Maintenance of postharvest quality and bioactive compounds of fresh‐cut sweet leaf bush (Sauropus androgynus L. Merr.) through hot CaCl2 dips

The effects of hot CaCl₂ dips on postharvest quality and bioactive compounds of fresh‐cut sweet leaf bush were investigated. The vegetable was dipped in 0.5% or 1.0% (w/v) of CaCl₂ solutions at 40 °C for 30 s and the control was the untreated sample. Hot CaCl₂ dips significantly delayed the weight loss, maintained the overall quality and inhibited the wiltness (P < 0.05). Both hot CaCl₂ dips had no effect on the changes in lightness (L*) and delayed the decrease in greenness (‐a*) and total chlorophyll content and the increase in both yellowness (b*) and carotenoid content. Hot CaCl₂ dips enhanced total antioxidants, total phenolics content and both AsA‐POD and G‐POD activities from 38.6, 0.44, 15.2 and 22.4 at day 0 to 55.3, 0.55, 50.5 and 362.4 at day 8, respectively. Moreover, hot CaCl₂ dips also delayed the loss of DPPH free radical scavenging activity, total flavonoid, ascorbic acid and CAT activity when compared to other treatments during storage. This study showed that hot CaCl₂ dip maintains postharvest quality and enhanced bioactive compounds of fresh‐cut sweet leaf bush during storage.     

Application of ultrasonic incorporated with calcium gluconate maintains physicochemical quality of pink guavas during short-term storage at room temperature

Food Science and Biotechnology - The effectiveness of simultaneous calcium gluconate (0.5% w/v) (Ca-G) and ultrasonication (Ca-G + US) on physicochemical quality of pink guavas under...     

Ultraviolet-C irradiation maintaining texture and total sugars content of ready to cook baby corn during commercial storage

Food Science and Biotechnology - The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation on the changes in total sugars concentration and texture of ready to cook...     

Efficiency of Ultrasonic Incorporated Glutathione Treatment in Preserving the Physicochemical Quality and Preventing the Browning of Lotus Rhizome Slices

This study investigated the efficacy of 40-kHz (200 W) ultrasonication (US) for 2 min combined with glutathione (GSH) at 0.5% w/v (US + GSH) in preventing browning and preserving the physicochemical quality of lotus rhizome slices stored in a 4 ± 1 °C refrigerator. According to the visual appearance of the slices, US + GSH treatment more effectively inhibited the browning of the cut surface than did GSH or US treatment alone. US + GSH and GSH treatments were more effective than US and control treatments in preserving the slices’ colour attributes, such as their lightness and whiteness index values, and potentially retarded enzymatic browning reactions and increases in browning index and total colour difference values. Moreover, the application of US and US + GSH treatments noticeably preserved the texture of the slices. None of the treatments affected the total sugar content during storage. The US + GSH treatment markedly enhanced the ferric reducing antioxidant potential of the slices during storage. The slices treated with US, GSH, and US + GSH exhibited slower reductions in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity than did the controls. In conclusion, US + GSH treatment is a feasible approach for inhibiting browning, maintaining texture, and inducing antioxidant activity in lotus rhizome slices during storage.     

Physicochemical changes in fresh-cut wax apple (Syzygium samarangenese [Blume] Merrill & L.M. Perry) during storage

Physicochemical changes, such as peel and flesh colours, total anthocyanin content, browning index, firmness, total soluble solid (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), sugar acid ratio (TSS/TA), antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content and ascorbic acid content, in fresh-cut Taaptimjan wax apple fruit stored at 4 ± 2 °C and 12 ± 2 °C for 7 days were investigated. The skin of fresh-cut fruit stored at 4 ± 2 °C showed higher a^∗ value, chroma and total anthocyanin content and lower hue angle than those stored at 12 ± 2 °C. Lightness (L^∗ value) and whiteness index of the fresh-cut fruit flesh stored at 12 ± 2 °C showed significantly lower than those stored at 4 ± 2 °C which related to an significant increase in browning index. Firmness, total soluble solid, titratable acidity and sugar acid ratio did not significant changes during storage. Antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content increased throughout storage. Ascorbic acid content of the fresh-cut fruit stored at 4 ± 2 °C remained constant throughout storage whilst ascorbic content at 12 ± 2 °C decreased and was lower than that at 4 ± 2 °C. At 4 ± 2 °C antioxidant capacity and ascorbic acid content were higher than that stored at 12 ± 2 °C whilst there was no significant difference in total phenolic content. In conclusion, the reduction of whiteness index and the increase in browning index of fresh-cut wax apple flesh were the key factors affecting its quality and storage at 4 ± 2 °C could reduce the change in the flesh colour and maintained the peel colour and nutritional values of fresh-cut wax apple fruit during storage.     

Efficiency of pre-process anoxia treatment on quality of fresh-cut pineapples cv. ‘Phulae’ during storage

The aim of this study was to investigate the competency of pre-process anoxia treatment on physicochemical quality of fresh-cut pineapples cv. ‘Phulae’ during storage. The fruits were kept in anoxia atmosphere (N₂) for 16 h before processing. The fruits were processed immediately after treatment (G1) and after storage at 13 °C for 6 days (G2). Anoxia treatment delayed the weight loss and had no effect on the L* value of both G1 and G2 fresh-cut pineapples. The yellowness (b*) value of G1 fresh-cut pineapple was maintained by anoxia. The PPO activity of anoxia-treated G1 and G2 fresh-cut pineapples was lower than that of untreated fresh-cut fruits (control). Total sugars contents of both G1 and G2 anoxia-treated fresh-cut pineapples trended to be higher than that of control samples. Anoxia had no influence on the total ascorbic acid content during storage. The increases in total bacteria and yeast of both G1 and G2 fresh-cut pineapples were retarded by anoxia. In conclusion, anoxia is a feasible alternative to maintaining quality and delaying microbial increases in fresh-cut pineapples during storage.     

The Effect of 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on Quality and Cell Wall Hydrolases Activities of Fresh-Cut Muskmelon (Cucumis melo var reticulatus L.) During Storage

The effects of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on quality and cell wall hydrolases activities changes in fresh-cut muskmelon fruit stored at 4?±?1 °C for 7 days were investigated. The results showed that ethylene production of the fresh-cut fruit remained constant during refrigerated storage. 1-MCP treatments delayed the loss of fresh weight and the increase in electrolyte leakage and maintained the firmness of the fresh-cut fruit. The best results are showed in the fresh-cut fruit treated with 1.0 μL L^?1 1-MCP. The use of 1-MCP had no influence on the total soluble solids (TSS) content and pH of the fresh-cut fruit which they remained constant over storage. The titratable acidity (TA) of the fresh-cut fruit decreased during storage and the sample treated with 1.0 μL L^?1 1-MCP showed the lowest data. TSS/TA ratio increased during storage and the TSS/TA ratio was lower in 1-MCP-treated samples than that for the control one. The use of 1-MCP inhibited polygalacturonase (PG), β-galactosidase (β-Gal) and β-galactanase activities, whereas the increases in these enzymes activities were found in the control. Antioxidant capacity and total phenolics content of both 1-MCP-treated and untreated samples remained constant over storage. The reduction of total ascorbic acid content was detected after 7 days of storage. The ascorbic acid content in 1-MCP-treated sample was slightly higher, although not significantly different, than that of the control after 7 days. These results suggest that the loss of firmness was the key factor affecting quality of fresh-cut muskmelon fruit and the use of 1-MCP maintained the quality and inhibited the loss of firmness by retarding the increase in electrolyte leakage and inhibiting cell wall hydrolases activities.