Climacteric or non-climacteric behavior in melon fruit: 1. Aroma volatiles

A near-isogenic line (NIL) SC3-5 and a further nine NILs of melon contained introgressions of an exotic non-climacteric accession of Cucumis melo ‘Shongwan Charmi’ [SC (PI 161375), Conomon Group)] into the non-climacteric Spanish Inodorus type of melon cultivar ‘Piel de Sapo’ (PS). The NILs exhibited different climacteric behavior and aroma. Fruit from SC3-5 and seven NILs showed a climacteric pattern, while fruit from one NIL, both parentals and the cultivar ‘Nicolás’, were non-climacteric. The NILs were compared with the reference aromatic cultivars ‘Fado’ and ‘Védrantais’, which show climacteric behavior with high levels of respiration and ethylene production. The twenty-eight aromatic compounds common to the cultivars and NILs studied defined the aroma profile, which was composed of fifteen esters, six aldehydes, two alcohols, three derived sulfur compounds (methyldisulfanylmethane; methanethiolate; methyl 2-sulfanylacetate) and other three compounds (1,7,7-trimethylnorbornan-2-one; acetone; 2-ethylfuran). On the basis of the total ion count peak area, three compounds (isobutyl acetate; benzyl acetate; pentanal) allowed the climacteric to be distinguished from the non-climacteric NILs according to univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis of the aroma data on the basis of total ion count peak area separated the aromatic attributes of the climacteric ‘Védrantais’ and ‘Fado’ melons from the NILs that were closer to their inbred parentals when analyzed by partial least squares regression plus discriminant analysis. In the climacteric reference cultivars or NILs, esters were the predominant volatiles while aldehydes predominated in non-climacteric ones. These results support the hypothesis that at least one QTL in linkage group III boosts a series of maturation signals that are characteristic of climacteric fruit, including a different aroma profile.     

Metabolomics of capsicum ripening reveals modification of the ethylene related-pathway and carbon metabolism

Capsicum (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Aries) is a non-climacteric bell-pepper fruit, exhibiting limited ethylene and respiration levels during ripening. In contrast to climacteric fruit, such as tomato which is largely dependent upon ethylene to ripen, the regulation of non-climacteric ripening is still inadequately understood. A metabolomics approach was used to identify differentially abundant compounds between ripening stages with the aim of elucidating metabolic pathways involved in the regulation of non-climacteric ripening. Metabolite profiling using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was initially employed to screen potential metabolite differences among three ripening stages (Green, Breaker Red 1 and Light Red). Targeted analyses using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) or enzymatic assays were subsequently employed to characterise selected metabolites in more ripening stages. Starch, sugars and their derivatives were significantly modified during ripening which may affect the abundance of some glycolysis intermediates and consequently other metabolic pathways involving amino acids, colour and pungency precursors, and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates. Furthermore, metabolites closely related to ethylene production such as cysteine and methionine gradually increased between the ripening stages, whereas putrescine significantly decreased during ripening, suggesting that some parts of the ethylene pathway may still be functional in this non-climacteric fruit. Thus, this study which utilised both profiling and targeted metabolomics, has identified a wide range of metabolites which are involved in various biochemical pathways and highlights the overall metabolic shifts during non-climacteric capsicum ripening.     

Peel tissue α-farnesene and conjugated trienol concentrations during storage of ‘White Angel’בRome Beauty’ hybrid apple selections susceptible and resistant to superficial scald

In a 2-year study, fruit from eight red- and eight yellow-skinned ‘White Angel’בRome Beauty’ hybrid selections were stored for 21 weeks at 0.5°C plus 1 week at 20°C and evaluated for the incidence and severity of superficial scald. Five red-skinned (R-03, R-20, R-22, R-48 and R-85) and three yellow-skinned (Y-26, Y-55 and Y-65) selections were examined in both seasons. Peel-tissue samples taken at 0, 7, 14 and 21 weeks of storage were analyzed for concentrations of α-farnesene and its conjugated trienol (CTol) oxidation products by HPLC with UV detection. Three red-fruited (R-44, R-48 and R-85) and five yellow-fruited (Y-38, Y-40, Y-55, Y-65 and Y-67) lines exhibited scald symptoms. The remaining lines (R-01, R-03, R-16, R-20, R-22, Y-07, Y-26 and Y-28) were free of scald. Overall, production of α-farnesene and accumulation of CTols were not closely correlated with scald susceptibility. Data for the selections most prone to scald, Y-65, Y-40 and R-44, were consistent with the proposed role of α-farnesene oxidation products in scald induction, but for Y-55 and R-48, which developed mild to moderate scald and accumulated very little CTols, the data conflicted with the α-farnesene oxidation–scald induction hypothesis. Also, scald-resistant lines Y-07 and R-22 produced high levels of α-farnesene and reached CTol concentrations comparable to those in several scald-susceptible lines. We conclude that if CTol do play a role in scald induction, there must be other mitigating factors of at least equal importance. Moreover, our findings support the proposal that oxidation products of α-farnesene are not essential for scald development in fruit with severely compromised antioxidative defenses, but free radicals and/or toxic volatiles generated by α-farnesene oxidation can exacerbate scald symptoms.     

石榴果实采后生理变化与贮藏保鲜研究进展

对石榴果实采后成熟衰老过程中发生的生理变化,包括品质变化、呼吸和乙烯释放、冷害以及褐变生理、采后病理等进行论述;为提高石榴果实的贮藏保鲜品质,对石榴贮藏保鲜技术做了详细介绍。     

Effects of exogenous putrescine on improving shelf life of four plum cultivars

Four plum cultivars (‘Golden Japan’, ‘Black Diamond’, ‘Black Star’ and ‘Santa Rosa’) were treated with 1 mM putrescine, and then stored at 20 °C. Storage duration was different for each cultivar, but the effect of putrescine in terms of increased shelf life, delayed ripening process, and higher quality attributes when compared with controls was significant for all cultivars. In addition, putrescine-treated plums showed delay and/or reduction on ethylene production, the intensity of reduction being dependent on the maximum of ethylene production at the climacteric peak. Also, higher fruit and flesh firmness, lower soluble solids concentration and titratable acidity evolution, reduced weight loss and delayed colour changes were found after putrescine treatment during storage. Moreover, higher putrescine and spermidine levels (free forms) were observed in putrescine-treated plums. The results revealed that plum storability could be extended by putrescine treatment due to its effect on delaying the ripening processes.     

Epicuticular wax content and morphology as related to ethylene and storage performance of ‘Navelate’ orange fruit

The effect of ethylene (2 μL L⁻¹) on total and soft epicuticular wax content and wax morphology has been investigated in mature ‘Navelate’ (Citrus sinensis, L. Osbeck) oranges held under non-stressful environmental conditions (22 °C and constant high relative humidity (90–95% RH)). In addition, the objective of the study was to understand whether the ethylene-induced changes in epicuticular wax might participate in the beneficial effect of ethylene reducing non-chilling peel pitting, by modifying peel water, osmotic or turgor potential, or disease incidence caused by Penicillium digitatum (Pers.:Fr.) Sacc. Ethylene increased total and soft epicuticular wax content in ‘Navelate’ fruit and induced structural changes in surface wax that might be related to the formation of new waxes. Changes in epicuticular wax morphology, but not in its content, might be involved in the protective role of ethylene reducing non-chilling peel pitting, although the beneficial effect of the hormone is not related to water stress. Cell water and turgor potentials in freshly harvested fruit and fruit stored in air under non-stressful conditions suggest that water stress is not a limiting factor leading to the development of this physiological disorder. In addition, the results indicated that formation of new waxes in fruit treated with ethylene may partially cover stomata, cracks or areas lacking wax occurring in stored fruit and is likely to improve physical barriers to P. digitatum penetration.     

采收期对澳洲青苹苹果采后品质及虎皮病的影响

研究了在常温（20±1）℃和冷藏（0±0.5）℃条件下澳洲青苹苹果不同采收期对果实采后品质、生理和虎皮病发病率的影响。结果表明,晚采果实的品质和风味相对较好。常温贮藏条件下,晚采果实的乙烯跃变出现时间较早,但采收期对乙烯峰值的大小影响不大,直至果实严重腐烂也未发生虎皮病;冷藏条件下,延迟采收期能明显抑制和延缓澳洲青苹苹果虎皮病的发生,保持果实较高的可溶性固形物含量;贮藏后期早采果实的腐烂率急剧升高是由极其严重的虎皮病造成的。但果实采收越晚,耐贮性越差,腐烂率高而且腐烂出现的时间早,不宜长期贮藏。因此,综合上述因素,建议辽西地区澳洲青苹苹果贮藏果实应于生长发育后期（163～170 d）的10月中下旬采收,常温20℃条件下贮藏30～40 d,冷藏0℃条件下贮藏180 d内,虎皮病发病率低,可保持良好的品质与风味。     

1-MCP regulates ethylene biosynthesis and fruit softening during ripening of ‘Tegan Blue’ plum

To investigate the effects of postharvest application of 1-MCP on ethylene production and fruit softening, activities of ethylene biosynthesis and fruit softening enzymes were measured during postharvest ripening of plum (Prunus salicina Lindl. cv. Tegan Blue) fruit after being exposed to 1-MCP (0, 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 μL L⁻¹) at 20 ± 1 °C for 24 h. Following the treatments, fruit were allowed to ripen at ambient temperature (20 ± 1 °C), and ethylene production in fruit, activities of ACS and ACO, ACC content and fruit softening enzymes (PE, EGase, exo-PG and endo-PG) in fruit skin and pulp were recorded at different intervals. Postharvest application of 1-MCP significantly delayed and suppressed the climacteric ethylene production with reduction in the activities of ethylene biosynthesis enzymes (ACS, ACO) and ACC content, and fruit softening enzymes (PE, EGase, exo-PG and endo-PG) in the skin as well as in pulp tissues. The reduction was more pronounced with increased concentrations of 1-MCP. 1-MCP treated fruit showed different rates of fruit softening and activities of ethylene biosynthesis enzymes in the skin and pulp tissues which warrant further investigation on regulation of gene expression related to these enzymes with the inhibitory effect of 1-MCP.     

Combined treatment of aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) reduces melting-flesh peach fruit softening

The effects of postharvest application of aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on ethylene production and fruit quality, and thus on transportation and shelf-life, were evaluated in melting-flesh peaches. AVG (150 mg L⁻¹) significantly reduced ethylene production, and the effect was enhanced in combination with 1-MCP (1 μL L⁻¹). However, fruit treated with AVG alone softened to untreated control levels 2 d after harvest (DAH). Treatment with 1-MCP significantly reduced the rate of softening until 2 DAH, but the fruit rapidly softened thereafter, and reached untreated control levels by 4 DAH. A combination of AVG and 1-MCP significantly reduced fruit tissue softening throughout ripening. The effect of each chemical on flesh firmness indicated that 1-MCP affected fruit response in the early stages of ripening up to 4 DAH, and AVG significantly reduced softening in the latter stages from 4 to 9 DAH. Peaches treated with AVG and 1-MCP retained their ground color during ripening, but the effect of each chemical on color is unclear. The present study indicates that combined treatment with AVG and 1-MCP significantly delays the ripening of melting-flesh peaches.     

Aloe arborescens and Aloe vera gels as coatings in delaying postharvest ripening in peach and plum fruit

Recently harvested peaches and plums were coated with either Aloe vera or Aloe arborescens gels and allowed to ripen at 20 °C for six days. Both coatings significantly delayed ethylene production, the effect being higher in plum which had the highest ethylene production rates. Changes in quality parameters related to peach and plum postharvest ripening, such as colour changes, reduction of acidity and increasing in ripening index (total soluble solids/total acidity ratio), were significantly delayed in coated fruit. In addition, both coatings significantly reduced weight loss, especially the A. arborescens gel. Thus, A. arborescens gel could be even more effective than A. vera gel for use as an edible coating for preserving the quality of climacteric fruit.     

The addition of rosehip oil improves the beneficial effect of Aloe vera gel on delaying ripening and maintaining postharvest quality of several stonefruit

In this work Aloe vera gel (AV) alone or with the addition of 10 or 2% rosehip oil was used as fruit edible coatings in a wide range of Prunus species and cultivars: peaches (‘Roma’ and ‘B-424-16’ flat type), plums (‘Red Beauty’ and ‘Songria’), nectarine (‘Garofa’) and sweet cherry (‘Brooks’). Following treatments, fruit were stored at 20 °C for 6 days and analysed for the effect of treatments on fruit ripening and quality parameters compared with uncoated fruit (control). The addition of the rosehip oil to AV gel reduced respiration rate in all fruit, and ethylene production in the climacteric ones (peaches, plums and nectarine). In addition, all the parameters related with fruit ripening and quality, such as weight loss, softening, colour change and ripening index, were also delayed in treated compared with control fruit, the effect being generally higher when rosehip oil was added to AV, and especially in those fruit that exhibited the highest ethylene production rates (‘Roma’ and flat type peaches). Although the highest effect was obtained with AV + rosehip oil at 10%, the sensory panel detected an excess of gloss and oiliness on the fruit surface, which was considered as a negative attribute. Thus, 2% rosehip oil added to AV could be used as an innovative postharvest tool to increase the beneficial effect of AV as an edible coating, especially in climacteric fruit showing high ethylene production rates.     

Ethylene biosynthesis in apricot: Identification of a ripening-related 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase (ACS) gene

Apricots are climacteric fruits with a high susceptibility to flesh softening and loss of flavor during postharvest storage, and most of the ripening processes are regulated by ethylene, which also has an effect on its own biosynthesis. To understand this process in apricot, inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis and perception was performed for studying key genes involved in the ethylene biosynthetic pathway. Apricots, cv. “Patterson”, were harvested with yellow-green ground color and immediately treated with either the ethylene perception inhibitor 1-methyl cyclopropene (1-MCP) at 10 μL L⁻¹ or the ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) at 1 g L⁻¹. After treatment, quality and physiological attributes such as firmness, color, total soluble solids, acidity, fruit weight, ethylene production and respiration rates were evaluated every 2 d until they ripened at 20 °C. Gene expression analysis was performed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Both ethylene inhibitors were effective in reducing ethylene production, respiration rate and fruit softening. Three 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic-acid synthase (ACS) genes were characterized, but only the expression of ACS2 was highly reduced by ethylene inhibition, suggesting a key role in ethylene synthesis at ripening. Contrarily, ACS1 and ACS3 showed a higher expression under ethylene inhibition suggesting that the corresponding genes are individually regulated in a specific mode as observed in other climacteric fruits. Finally, changes in 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic-acid oxidase genes did not show a consistent pattern of ethylene modulation.     

Development of near-isogenic lines for a major QTL on 3BL conferring Fusarium crown rot resistance in hexaploid wheat

By essentially fixing the genetic background, near-isogenic lines (NILs) are ideal for studies of the function of specific loci. We report in this paper the development of NILs for a major QTL located on the long arm of chromosome 3B conferring Fusarium crown rot (FCR) resistance in hexaploid wheat. These NILs were generated based on the method of the heterogeneous inbred family analysis. 13 heterozygous lines were initially selected from three segregating populations using a single SSR marker linked with the major FCR QTL. The two isolines for each of the putative NILs obtained showed no obvious morphological differences, but differences among the NIL pairs were large. Significant differences in FCR resistance between the isolines were detected for nine of the 13 putative NIL pairs. The presence of the FCR allele from the resistant parent reduced FCR severity by 29.3–63.9% with an average of 45.2% across these NILs. These NILs will be invaluable in further characterising this major FCR locus, in studying the mechanism of FCR resistance and in investigating possible interactions between FCR resistance and other traits of agronomic importance.     

UV-C结合1-MCP处理对香梨采后果实品质及生理活性的影响

以库尔勒香梨(Pyresbretschnei deri Rehd)为试材,研究UV-C结合1-MCP处理对香梨采后品质及生理变化的影响,为香梨采后保鲜及病害控制提供理论依据。香梨采后用UV-C结合1-MCP处理,贮藏于低温(-1℃,RH：90%~95%)条件下,研究其对果实品质和生理活性的影响。结果表明：UV-C结合1- MCP处理能够显著抑制果实硬度的下降,保持较高的可溶性固性物含量,抑制VC含量和色度角的降低。经UV-C结合1-MCP处理的香梨呼吸跃变延后,呼吸高峰降低,乙烯释放量下降,乙烯释放高峰推迟。此外,UV-C结合1-MCP处理降低了细胞膜渗透率的上升,抑制了丙二醛(MDA)含量的增加。由此表明：UV-C结合1-MCP处理能够延缓香梨采后果实的生理衰老,保持果实品质。     

Changes in external and internal color during postharvest ripening of ‘Manila’ and ‘Ataulfo’ mango fruit and relationship with carotenoid content determined by liquid chromatography–APcI-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

High-performance liquid chromatography–atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APcI⁺)-time-of-flight mass spectrometry studies revealed that all-trans-β-carotene and the dibutyrates of all-trans-violaxanthin and 9-cis-violaxanthin were the main carotenoids in ‘Ataulfo’ and ‘Manila’ mango fruit mesocarp. The concentration of these carotenoids in the mesocarp was measured during fruit ripening and correlated with colorimetric changes of mesocarp and epidermis. The lowest and highest concentrations of all-trans-β-carotene, all-trans-violaxanthin and 9-cis-violaxanthin (as dibutyrates) during the ripening of ‘Manila’ mango were 0.25 × 10⁻³ to 35.57 × 10⁻³, 0.40 × 10⁻⁵ to 31.97 × 10⁻³ and 0 to 16.81 × 10⁻³ g kg⁻¹ of fresh mesocarp, respectively. For ‘Ataulfo’ they were 2.55 × 10⁻³ to 39.72 × 10⁻³, 0.16 × 10⁻³ to 15.00 × 10⁻³ and 0.21 × 10⁻³ to 7.48 × 10⁻³ g kg⁻¹ of fresh mesocarp, respectively. The concentration of these carotenoids increased in an exponential manner during fruit ripening in ‘Ataulfo’ and in an exponential or second-order polynomial manner in ‘Manila’. The highest correlation coefficients were obtained for the relationships between the mesocarp and epidermis a* and h° color values and the concentration of the evaluated carotenoids in both mango cultivars (R = 0.81–0.94). Equations to predict the concentration of the most important carotenoids in ‘Manila’ and ‘Ataulfo’ mango fruit on the basis of their mesocarp and epidermis color values were obtained.     

Yield and quality evaluations on a pair of processing tomato lines nearly isogenic for the Tm2a gene for resistance to the tobacco mosaic virus

A pair of processing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) lines, nearly isogenic for the Tm-2^a gene for resistance to tobacco mosaic virus, were grown in replicated trials under commercial production conditions in five locations worldwide. The lines were evaluated for 17 processing traits including fruit yield, size, soluble solids concentration, color, firmness, and viscosity. Eight of those traits differed significantly among the nearly-isogenic lines (NILs). Most notably, the NIL heterozygous for Tm-2^a yielded, on average, 16% more than the NIL homozygous for the susceptible allele and 33% more than the NIL homozygous for Tm-2^a. Viscosity was lower in the heterozygous NIL and the homozygous and heterozygous resistant NILs had softer fruit with larger stem scars compared to the homozygous susceptible NIL. These results indicate the presence of the Tm-2^a locus affects many traits of importance for processing tomatoes and may be used, in the heterozygous state, to significantly increase yield. Whether the observed effects are due to the Tm-2^a gene itself or genes associated via linkage drag could not be determined. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Physicochemical measurements in ‘Mondial Gala’ apples stored at different atmospheres: Influence on consumer acceptability

Standard quality parameters, consumer acceptability, emission of volatile compounds and ethylene production of ‘Mondial Gala^®’ apples (Malus × domestica Borkh.) were determined in relation to storage atmosphere, storage period and shelf-life period. Fruit were harvested at the commercial date and stored in AIR (21 kPa O₂:0.03 kPa CO₂) or under three different controlled atmospheres (CAs): LO (2 kPa O₂:2 kPa CO₂), ULO1 (1 kPa O₂:1 kPa CO₂), or ULO2 (1 kPa O₂:2 kPa CO₂). Fruit samples were analysed after 12 and 26 weeks of storage plus 1 or 7 d at 20 °C.Apples stored in CA maintained better standard quality parameters than AIR-stored fruit. The volatile compounds that contributed most to the characteristic aroma of ‘Mondial Gala^®’ apples after storage were butyl, hexyl and 2-methylbutyl acetate, hexyl propanoate, ethyl butanoate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl, butyl and hexyl 2-methylbutanoate. Data obtained from fruit analysis were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA). The apples most accepted by consumers showed the highest emission of ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, ethyl hexanoate, tert-butyl propanoate and ethyl acetate, in addition to the highest titratable acidity and firmness values.     

Colour at harvest and post-harvest behaviour influence paprika and chilli spice quality.

Capsicum annuum L. paprika and cayenne chilli pepper fruit were grown for red spice production and harvested at various colour stages on the same day. Fruit of each stage were allowed to change colour at room temperature with or without the addition of 100 μl l⁻¹ ethylene. Fruit appearance and colour development, and respiration and ethylene production were measured during the colouring period. Ethylene treatment had no effect on colour development or pungency for both cultivars, even though it easily crossed the cuticle, epidermis and flesh tissues into the fruit cavity. Green or deep green harvested fruit failed to fully colour red, while fruit that were harvested at or after the colour break stage visually completed their red colour development within 7–9 days. However, the colour intensity of spice powder was low for all fruit that had not developed a deep red colour prior to harvest. For paprika no difference between deep red fruit that were succulent or that had partially dried on the plant was found, but chilli fruit that had partially dried before harvest produced the most intense colour. American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) extractable red colour was the best measure of spice colour quality, compared to reflected lightness (L*), chroma (C*) and hue angle (h°) colour measurements. Pungency did not change between ripeness stages for chilli and was absent in paprika. Paprika and chilli fruit showed climacteric behaviour as long as they were attached to the plant, but when detached were non-climacteric.