Use of hot water treatment to control codling moths in harvested California ‘Bing’ sweet cherries

Preharvest gibberellic acid-treated California ‘Bing’ sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.) were treated with hot water baths (46–58 °C for 0.25–18 min), followed by hydrocooling. The fruit were then stored to simulate either air shipment or sea shipment to overseas markets, both followed by 15 h of shelf life at 20 °C. In separate experiments, cherries were also infested with codling moth larvae and subjected to similar hot water bath heating. The quality attributes showed different sensitivity to the combinations of temperature and time used for hot water bath treatment. Pitting was more common in fruit treated at lower temperatures for longer times, while stem browning was more common in fruit treated at high temperatures. Berry browning, stem color, and pitting were the quality attributes most affected by heat treatment. Browning of cherry stem color was a crucial factor in determining whether a combination of temperature and time for hot water bath treatment was successful. All cherries stored at 0 °C for 14 days to simulate sea shipment were of unacceptable quality after shelf life. Hot water bath treatments that provided 100% codling moth mortality and maintained overall acceptable fruit quality were very limited and included treatments at 50 °C for 10 min and at 54 °C for 6 min. Delaying the hot water bath treatment after fruit harvest, even if the cherries were kept at 0 °C, resulted in a greater loss in fruit quality compared with those treated on the harvest day. Using hot water baths as a quarantine treatment for codling moths (Cydia pomonella) on sweet cherries may be feasible if fruit are air shipped at 5 °C for 2 days, but not suitable if fruit are sea shipped at 0 °C for 14 days.     

Detection of fruit fly infestation in pickling cucumbers using a hyperspectral reflectance/transmittance imaging system

Fruit fly infestation can be a serious problem in pickling cucumber production. In the United States and many other countries, there is zero tolerance for fruit flies in pickled cucumber products. Currently, processors rely on manual inspection to detect and remove fruit fly-infested cucumbers, which is labor intensive and also prone to error due to human fatigue and the difficulty of visually detecting infestation that is hidden inside the fruit. In this research, a laboratory hyperspectral imaging system operated in an integrated mode of reflectance and transmittance was used to detect fruit fly-infested pickling cucumbers. Hyperspectral reflectance (450–740 nm) and transmittance (740–1000 nm) images were acquired simultaneously for 329 normal (infestation-free) and fruit fly-infested pickling cucumbers of three size classes with the mean diameters of 16.8, 22.1, and 27.6 mm, respectively. Mean spectra were extracted from the hyperspectral image of each cucumber, and they were then corrected for the fruit size effect using a diameter correction equation. Partial least squares discriminant analyses for the reflectance, transmittance and their combined data were performed for differentiating normal and infested pickling cucumbers. With reflectance mode, the overall classification accuracies for the three size classes and the mixed class were between 82% and 88%, whereas transmittance achieved better classification results with the overall accuracies of 88–93%. Integration of reflectance and transmittance did not result in noticeable improvements, compared to transmittance mode. The hyperspectral imaging system performed better than manual inspection, which had an overall accuracy of 75% and whose performance decreased significantly for smaller size cucumbers. This research demonstrated that hyperspectral imaging is potentially useful for detecting fruit fly-infested pickling cucumbers.     

Essential oil vapours suppress the development of anthracnose and enhance defence related and antioxidant enzyme activities in avocado fruit

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is a major postharvest disease in avocados that causes significant losses during transportation and storage. Complete inhibition of the radial mycelia growth of C. gloeosporioides in vitro was observed with citronella or peppermint oils at 8 μL plate⁻¹ and thyme oil at 5 μL plate⁻¹. Thyme oil at 66.7 μL L⁻¹ significantly reduced anthracnose from 100% (untreated control) to 8.3% after 4 days, and to 13.9% after 6 days in artificially wounded and inoculated ‘Fuerte’ and ‘Hass’ fruit with C. gloeosporioides. GC/MS analysis revealed thymol (53.19% RA), menthol (41.62% RA) and citronellal (23.54% RA) as the dominant compounds in thyme, peppermint and citronella oils respectively. The activities of defence enzymes including chitinase, 1, 3-β-glucanase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and peroxidase were enhanced by thyme oil (66.7 μL L⁻¹) treatment and the level of total phenolics in thyme oil treated fruit was higher than that in untreated (control) fruit. In addition, the thyme oil (66.7 μL L⁻¹) treatment enhanced the antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase. These observations suggest that the effects of thyme oil on anthracnose in the avocado fruit are due to the elicitation of biochemical defence responses in the fruit and inducing the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Thus postharvest thyme oil treatment has positive effects on reducing anthracnose in avocados.     

UV-B irradiation retards chlorophyll degradation in lime (Citrus latifolia Tan.) fruit

Peel yellowing is a major postharvest problem of lime fruit. Research was conducted to control peel yellowing by UV-B irradiation. Mature green lime fruit were irradiated with UV-B doses at 0 (control), 8.8, and 13.2 kJ m^?2 and then stored at 25 °C in darkness. UV-B treatment at 8.8 kJ m^?2 efficiently delayed the decrease of chlorophyll content. A high level of chlorophyllide a accumulated in mature green fruit and then gradually decreased with the progress of peel yellowing. The chlorophyllide a level was higher in 8.8 kJ m^?2 UV-B-treated fruit than it was in the controls. The pheophorbide a level declined in lime fruit treated with 8.8 kJ m^?2 UV-B, especially during the development of yellowing. In addition, the pheophytin a level increased by 8.8 kJ m^?2 UV-B treatment at the late period of storage. We concluded that UV-B treatment effectively suppressed chlorophyll degradation in mature green lime during storage, which suggests that UV-B irradiation is a usable method for prolonging the postharvest life of lime fruit.     

A model for the softening of nectarines based on sorting fruit at harvest by time-resolved reflectance spectroscopy

Time-resolved reflectance spectroscopy (TRS), allows for the complete optical characterization (in terms of the absorption and scattering coefficients) of diffusive media such as fruit, in the spectral range 600–1100 nm, probing a volume to a depth of about 2 cm. The hypothesis was made that the absorption coefficient at 670 nm (μ_a), near the chlorophyll peak, could be an index of fruit maturity at harvest. The aim of this research was to model nectarine softening for fruit of different maturity at harvest, as assessed by μ_a. Nectarine fruit of two sizes (A and B) were picked in 2002, 2003 (cv ‘Spring Bright’) and 2004 (cv ‘Ambra’), measured by TRS at harvest on two opposite sides and ranked by decreasing μ_a averaged per fruit (increasing maturity). Fruit were stored at 0 °C for 3, 10 and 6 days, then at 20 °C for 79, 120 and 117 h in 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively. Firmness was measured by pressure test (8 mm tip) during shelf life, on two sides of each fruit, and then averaged. Softening at 20 °C followed a logistic model as a function of μ_a at harvest and of time at 20 °C (adjusted R² = 0.85 in ‘Spring Bright’ and 0.75 in ‘Ambra’). The effects of fruit size and cold storage were negligible. The absorption coefficient μ_a explained 13–34% of the variation of firmness. Fruit with different μ_a at harvest softened with the same sigmoidal pattern in time, which was shifted earlier in low μ_a fruit, and later in high μ_a fruit. μ_a accounted for the time shift in softening of individual fruit within the same batch. The value of μ_a can be regarded as an index of the biological age of fruit. By using this model, it is possible to predict individual fruit softening rates at 20 °C.     

Continuous microwave treatment to control postharvest brown rot in stone fruit

Monilinia spp. are the most important causes of brown rot in stone fruit and no chemical fungicides are allowed in the European Union to be applied to stone fruit after harvest. From preliminary studies, microwave (MW) treatments at 17.5 kW for 50 s and 10 kW for 95 s were selected as effective conditions to control brown rot. Both treatments were investigated to control Monilinia fructicola in fruit with different weights and maturity levels and in naturally infected fruit. Fruit weight only had a significant effect on microwave efficacy in ‘Placido’ peaches treated by MW at 10 kW for 95 s in which better brown rot control was observed in small than large fruit. Maturity level did not have a significant effect on efficacy of MW treatments in any of the varieties evaluated. When both MW treatments were studied in naturally infected peaches and nectarines, brown rot incidence was significantly reduced to less than 14% compared with untreated fruit where brown rot incidence was higher than 45%. The effect of both treatments on fruit quality was also evaluated. Fruit firmness was not negatively affected in the varieties tested and even a delay of fruit softening was observed. However, internal damage around the stone was observed, especially in the smallest fruit in which high temperature is achieved at the end of both MW treatments.     

Cold quarantine responses of ‘Tarocco’ oranges to short hot water and thiabendazole postharvest dip treatments

This study investigated the effects of brief hot water and thiabendazole (TBZ) postharvest dip treatments on ultrastructural changes of fruit epicuticular wax (ECW), TBZ residues, decay development and quality traits of ‘Tarocco’ oranges [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbek] subjected to cold quarantine, subsequent simulated transport and shelf-life. Commercially mature fruit were submerged in water at 20 °C (control fruit) or TBZ at 1000 mg/L and 20 °C for 60 s, or in hot water without or with TBZ at 300 mg/L and 53, 56, or 59 °C for 60, 30, and 15 s respectively. Following treatments, fruit were stored for 3 weeks at 1 °C (simulated quarantine conditions for fruit disinfestations against Mediterranean fruit fly, Medfly), followed by 4 days at 3 °C (simulated long distance transport), and finally kept at 20 °C for 3 days (shelf-life, SL). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of ‘Tarocco’ orange surface showed that the typical wax platelets, lifting around edges of wax plates and areas free of epicuticular wax (ECW), that disappeared after hot water dips at 53–59 °C for 60–15 s, become visible again after storage for 21 days at 1 °C (quarantine conditions), and changes involving the appearance of rough ultrastructure, presence large curled plates, fissured wax crusts, and areas with ECW deficiencies, became much more pronounced after shelf-life. These occurrences were related to the transient effect of hot water treatment in decay control. Conversely, treatments with 300 mg/L TBZ 53 °C for 60 s or 56 °C for 30 s effectively reduced decay after quarantine. These treatments were as effective as standard treatment with 1000 mg/L TBZ at 20 °C and produced similar TBZ residue levels in fruit, without impairing fruit quality traits such as visual appearance, weight loss, compression test, sensory attributes, juice color parameters (a*, b*, h, L*, and Chroma), and juice chemical characteristics (soluble solids content, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, glucose, sucrose, citric acid, total phenols, total anthocyanins, and total antioxidant activity).     

Physiology of fresh-cut ‘Galia’ (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus) from ripe fruit treated with 1-methylcyclopropene

‘Galia’ (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus L. Naud. cv. Galia) fruit were harvested at the three-quarter slip stage and treated with 1 μL L⁻¹ 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) at 20 °C for 24 h. The fruit were processed and stored as fresh-cut cubes and intact fruit for 10 d at 5 °C. Ethylene production of fresh-cut cubes was approximately 4–5-fold higher than intact fruit at day 1. Afterward, the ethylene production of fresh-cut cubes declined significantly whereas that of intact fruit remained relatively constant at about 0.69–1.04 ng kg⁻¹ s⁻¹. 1-MCP delayed mesocarp softening in both fresh-cut and intact fruit and the symptoms of watersoaking in fresh-cut fruit. Continuously stored fresh-cut cubes and cubes derived from intact fruit not treated with the ethylene antagonist softened 27% and 25.6%, respectively, during 10 d storage at 5 °C while cubes derived from 1-MCP-treated fruit softened 9% and 17%, respectively. Fresh-cut tissue from 1-MCP-treated fruit exhibited slightly reduced populations of both total aerobic organisms and Enterobacterium, although the differences did not appear to be sufficient to explain the differences in keeping quality between 1-MCP-treated and control fruit. Based primarily on firmness retention and reduced watersoaking, 1-MCP treatment deferred loss of physical deterioration of fresh-cut ‘Galia’ cubes at 5 °C by 2–3 d compared with controls.     

Ethylene synthesis,ripening capacity,and superficial scald inhibition in 1-MCP treated ‘d’Anjou’ pears are affected by storage temperature

A continuing challenge for commercializing 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) to extend the storage life and control superficial scald of ‘d’Anjou’ pear (Pyrus communis L.) is how to initiate ripening in 1-MCP treated fruit. ‘D’Anjou’ pears harvested at commercial and late maturity were treated with 1-MCP at 0.15 μL L⁻¹ and stored either at the commercial storage temperature −1.1 °C (1-MCP@−1.1 °C), or at 1.1 °C (1-MCP@1.1 °C) or 2.2 °C (1-MCP@2.2 °C) for 8 months. Control fruit stored at −1.1 °C ripened and developed significant scald within 7 d at 20 °C following 3–5 months of storage. While 1-MCP@−1.1 °C fruit did not develop ripening capacity due to extremely low internal ethylene concentration (IEC) and ethylene production rate for 8 months, 1-MCP@1.1 °C fruit produced significant amounts of IEC during storage and developed ripening capacity with relatively low levels of scald within 7 d at 20 °C following 6–8 months of storage. 1-MCP@2.2 °C fruit lost quality quickly during storage. Compared to the control, the expression of ethylene synthesis (PcACS1, PcACO1) and signal (PcETR1, PcETR2) genes was stable at extremely low levels in 1-MCP@−1.1 °C fruit. In contrast, they increased expression after 4 or 5 months of storage in 1-MCP@1.1 °C fruit. Other genes (PcCTR1, PcACS2, PcACS4 and PcACS5) remained at very low expression regardless of fruit capacity to ripen. A storage temperature of 1.1 °C can facilitate initiation of ripening capacity in 1-MCP treated ‘d’Anjou’ pears with relatively low scald incidence following 6–8 months storage through recovering the expression of certain ethylene synthesis and signal genes.     

Blueberry leaf extracts incorporated chitosan coatings for preserving postharvest quality of fresh blueberries

The phenolic compounds in blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) fruit and leaf extracts (BLE) were determined based on HPLC analysis. Antimicrobial assays against Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli, as well as fungi isolated from the rotting blueberry fruit were conducted. The effects of chitosan coating incorporating different concentrations of BLE on the quality of fresh fruit during postharvest storage at 2 ± 1 °C and 95 ± 2% relative humidity (RH) for 35 d and then at room conditions for 3 d were also investigated. Five different coating treatments were applied including 2% (w/v) chitosan coating (T1), 2% (w/v) chitosan coating containing 4% (w/v, T2), 8% (w/v, T3), or 12% (w/v, T4) BLE, and 2% (w/v) chitosan coating containing 12% BLE plus modified atmosphere packaging (MAP at 3 kPa O₂ + 12 kPa CO₂) (T5). A sample of blueberries dipped into distilled water was used as control (T0). BLE had a greater variety of phenolic compounds than fruit extracts with syringic acid the highest concentration (0.259 ± 0.003 g kg⁻¹), but the total phenolic content in BLE was lower (P < 0.05) than in fruit extracts. BLE showed good antimicrobial activity against all tested microorganisms, with a minimum inhibition concentration from 25 to 50 g L⁻¹. The 2% chitosan coating that incorporated 8% or 12% BLE showed some degree of decreasing decay rate of fruit compared with the control, and the coating with BLE plus MAP had more effective control of fruit decay. All treated samples maintained higher total phenolic content and radical scavenging activity than the control. This study suggested that chitosan coating incorporating BLE can be employed to extend shelf-life and maintain high nutritional value of fresh blueberries during postharvest storage.     

Phomopsis longanae Chi-induced pericarp browning and disease development of harvested longan fruit in association with energy status

The effects of Phomopsis longanae Chi infection on browning development and disease incidence in relation to energy status in pericarp of harvested longan fruit were investigated. Longan fruit were inoculated for 5 min with P. longanae at 10⁴ spores mL⁻¹, while fruit dipped in sterile deionized water were used as control. These fruits were stored at (28 ± 1) °C and 90% relative humidity for up to five days. The results showed that the browning index, disease incidence, cellular membrane permeability and AMP content increased but the contents of ATP and ADP, and energy charge decreased in pericarp of longan fruit infected by P. longanae. It was suggested that P. longanae infection caused energy deficiency in longan fruit, possibly resulting in accelerated senescence and decreased resistance to pathogen, and thus promoted browning development and disease occurrence.     

Degreening behavior in ‘Fallglo’ and ‘Lee × Orlando’ is correlated with differential expression of ethylene signaling and biosynthesis genes

Two citrus types (‘Fallglo’ and ‘Lee × Orlando’) exhibiting differential fruit degreening response when treated with ethylene were selected. Fruit were harvested at commercial maturity but at different developmental periods (Harvest I, II and III). Rate of color change was greater in ‘Fallglo’ than in ‘Lee × Orlando’ when fruit were treated with 5 μL L⁻¹ of ethylene for 24 h. After 24 h of transfer of fruit to ethylene-free storage, rate of change decreased in ‘Fallgo’ and exhibited varied response in ‘Lee × Orlando’ depending on harvest date. ‘Fallglo’ fruit from Harvests I and II were completely degreened at the end of storage for 7 d; however ‘Lee × Orlando’ were not and were green in color. No difference in seedling triple response was observed between ‘Fallglo’ and ‘Lee × Orlando’ and sequences of the four ethylene receptors were identical between them. Expression of genes involved in ethylene biosynthesis and signaling pathways were studied in flavedo to test if differences in these pathways were correlated with differential ethylene sensitivity of the citrus types. Basal levels of ACS2 and ACO expressions declined as maturity progressed, and ethylene-induced expression of ACS1 and ACO were influenced by fruit maturity. At Harvests I and II, ethylene-induced increase in ACS1 and ACO expressions and ACC levels were greater in ‘Fallglo’ than in ‘Lee × Orlando’. Ethylene treatment influenced MACC content only during Harvest I in ‘Lee × Orlando’. MACC levels were generally higher in ‘Lee × Orlando’ than in ‘Fallglo’. Expressions of ETR1 and ETR2 were ethylene responsive in ‘Fallglo’ and only ETR1 expression was ethylene responsive in ‘Lee × Orlando’. Ethylene had more impact on ETR1 expression in ‘Fallglo’ than in ‘Lee × Orlando’. Ethylene had a negative effect on ETR3 expression which was more pronounced in ‘Lee × Orlando’ than in ‘Fallglo’. Expressions of ERS1, CTR1, EIN2, EIL1 and EIL2 were not affected by ethylene in both citrus types. Expression of chlorophyllase gene and rate of total chlorophyll degradation were higher in ‘Fallglo’ than in ‘Lee × Orlando’ during ethylene treatment. Differential degreening behavior of ‘Fallglo’ and ‘Lee × Orlando’ correlated with peel maturity, and factor(s) downstream of ethylene signaling but upstream of ethylene biosynthesis play a role in the differential sensitivity.     

Volatile profiles of ripening West Indian and Guatemalan-West Indian avocado cultivars as affected by aqueous 1-methylcyclopropene

Separate experiments were conducted with three major commercial avocado (Persea americana Mill.) cultivars grown in Florida: ‘Simmonds’ (early-season, West Indian race); ‘Booth 7’ (mid-season, Guatemalan-West Indian hybrid); and ‘Monroe’ (late-season, Guatemalan-West Indian hybrid). Fruit were harvested at preclimacteric stage and left untreated (Control) or treated 24 h after harvest with aqueous 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) at 1.39 (treatment M1) or 2.77 μmol L⁻¹ a.i. (treatment M2) (75 or 150 μg L⁻¹) for 1 min at 20 °C. Whole fruit ripening was monitored at 20 °C/92% ± 3% R.H. and based on whole fruit firmness, respiration and ethylene evolution. Fruit volatiles were assessed at preclimacteric (24 h after harvest), mid-ripe (half of initial fruit firmness) and ripe maturity stages, from 100 g of chopped pulp using a purge and trap system. Untreated, firmer fruit ‘Monroe’ (268 N at harvest) ripened within 12 d of harvest while softer fruit ‘Simmonds’ (118 N) ripened within only 6 d. 1-MCP treatment extended ripening time from 33% (M1) to 83% (M2). All fruit softened normally, indicating the potential benefits of aqueous 1-MCP as a postharvest treatment for avocado when applied at these concentrations. Volatile profiles differed among the three cultivars with several compounds detected in only one cultivar, results that may contribute to a potential identification of the origin of the cultivar based on fruit volatile composition. The West Indian cultivar ‘Simmonds’ had much higher emission of hexanal (preclimacteric fruit) and cis-3-hexenal and cis-3-hexen-1-ol (ripe fruit) than the Guatemalan-West Indian hybrids ‘Booth 7’ and ‘Monroe’. On the other hand, these latter hybrids had much higher levels of alkanes than ‘Simmonds’. Treatment with 1-MCP increased emissions of alkanes during ripening of ‘Booth 7’ and ‘Monroe’. Total volatiles of avocado decreased during ripening mainly due to the significant reduction of sesquiterpenes, the main group of volatiles in all cultivars at harvest (‘Simmonds’, 53%; ‘Booth 7’, 78%; ‘Monroe’, 66%). β-Caryophyllene was the major compound at harvest, but decreased to less than 2% in ripe fruit, at which point most sesquiterpenes were not detected. Among the 10 sesquiterpenes commonly found in the avocado cultivars in this study, only α-Copaene had significantly higher emissions in mid-ripe fruit treated with the higher concentration of 1-MCP (2.77 μmol L⁻¹ a.i.), suggesting that ethylene participates in the regulation of this sesquiterpene.     

Effects of gamma and UV-C irradiation on the postharvest control of papaya anthracnose

Anthracnose is the main postharvest disease in papaya fruit. Today, there is considerable interest on alternative methods of control to promote resistance against pathogens and supplement or replace the use of fungicides. The goal of this work was to evaluate the effects of gamma and UV-C irradiation on Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, the causal agent of anthracnose. Mycelial growth, sporulation, and conidial germination were evaluated in vitro after fungal exposition to different irradiation doses. In the in vivo assays, ‘Golden’ papaya fruit were inoculated through subcuticular injections of a conidial suspension or mycelium discs. Next, fruit were submitted to different irradiation doses (0, 0.12, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 kGy), using Co⁶⁰ as source, or UV-C (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.84, 1.3, and 2.4 kJ m⁻²). To check the possibility of resistance induction by irradiation, papayas were also inoculated 24, 48, or 72 h after the treatments. The fruit were stored at 25 °C/80% RH for 7 days and evaluated for incidence and rot severity. The results showed that the 0.75 and 1 kGy doses inhibited conidial germination and mycelial growth in vitro. All doses increased fungal sporulation. The 0.75 and 1 kGy doses reduced anthracnose incidence and severity, but did not reduce them when the fruit were inoculated after irradiation. All UV-C doses inhibited conidial germination and those higher than 0.84 kJ m⁻² inhibited mycelial growth. The 0.4, 0.84, and 1.3 kJ m⁻² UV-C doses reduced fungal sporulation in vitro. There was no effect of UV-C doses and time intervals between treatment and inoculation on anthracnose control and fungal sporulation in fruit lesions. Moreover, all UV-C doses caused scald on the fruit. Thus, gamma irradiation can contribute for the reduction of postharvest losses caused by anthracnose and reduce the use or doses of fungicides on disease control.     

Wound response in orange as a resistance mechanism against Penicillium digitatum (pathogen) and P. expansum (non-host pathogen)

Penicillium digitatum is the most devastating postharvest pathogen of citrus. In addition, Penicillium expansum is the main pathogen of pome fruit, although recent studies have demonstrated its ability to infect oranges under some conditions. In this study, we evaluated wound response in ‘Valencia’ oranges harvested at three different maturity stages and the effect of wound response on the establishment of both pathogens when fruit were stored at two different temperatures (20 and 4 °C). The effect of wounding and pathogen inoculation on lignin content, was also quantified. Lastly, the expression of several phenylpropanoid pathway-related genes was also analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Results indicated that, in general, P. digitatum exhibited lower decay incidence and severity as time between wounding and inoculation increased. Decay incidence and severity were higher in fruit from the over-mature harvest than in fruit from immature and commercial harvests. P. expansum was able to infect fruit at 20 °C but lesions were small compared to lesion size of fruit stored at 4 °C. Lignin content in wounded fruit (control) and in samples wounded and inoculated with P. expansum was highest in fruit from the immature harvest at 7 d post-wounding and inoculation. Wounded fruit had higher expression of pal1, comt1 and pox1 genes at 48 h than at 24 h. However, samples inoculated with P. digitatum showed lower expression at 48 h than at 24 h. Our results indicated that maturity and storage temperature play an important role in orange wound response.     

UV-C inactivation of Escherichia coli and dose uniformity on apricot fruit in a commercial setting

A UV-C treatment system (two treatment chambers connected by an inclined belt to rotate apricots between chambers) was tested in a commercial setting. Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, used as a surrogate for E. coli O157:H7 to determine the system's antimicrobial efficacy, was inoculated onto fruit surfaces at a population of 6.8 log CFU/fruit. UV-C dosage was evaluated by attaching film dosimeters to six fixed locations on each apricot. Results suggested that reduction of inoculated E. coli ATCC 25922 populations on the apricot fruit by UV-C treatment was small (only 0.5–0.7 logs). There were large variations in UV-C doses among varying apricot surface locations. Approximately 1/3 of apricots had individual surfaces receiving less than 0.2 kJ m⁻² UV-C exposure, even though fruit received, on average, more than 1 kJ m⁻². Low reductions of E. coli may be attributed, in part, to non-uniform UV-C exposure. This study demonstrates the need to use a fruit rotation device more capable of delivering uniform UV-C dosage to the surface of apricots for inactivating bacteria in a commercial setting.     

Bruise susceptibility of banana peel in relation to genotype and post-climacteric storage conditions

The aim of this study was to understand the genotypic factors and post-climacteric storage conditions that affect bruise susceptibility of banana peel. Putative physicochemical indicators of bruise susceptibility, including peel electrolyte leakage (PEL), total polyphenolic content, hardness, water content, and peel thickness, were investigated. Bruise susceptibility is the lowest impact energy needed to produce visible bruising by an object dropped on post-climacteric banana fruit from a pre-determined height, converted into impact energy (20–200 mJ with a 20 mJ increment). The bananas were stored either at 18 °C throughout ripening or at 13 °C between the 2nd and 6th day after ethylene induction. Five cultivars with contrasting susceptibility to impact bruises were used. Neither Grande Naine nor hybrid Flhorban925 bruised at the maximum impact energy (200 mJ) during ripening whatever the storage conditions. A gradient in bruise susceptibility was observed among the other cultivars: French Corne > Fougamou > hybrid Flhorban916. Bruise susceptibility increased during ripening and was higher in bananas stored at 18 °C. The lower ripening temperature resulted in a two-day delay to fruit maturity as well as in bruise susceptibility. Bruise susceptibility was positively correlated with PEL (R = 0.78) and to a lesser extent negatively correlated with hardness (R = −0.45), and was not correlated with polyphenolic content. In conclusion, membrane permeability provides the first clue to understanding bruise susceptibility.     

Role of putrescine in regulating fruit softening and antioxidative enzyme systems in ‘Samar Bahisht Chaunsa’ mango

The role of putrescine (PUT) in regulating fruit softening, antioxidative enzymes and biochemical changes in fruit quality was investigated during ripening and cold storage of mango (Mangifera indica cv. Samar Bahisht Chaunsa). Fruit were treated with various PUT concentrations (0.0, 0.1, 1.0 and 2.0 mM) and were allowed to ripen at 32 ± 2 °C for 7 days, or stored at 11 ± 1 °C for up to 28 days. Respiration rate and ethylene production were measured daily during ripening and cold storage. Cell wall degrading enzymes such as exo-polygalacturonase (exo-PG), endo-polygalacturonase (endo-PG), pectin esterase (PE), endo-1,4-β-d-glucanase (EGase), antioxidative enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX), and catalase (CAT), fruit firmness as well as biochemical fruit quality characteristics were estimated during ripening and cold storage at 2 and 7 day intervals, respectively. PUT treatments reduced respiration rate, ethylene production and maintained higher fruit firmness during ripening as well as cold storage. PUT-treated fruit exhibited significantly suppressed activities of cell wall enzymes (exo-, endo-PG and EGase), but retained higher PE activity during ripening and cold storage. Total phenolic and antioxidant contents were significantly higher in PUT-treated fruit during ripening as well in the cold storage period than in the controls. Activities of antioxidative enzymes (CAT, POX and SOD) were also significantly higher in PUT-treated fruit during ripening as well as cold storage. SSC and SSC:TA were lower in PUT-treated fruit, while TA and ascorbic acid content showed the reverse trend. In conclusion, pre-storage 2.0 mM PUT treatment inhibited ethylene production and suppressed the activities of cell wall enzymes, while resulting in higher activities of antioxidative enzymes and maintaining better fruit quality during ripening and cold storage.     

Hot water dipping treatments on Tarocco orange fruit and their effects on peel essential oil

The most common and serious diseases which affect citrus fruit after harvest in Italy are induced by Penicillium digitatum Sacc. and Penicillium italicum Weh., responsible respectively for green and blue mold rots. This paper deals with the effectiveness of hot water dipping (HWD) treatments as alternative means to control postharvest decay on Tarocco orange fruit [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck], and their effect on fruit quality with special regard to peel essential oils. Selected treatments were HWD at 52 °C for 180 s and at 56 °C for 20 s. These treatments were compared with an effective fungicide standard treatment (Imazalil) and an untreated control. The results showed that HWD at 56 °C for 20 s was more effective in inhibiting P. digitatum spore germination than HWD at 52 °C for longer exposure time. In addition, HWD treatment at 56 °C significantly increased the level of alcohols, esters and aliphatic (fatty) aldehydes. Therefore, the lowest values of decay incidence recorded in HWD fruit treated at 56 °C may be due to the increase in oxygenated monoterpenes, esters and aldehydes. Finally, HWD treatments did not cause surface damage or color change and did not influence internal quality parameters.