Maturity assessment at harvest and prediction of softening in a late maturing nectarine cultivar after cold storage

The absorption coefficient μ_a measured at 670 nm in fruit pulp at harvest by time-resolved reflectance spectroscopy (TRS) has been shown to be a good maturity index for early nectarine cultivars. By including individual fruit maturity as a biological shift factor (BSF) into a kinetic model for softening it is possible to select fruit with different shelf-life potential. The BSF approach combined with TRS measurement and kinetic modeling of firmness was applied to a late maturing nectarine cultivar (‘Morsiani 90’), ripened at 20 °C after harvest or after storage at 0 °C and 4 °C, the latter conditions inducing chilling injury. At harvest the absorption coefficient μ_a had low values and low variability, indicating advanced maturity, while firmness was similar to that of early cultivars. The softening model took into account these differences, showing parameters similar to those of the early cultivars with the exception of the softening rate which was 2-6 times lower, indicating a slower softening in ‘Morsiani 90’ fruit. Decay of μ_a at 20 °C was also slower. Softening continued during storage at 4 °C, but not at 0 °C. After storage at 0 °C softening was resumed similarly to non-stored fruit, but with much variability. Fruit stored at 4 °C, which showed chilling injury, had a softening rate at 20 °C significantly higher than that of 0 °C fruit. It is suggested that the same changes in cell wall metabolism which induce the appearance of chilling injury also affect firmness and increase softening rate.     

秦冠和富士苹果果实成熟过程中的质地变化特性

对秦冠与富士苹果成熟过程中影响其硬度变化的部分因素如果肉细胞壁多糖、淀粉含量及相对电导率等的变化进行了初步研究。结果表明,共价结合果胶、纤维素及细胞壁含量的下降和半纤维素1类的上升与秦冠硬度的变化关系最密切,而与富士最相关的是半纤维素2类及细胞壁含量的下降和半纤维素1类、相对电导率及水溶性果胶的升高。另外,两者细胞壁、半纤维素和淀粉的初始含量就有显著差异。以上这些差异共同导致了秦冠和富士成熟过程中硬度的差异。     

PG,ACC,乙烯对番茄果实成熟的影响

番茄果实在成熟过程中硬度下降迅速，ＰＧ活性急剧上升，表现出显著的负相关；用ＡＣＣ和乙烯利处理绿熟期果实，结果乙烯促进了正常番茄和ａｌｃ番茄果实成熟进程，其ＰＧ活性也升高，而外源乙烯和ＡＣＣ不影响ｎｏｒ基因突变体果实的成熟进程。ＡＣＣ和ＰＧ无直接关系。     

Influence of exogenous ethylene during refrigerated storage on storability and quality of Actinidia chinensis (cv. Hort16A)

The kiwifruit industry was established on fruit of Actinidia deliciosa (‘Hayward’), which is known as a climacteric fruit with high sensitivity to ethylene. In recent times fruit from Actinidia chinensis have become a substantial component of the kiwifruit market. There is limited information about the sensitivity of A. chinensis to ethylene during refrigerated storage and hence current ethylene management practices for A. chinensis mimic those established for A. deliciosa. This research aimed to quantify the effect of ethylene during refrigerated storage on A. chinensis (‘Hort16A’) quality (firmness, colour and total soluble solids). Three grower lines were stored at 1.5 °C, 95% RH with ethylene in the range of 0.001-1 μL L⁻¹ applied to the environment after 3 weeks of storage for the remainder of storage (17 weeks). Fruit quality was assessed at regular intervals. Loss of firmness was found to be very sensitive to ethylene, with significant differences between fruit stored in 0.001 μL L⁻¹ (as a control) and 0.1 μL L⁻¹ occurring after 2 weeks of exposure. Fruit exposed to 1 μL L⁻¹ ethylene not only rapidly softened, but also increased in hue angle (greenness) and reduced in lightness (darkened) further reducing the quality of the yellow coloured kiwifruit cultivar. Total soluble solids were not heavily influenced by ethylene exposure, with grower differences being maintained throughout the experiment. This work demonstrates that A. chinensis (cv. Hort16A) fruit firmness and colour will be influenced by the ethylene conditions in a commercial storage environment by advancing ripening and senescence.     

Preharvest application of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) in two plum cultivars. 1. Improvement of fruit growth and quality attributes at harvest

Two plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) cultivars ‘Black Splendor’ (BS) and ‘Royal Rosa’ (RR) were treated with methyl jasmonate (MeJA) at 3 concentrations (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mM) along the on-tree fruit development: 63, 77 and 98 days after full blossom (DAFB). On a weekly basis, fruit samples were taken for measuring fruit size and weight and parameters related to quality. Results revealed that MeJA was effective in increasing fruit size and weight, the 0.5 mM being the most effective for BS cultivar and 2.0 mM for RR. At harvest, those fruit treated with 0.5 mM MeJA had the highest firmness and colour Hue values. Total acidity was also generally higher in MeJA-treated fruit than in controls, while the content of total soluble solids remained unaffected. In addition, total phenolics and total antioxidant activity were found at higher concentrations in 0.5 and 2.0 mM MeJA-treated than in control fruit over at last 3 weeks of fruit development for BS and RR cultivars, respectively. Overall results suggest that MeJA could be a promising preharvest tool to increase plum size and quality with enhanced bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity, although the optimum concentration is cultivar dependent.     

白肉甜油桃‘北极星’贮藏过程中果实品质的变化研究

以白肉甜油桃‘北极星’为试材,研究其在贮藏过程中果实可溶性固形物含量、可滴定酸含量和硬度的变化。结果表明：在3℃贮藏条件下,‘北极星’果实可贮藏42d;贮藏过程中硬度和可溶性固形物含量随贮藏天数的增加均呈先下降,后上升,最后再下降的变化趋势;第42d时果实硬度（12．12kg·cm^-2）仅比采收当天（12．6kg·cm^-2）降低3．8％;可滴定酸含量随贮藏天数的增加逐渐下降。     

Instrumental and sensory quality characteristics of blueberry fruit from twelve cultivars

We compared the instrumental and sensory quality characteristics of blueberry fruit from ten highbush (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) cultivars, Chanticleer, Weymouth, Hannah's Choice, Duke, Bluecrop, Coville, Berkeley, Bluegold, Elliott and Lateblue and two rabbiteye (Vaccinium virgatum Aiton) cultivars, Coastal and Montgomery, grown in New Jersey. Cultivars varied in sensory intensity and acceptability scores. Highbush cultivars, Coville and Hannah's Choice, scored highest among the cultivars in sensory scores for intensity of blue color, juiciness, sweetness and blueberry-like flavor and for acceptability of appearance, color, fruit size, sweet/tart balance, flavor and overall eating quality. In contrast, rabbiteye cultivars, Coastal and Montgomery, and the highbush cultivars, Elliott and Weymouth, scored lowest among the cultivars in sensory scores for intensity of bursting energy, skin toughness, texture during chewing, juiciness, and blueberry-like flavor and for acceptability of appearance, color, fruit size, flavor and overall eating quality. Analytical quality characteristics of surface color, size, compression firmness, soluble solids content (SSC), pH, titratable acidity (TA), SSC/TA ratio, and aromatic volatile concentration also varied among cultivars, but no instrumental measurement adequately predicted consumer acceptability scores. The overall eating quality of blueberry fruit was best correlated with flavor scores followed by sensory scores for intensity of juiciness, bursting energy and sweetness and for acceptability of appearance.     

丛枝菌根真菌和糖醇螯合钙对草莓采后果实硬度和细胞壁酶活及其关键基因表达的影响

以盆栽‘红颜’草莓为试材,研究了摩西管柄囊霉（Funneliformis mosseae）和糖醇螯合钙不同浓度（0.10%、0.15%、0.20%）处理对草莓采后果实硬度和细胞壁酶活的变化,同时,初步探究了不同处理对草莓果实软化关键基因FaPG1、FaβGal4的表达水平的影响。结果表明,与对照相比,以糖醇螯合钙单独施用（0.15%和0.20%）、接种丛枝菌根真菌（Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, AMF）配施糖醇螯合钙均能显著提高草莓果实硬度。同时,不同处理均抑制多聚半乳糖醛酸酶（PG）、果胶甲酯酶（PME）、β-半乳糖苷酶（β-Gal）活性的上升,草莓果实软化关键基因FaPG1和FaβGal4在处理后均下调表达。在接种AMF条件下,随着糖醇螯合钙浓度的增加,果实硬度逐渐增强,其中以接种AMF联合施用0.20%糖醇螯合钙溶液效果最好。     

Anaerobic metabolism during short and long term storage of kiwifruit

Kiwifruit were stored in 0.25% O₂ (ULO), 1% O₂ (LO) and 2% O₂ + 5% CO₂ (CA) and the controls were kept in air. The fruit were held at 0 °C for 34 and 94 d of storage and, after these times, were transferred to 20 °C in air for 14 d of shelf life. During the short term storage (34 d), a significant increase in anaerobic metabolites, above all ethanol, was observed in ULO, LO, and CA fruit (166, 131, 120 μL/L). After the shift to shelf life, a large and unexpected increase in PDC (pyruvate decarboxylase), ADH (alcohol dehydrogenase in the direction of ethanol oxidation), LDH (lactate dehydrogenase), and GPT (glutamate-pyruvate transaminase) was observed, resulting in ethanol depletion (ULO) or no further increase, and an increase in acetaldehyde which, in turn, could have hastened fruit ripening. Even the control fruit showed an increase in ethanol during storage and an increase in enzyme activity during shelf life, especially in ADH, but to a lesser extent without an increase in acetaldehyde. During the long term storage, anaerobic metabolites (ethanol and acetaldehyde) still increased and GPT activity rose significantly in the ULO and CA samples. A burst of enzyme activity was also observed during the second shelf life in the CA and LO samples, but not in the control, while in ULO fruit the activity rose continuously. GPT activity showed the highest peaks in CA and ULO fruit. An ethylene burst was observed in ULO and CA fruit during the second shelf life (about 25 μL/kg-h) but not during the first shelf life. The potential role of these enzymes in kiwifruit stress response during storage and shelf life is discussed.     

草莓果实硬度影响因素及其调控措施研究进展

草莓采摘后极易软化腐烂,草莓的贮藏品质与果实硬度密切相关.概述了草莓果实软化机理,详述了草莓果实硬度的影响因素及调控措施.