苷、叶绿素含量及果实品质的影响。结果表明,红古地区露地栽培条件下,套袋降低了可溶性固形物、总糖、花青苷、叶绿素含量,增加了可滴定酸含量;临泽地区在设施栽培条件下套白纸袋增加了可溶性固形物、总糖、花青苷含量,降低了可滴定酸、叶绿素含量。套袋对氨基酸含量影响不大,但设施延后栽培的红地球各处理氨基酸含量均高于露地。     

Change in anthocyanin concentrations in red apricot fruits during ripening

Here we report on accumulation patterns of anthocyanins and of β-carotene during fruit maturation, between 82 and 125 days after flowering, of two apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) cultivars, A3576 and A3751. Both cultivars displayed an intense red colour of the skin but differed in their genetic background. The pigments were extracted from skin and flesh, separately, and analysed using HPLC-DAD-MS. Out of three anthocyanins detected here, the major compound, cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside was present at 75%. The two minor compounds were cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and peonidin-3-O-rutinoside. This is the first time that peonidin-3-O-rutinoside has been detected in apricot fruit. During maturation, A3751 accumulated anthocyanins in both skin and flesh, whereas anthocyanins were present only in the skin of A3576. The skin anthocyanin content was higher in A3751 (296 mg kg⁻¹) than in A3576 (41 mg kg⁻¹). Maximum anthocyanin levels were attained after 108 and 118 days of flowering in A3751 and A3576, respectively, in conjunction with loss of firmness and red colour acquisition on the un-blushed side of the fruit. At the end of ripening, the β-carotene flesh concentration reached 5 mg kg⁻¹ in A3576 and 15 mg kg⁻¹ in A3751. A significant effect of environment was observed on the anthocyanin content in the two cultivars.     

超红桃和日川白沙桃果实发育过程中色素及酚类物质含量变化研究

以超红桃和日川白沙桃果实为试材,研究二者果实发育过程中叶绿素、类胡萝卜素、花青苷、类黄酮和酚类物质的变化规律,探讨花青苷与色素和酚类物质的关系。结果表明：在发育过程中,与日川白沙桃相比,超红桃果皮叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量低且下降快,花青苷含量高且上升多;而超红桃果肉早期色素含量较低,后期含量较高,类黄酮含量呈下降趋势;酚类物质含量呈先降后升趋势;花青苷含量与其他色素和酚类物质含量总体呈现负相关,仅个别指标例外。     

Time of methyl jasmonate application influences the development of ‘Cripps Pink’ apple fruit colour

BACKGROUND: The effects of time and numbers of pre‐harvest sprays of methyl jasmonate (MJ) on the development of red blush, export‐grade fruit, accumulation of flavonoids in fruit skin and quality of ‘Cripps Pink’ apple were investigated in 2005 and 2006. In the first experiment during 2005, whole trees were sprayed once with 10 mmol L^?1 MJ at weekly intervals from 155 to 183 days after full bloom (DAFB). In second experiment during 2006, different numbers of sprays (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6) of 5 mmol L^?1 MJ were applied from 151 to 179 DAFB. RESULTS: A single spray of MJ (10 mmol L^?1) at 169 DAFB resulted in the highest increase in the red blush, export‐grade fruit, accumulation of anthocyanins, cyanidin 3‐galactosides, chlorogenic acid, phloridzin, flavanols and flavonols in fruit skin as compared to all other treatments without affecting fruit quality. A single spray of 5 mmol L^?1 MJ at 186 DAFB was more effective in improving red blush, export‐grade fruit and accumulation of anthocyanins in fruit skin as compared to its multiple applications. The exposed sides of fruit developed better colour than the shaded sides, regardless of time and numbers of MJ sprays. Time of a single spray of MJ is more effective than its multiple applications. CONCLUSIONS: A single pre‐harvest spray of MJ (10 mmol L^?1) at 169 DAFB or MJ (5 mmol L^?1) at 186 DAFB was effective in improving the red blush and export grade fruit through accumulation of flavonoids in fruit skin without adversely affecting quality at harvest. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Quality changes in pomegranates during ripening and cold storage

The changes in the quality parameters of Spanish pomegranate fruit (cultivar Mollar) during ripening and during 7 weeks of cold storage at 5°C and 90–95% relative humidity were studied. The fruit and seed weights, as well as the surface colour increased with ripening. Total soluble solids (TSS), pH and titratable acidity (TA) did not show significant differences during the weeks studied (from the 26th to 32nd weeks after flowering), but the seeds' colour (Lab values) and juice colour (absorbance at 510 nm) showed an increase during this period with a maximum during the last 2 weeks. These results indicate that pomegranates should be harvested during the 31st to the 32nd after flowering, in order to get the best pigmentation without a decrease in other quality parameters. The anthocyanin profile changed during the different maturity stages, since the diglucoside derivatives were the prevailing pigments during the early ripening stages, whereas the monoglucoside derivatives were the main pigments in the latter stages. After cold storage of pomegranates harvested at two maturity stages, no differences in TSS, pH, TA and skin colour were observed. In addition, seeds' and juice colour did not decrease during storage. Hence, this study supports the theory that pomegranate is a nonclimacteric fruit and that pomegranates can be stored for at least 45 days without deterioration in the fruit quality.     

Physiological age at harvest regulates the variability in postharvest ripening, sensory and nutritional characteristics of mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Coghshall due to growing conditions

BACKGROUND: Climacteric fruits are harvested at the green‐mature stage and ripen during their marketing cycle. However, growing conditions induce variability into the maturity stage of mangoes at harvest, with an impact on their final quality. Assuming that the physiological age can be correctly evaluated by a criterion based on the variable chlorophyll fluorescence of the skin (F_v) and that differences in physiological age depend on growing conditions, controlled stress experiments were carried out on mango fruit by manipulating either the leaf/fruit ratio or the light environment. RESULTS: Delays from 9 to 30 days were observed, depending on stress level and harvest stage, to obtain the same F_v value. For moderate stress, fruit composition after ripening was partially compensated for, with little or no difference in sugar, dry matter, carotenoid and aroma contents. For more pronounced stress, the major metabolites were not particularly affected, but the synthesis capacity of carotenoids and aromas was lower after maturity. CONCLUSION: The ripening ability of a fruit is acquired on the tree and defines its postharvest changes. Control of the physiological age at harvest can minimise the variability observed under natural conditions and guarantee fruit batches whose postharvest changes will be relatively homogeneous. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

The effect of bunch shading on berry development and flavonoid accumulation in Shiraz grapes

Opaque boxes were applied to bunches of Shiraz grapes prior to flowering to determine the effect of sunlight on berry development and accumulation of flavonoids. The boxes were designed to maintain airflow while excluding light and thus to minimise changes in temperature and humidity. There was no significant effect of shading on sugar accumulation and in two of the three seasons studied there was no effect on berry weight. Chlorophyll concentration was much lower in the shaded fruit, which appeared pale yellow until veraison. The fruit coloured normally in the shaded bunches and in two of the three seasons there was no significant change in anthocyanin content. Expression of the gene encoding UDP-glucose flavonoid-3-O-glucosyl transferase (UFGT), a key gene in anthocyanin synthesis, increased after veraison and was similar in both shaded and exposed fruit. Anthocyanin composition was altered in the shaded fruit, which had a greater proportion of the dioxygenated anthocyanins, the glucosides of cyanidin and peonidin. Shading had no significant effect on the levels of condensed tannins in the skin or seeds of ripe fruit. Shading significantly reduced the levels of flavonols in the grape skin. In the exposed fruit, flavonol concentration was highest around flowering then declined as the berries grew, but there was an increase in flavonols per berry during ripening. When the boxes were applied before flowering, shaded fruit had much lower levels of flavonols throughout berry development and at harvest the level of flavonols were less than 10% of that in exposed fruit. A gene encoding flavonol synthase (FLS) was expressed at flowering and during ripening in exposed grapes but its expression was greatly reduced in shaded fruit. The results indicate that shading had little effect on berry development and ripening, including accumulation of anthocyanins and tannins, but significantly decreased flavonol synthesis.     

外源蔗糖对萝卜幼苗品质及代谢酶活性的影响

以“满堂红”品种的萝卜为材料,探究不同质量浓度的外源蔗糖喷洒处理对不同生长天数的萝卜幼苗营养品质（花青素、叶绿素、类胡萝卜素、总酚和芥子油苷等含量）及代谢酶（过氧化物酶（peroxidase,POD）和苯丙氨酸解氨酶（phenylalanine ammonialyase,PAL））活性的影响。结果表明：对于生长3、5 d和7 d的萝卜幼苗,0.4 g/100 mL和0.6 g/100 mL蔗糖处理均能够显著提高其花青素、叶绿素、类胡萝卜素、总酚、芥子油苷含量及POD、PAL活性（P＜0.05）,而0.2 g/100 mL蔗糖处理对其营养物质含量及抗氧化性的影响不显著（P＞0.05）;0.4 g/100 mL和0.6 g/100 mL蔗糖处理在改善其营养价值方面的差别不大。因此,在农业生产中,可采用质量浓度0.4 g/100 mL蔗糖喷洒处理萝卜幼苗来提高其营养价值。     

红宝石无核和红地球葡萄果实着色与糖、酸含量的关系

以避雨栽培条件下欧亚种葡萄红宝石无核和红地球为试材,测定套袋果实果皮中的色素(叶绿素、类胡萝卜素、花色苷)及果肉中的总糖、总酸含量,分析果实着色与果肉糖、酸含量的关系.结果表明,在果实成熟过程中,果肉中的糖、酸含量是果实着色的重要影响因子,红宝石无核和红地球果皮中的叶绿素、类胡萝卜素、花色苷的含量与果肉中糖积累的相关性均达到极显著水平,与果肉中的酸含量均呈极显著的负相关.     

The effects of different UV‐B radiation intensities on morphological and biochemical characteristics in Ocimum basilicum L.

BACKGROUND: The effects of short‐term ultraviolet B (UV‐B) irradiation on sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L. cv. Cinnamon) plants at the 3–4 leaf pair and flowering stages were examined in controlled environment growth chambers. Plants were exposed to 0 (reference), 2 and 4 kJ UV‐B m^?2 day^?1 over 7 days. RESULTS: Exposure of basil plants to supplementary UV‐B light resulted in increased assimilating leaf area, fresh biomass and dry biomass. Stimulation of physiological functions in young basil plants under either applied UV‐B dose resulted in increased total chlorophyll content but no marked variation in carotenoid content. At the flowering stage the chlorophyll and carotenoid contents of basil were affected by supplementary UV‐B radiation, decreasing with enhanced UV‐B exposure. Both total antioxidant activity (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl free radical assay) and total phenolic compound content were increased by UV‐B light supplementation. Young and mature basil plants differed in their ascorbic acid content, which was dependent on UV‐B dose and plant age. UV‐B radiation resulted in decreased nitrate content in young basil plants (3–4 leaf pair stage). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the application of short‐exposure UV‐B radiation beneficially influenced both growth parameters and biochemical constituents in young and mature basil plants. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

长相思葡萄生长发育过程中理化指标及氨基酸含量分析

该试验以宁夏银川的张裕摩塞尔酒庄的长相思葡萄（Sauvignon Blanc）为试材,主要测定葡萄浆果生长发育7个时期葡萄的糖、酸和氨基酸含量等主要品质指标,并对果实品质进行主成分分析（PCA）。结果表明,可溶性固形物含量和百粒质量、pH值随着长相思葡萄果实的发育呈上升趋势;可滴定酸、总酚和单宁含量呈下降趋势。从葡萄浆果共检测出16种氨基酸组分,其中胱氨酸从花后40 d到花后90 d呈缓慢下降趋势,在成熟时（花后105 d）增长至130.52 mg/L;甲硫氨酸、苏氨酸、酪氨酸、异亮氨酸和赖氨酸含量在发育过程中保持相对稳定,亮氨酸则从花后40 d的67.77 mg/L持续增长至成熟时的336.75 mg/L,其他9种氨基酸的含量从花后40 d到花后90 d呈增长趋势,在成熟前略有下降。精氨酸与脯氨酸含量的比值从花后50 d快速增加,成熟时达到最大值（5.67）。PCA结果表明长相思葡萄在不同发育时期的氨基酸含量差异较大。     

不同产地库尔勒香梨生育期果实品质变化规律及综合评价

目的 分析库尔勒香梨果实外观品质与营养品质的时空变化规律,比较果实品质的区域差异,对不同产地商品果的品质进行综合评价。方法 采集花后60d~140d内不同产区（新疆库尔勒、阿克苏、甘肃酒泉）的10个果园共计90份库尔勒香梨样品,用常规方法测定单果重、纵径、横径等外观品质指标,通过直接滴定法测定还原糖和总酸的含量,用高效液相色谱法分析果实中的柠檬酸、苹果酸、酒石酸、富马酸、丁二酸和山梨糖醇、果糖、葡萄糖、蔗糖,采用方差分析比较生育期产地的品质差异,通过主成分分析法综合评价果实的品质优劣。结果 库尔勒香梨果实在花后60~140d,随着果实的不断成熟,硬度呈快速下降的趋势,由7.19 N/cm2下降至2.91 N/cm2。还原糖的含量由1.1g/100g上升到7.3g/100g,总酸由3.63g/kg下降到0.71g/kg。成熟期4种糖中果糖、葡萄糖、山梨糖醇占比为99%,5种有机酸中苹果酸和酒石酸占比为96%。果糖∶葡萄糖∶山梨糖醇含量比值由花后60d时的1∶1.5∶7.5上升为花后140d的1∶0.9∶0.6,苹果酸∶酒石酸∶柠檬酸含量比值由花后60d时的1∶0.37∶0.03变化为花后140d的1∶0.27∶0.13,糖酸比由花后60d的24上升到花后140d的174。成熟期三个产地糖类含量无显著差异,横径、果形指数、柠檬酸新疆与甘肃产地存在显著差异（P＜0.05）。主成分分析结果表明,前四个主成分累计方差贡献率为89.14%,果形指数、果糖、横径、山梨糖醇、葡萄糖、苹果酸、总酸可作为库尔勒香梨品质评价的重要指标。结论 库尔勒香梨在花后60d~140d的生育期内,果实中山梨糖醇的比例随着成熟度的增加逐渐降低,果糖和葡萄糖比例显著增加,有机酸以苹果酸和酒石酸为主,呈显著下降趋势,花后140d糖酸比最大,风味最好。在采样果园中库尔勒4个果园的品质最好,酒泉3个果园次之,阿克苏3个果园品质较差。     

Berry size and vine water deficits as factors in winegrape composition: Anthocyanins and tannins

Soluble solids, seed tannin, skin tannin, and skin anthocyanin were measured in fruit from Cabernet Sauvignon vines that had experienced either High, Control or Low water status during ripening. Berries from each treatment were segregated into 6 size categories at harvest in order to test independently for relationships due to size compared with those due to water deficits. Berry content of all solutes increased approximately in proportion to the increase in berry size. Deviations from proportionality caused Brix and anthocyanin concentration (mg per unit berry fresh mass) to decrease, and the concentration of skin tannin to remain unchanged or decrease slightly with increasing berry size. The concentration of seed tannin did not decrease and appeared to increase with berry size in multiple-seeded berries. In comparison with skin tannin or anthocyanin content, seed tannin content varied more with berry size and less with vine water status. In addition to decreasing berry size, water deficits increased the amount of skin tannin and anthocyanin per berry and the concentrations of skin tannin and anthocyanins, but did not significantly affect the content or concentration of seed tannin. The results show that there are effects of vine water status on fruit composition that arise independently of the resultant differences in fruit size. The effect of vine water status on the concentration of skin tannin and anthocyanin was greater than the effect of fruit size on those same variables. However, the increases in skin tannin and anthocyanin that accompanied water deficits appear to result more from differential growth sensitivity of inner mesocarp and exocarp than direct effects on phenolic biosynthesis.     

Non-destructive evaluation of ripening and quality traits in apples using a multiparametric fluorescence sensor

BACKGROUND: The detection of pigments and colourless flavonoids in apples can provide a useful indication of fruit quality. Optical methods are preferable because they are fast and non‐destructive. In this study, a fluorescence‐based portable sensor was used in order to non‐invasively determine the content of chlorophylls, anthocyanins and flavonols in Fuji, Granny Smith and Golden Delicious apple cultivars. The aim was to define new non‐destructive optical indices of apple quality. RESULTS: The anthocyanin index (ANTH) in Fuji was higher in the sunny (i.e. sun‐exposed) side of the fruit compared to the shady side. For all cultivars, the flavonol index (FLAV) was higher in the sunny side compared with the shady side. The chlorophyll index (CHL) for the shady sides of Granny Smith and Golden Delicious was significantly higher than for the sunny sides. Fine linear regressions were found between the ANTH, FLAV and CHL indices and the actual anthocyanin, flavonol and chlorophyll concentrations, respectively, which were determined destructively on the apple peel extracts. A negative correlation was found between the apple sugar content and the chlorophyll fluorescence in the far‐red spectral band. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that a single multiparametric fluorescence‐based sensor can provide valuable non‐destructive markers of ripening and quality in apples. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Non-destructive classification of durian maturity of ‘Monthong’ cultivar by means of visible spectroscopy of the spine

Characteristics of the spine of ‘Monthong’ durian such as color of the tip have been known to be an indicator of fruit maturity. Visible spectroscopy of the spine of durian was investigated for classification of maturity. Partial least squares discriminant analysis was performed to model the classification. The model using absorbance spectra transformed by the standard normal variate achieved the best accuracy of classification (94.7%) into four maturity classes ranging from 113 to 134 days after anthesis. The classification was attributable to the absorbance of chlorophyll a, carotenoids and anthocyanins in the spine.