Assessment of watercore development in apples with MRI: Effect of fruit location in the canopy

Watercore distribution inside apple fruit (block or radial), and its incidence (% of tissue) were related to the effect of solar radiation inside the canopy as measured by a set of low-cost irradiation sensors. 221 samples were harvested in two seasons from the top and the bottom of the canopy and submitted to the non-invasive and non-destructive technique of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in order to obtain 20 inner tomography slices from each fruit and analyze the damaged areas using an interactive 3D segmentation method. The number of fruit corresponding to each type of damage and the relevant percentage were calculated and it was found that apples from the top of the tree were mainly of the radial type (84%) and had more watercore (approx. 5% more) than apples from the bottom (65% radial). From the image segmentation, the Euler number, a morphometric parameter, was extracted from the segmented images and related to the type of watercore symptoms. Apples with block watercore were grouped in Euler numbers between −400 and 400 with a small evolution. For apples with radial development, the Euler number was highly negative: up to −1439. Significant differences were also found regarding sugar composition, with higher fructose and total sugar contents in apples from the upper canopy, compared to those in the lower canopy location. In the seasons studied (2011 and 2012), significantly higher sorbitol and lower sucrose and fructose contents were found in watercore-affected tissue compared to the healthy tissue of affected apples and also compared to healthy apples.     

Antioxidant levels in watercore tissue in ‘Fuji’ apples during storage

Watercore usually spreads in mature ‘Fuji’ apples and may induce flesh browning disorders through unknown mechanisms. We analyzed H₂O₂ and ascorbic acid (AA) contents and the activities of four enzymes involved in the AA–glutathione (AA–GSH) cycle in watercore and watercore-free tissues in ‘Fuji’ apple fruit during storage. H₂O₂ levels always were higher in watercore than in watercore-free tissues. AA levels were lower in watercore tissues at harvest and decreased in both tissue types during the storage period. However, AA was completely absent from watercore tissue but not watercore-free tissue three months after harvest. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities were always higher in watercore than in watercore-free tissues, and the activities of dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) decreased continuously after harvest in both tissue types. These results suggested that higher production of H₂O₂ caused by anaerobic conditions in watercore activated APX which acted as a redox signal; the concomitant net consumption of AA was not balanced by the decline of DHAR activity, leading to decreased antioxidant levels. On the other hand, the gradual increases in monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDAR) and glutathione reductase (GR) activity observed during storage accompanied by low AA levels and DHAR activity might indicate a declining efficiency of the AA–GSH cycle.     

不同干燥方法下红枣蜜饯水分状态变化研究

基于低场核磁共振(LF-NMR)技术研究热风干燥与真空微波干燥下红枣蜜饯内部水分分布及干燥过程中水分迁移规律、水分状态及含量的变化,为其干制提供理论依据.结果表明:MRI图像可以清晰反映水分分布情况,枣中含有3种状态的水,分别是结合水、不易流动水和自由水,成熟鲜枣中94％以上的水都是自由水,红枣蜜饯热风干燥最初2 h自由水含量显著降低,干燥后期自由水向组织内迁移减弱,最终不易流动水含量增加至43.9％,自由水含量散失降至55.99％;红枣蜜饯真空微波干燥过程中自由水快速向不易流动水迁移,6 min时自由水含量为0,结合水含量降低,不易流动水含量高达99.94％,因此真空微波干燥较热风干燥具有时间短、效率高的优势.     

不同临采期喷施赤霉素对“糖心”苹果“糖心”累积及贮藏品质的影响

针对阿克苏“糖心”苹果“糖心”出现晚、上市迟、不耐贮藏问题,本研究以“糖心”苹果为试材,研究田间不同临采时间(10 d和20 d)喷施100 mg/L赤霉素(GA₃)处理,对(0±0.1)℃贮藏的“糖心”苹果“糖心”调控能力及贮藏品质的影响。结果表明,“糖心”苹果在贮藏100 d内,L*值(亮度)、硬度、可溶性固形物、可滴定酸含量均随贮藏时间的延长呈下降趋势,与对照(喷施等量蒸馏水)相比,采前喷施100 mg/L GA₃处理的果实能显著延缓这些指标值的下降速率,利于果实的整体视觉质量维持,保持果实“糖心”完整。同时,与采前10 d喷施GA₃处理相比较,采前20 d喷施GA₃的“糖心”苹果丙二醛(MDA)含量、相对电导率变化较小,尤其在100 d贮藏结束时,其MDA含量仅增至2.813 mmol/g,相对电导率为49.1%,有效地维持了果实细胞膜结构的完整性。综上所述,采前喷施100 mg/L GA₃可调控“糖心”提前出现,促进“糖心”积累,而采前20 d喷施GA₃能显著延缓采后水心扩散,并能更好地保持果实采后生理及品质,提高“糖心”苹果耐贮性。     

Optical coherence tomography visualizes microstructure of apple peel

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has emerged recently as a non-destructive technique to visualize subsurface structures of materials. The objective of this work was to investigate whether OCT is an appropriate method to non-destructively assess the peel structural properties of apple fruit and to compare OCT to confocal microscopy and micro-CT. Peel structural properties of apples from different cultivars (‘Braeburn’, ‘Arlet’, ‘Royal Gala’ and ‘Ida Red’) were measured. The effects of preharvest fertilization treatments and storage duration on calculated structural properties of apple peel from OCT images were investigated. It was found that OCT is a fast, high resolution and high field of view technique that renders 2D and 3D images of apple peel. En-face OCT allows the visualization of the surface topology including cracks in the wax, surface roughness and lenticels. Depth scans with OCT reveal the cellular structure down to a few hundreds of micrometre into the fruit, superior to confocal imaging. Spectral-domain OCT resulted in higher quality images than time-domain OCT. Cuticle, epidermis and hypodermis cells can be resolved in a superior way compared to micro-CT. It was concluded that OCT can be used to visualize peel structural differences between apples, as well as to measure structural changes that occur during storage. OCT is a fast method and allows for combining a high depth resolution with a wide lateral image size.     

Diphenylamine and pre-slicing storage effects on the responses of apple slices to elevated CO2 atmospheres

The effect of treatment with diphenylamine (DPA) and duration of postharvest storage of whole apple fruit on the responses of fresh-cut apple slices to elevated CO₂ storage atmospheres has been investigated. On the day of harvest, ‘McIntosh’, ‘Empire’ and ‘Delicious’ apples were untreated or dipped in DPA, and were held at 0.5 °C overnight or for 6 weeks before slicing. Slices were then stored at 0, 15, 30, 45 or 60% CO₂ in 1% O₂ (balance N₂), atmospheres. Color, firmness and accumulation of acetaldehyde, ethanol and ethyl acetate of the slices were measured. Generally slices were lighter (higher L^* values) when stored in elevated CO₂ atmospheres, but atmosphere and DPA effects varied by cultivar and were affected by pre-slice storage time. Slices prepared from stored fruit were softer compared with slices prepared at harvest. Slice firmness was not affected consistently by CO₂ or DPA concentration, whether they were prepared at harvest or after storage. The effects of increasing CO₂ concentration on acetaldehyde and ethanol accumulations were variable, being affected by cultivar and storage period. DPA treatment did not affect acetaldehyde accumulation of any cultivar, or ethanol accumulation of slices prepared from fruit at harvest. However, DPA-treated ‘Empire’ and ‘Delicious’ apples stored before slicing accumulated less ethanol compared with untreated fruit. Storage of apples before processing increased the accumulation of fermentation volatile compounds by cut apples under storage atmosphere conditions.     

Delaying establishment of controlled atmosphere or CO2 exposure reduces ‘Fuji’ apple CO2 injury without excessive fruit quality loss

Storage of ‘Fuji’ apple fruit in a high CO₂ (3 kPa) and low O₂ (1.5 kPa) controlled atmosphere (CA) reduced firmness and titratable acidity (TA) loss during long term storage. This CA environment also induced development of internal CO₂-injury (brown-heart) and slowed the disappearance of watercore. The symptoms of internal CO₂-injury were first detected 15 days after CA establishment and the severity increased during the first 4 months of CA-storage. Delaying establishment of CA conditions for 2–12 weeks significantly reduced the severity of CO₂-injury. Delaying CO₂ accumulation to 3 kPa for 1–4 months during CA (1.5 kPa O₂+0.05 kPa CO₂) storage also reduced development of CO₂-injury symptoms. Delaying CA or CO₂ accumulation resulted in lower firmness and TA compared to establishment of CA within 72 h of harvest. However, the delay treatments did result in firmness and TA that were significantly higher compared to values for fruit stored in air. The incidence and severity of senescent injuries (flesh browning and core flush) detected during the late period of storage were greater in air- than CA-stored fruit. The results indicate the susceptibility of ‘Fuji’ apples to CO₂-injury is highest during the first weeks of storage after harvest. Delaying establishment of CA or exposure to elevated CO₂ after harvest may be a practical strategy to reduce CO₂-injury while maintaining other important quality attributes at acceptable levels.     

Studies on classification models to discriminate ‘Braeburn’ apples affected by internal browning using the optical properties measured by time-resolved reflectance spectroscopy

This work aimed at studying the feasibility of time-resolved reflectance spectroscopy (TRS) to nondestructively detect internal browning (IB) in ‘Braeburn’ apples through the development of classification models based on absorption (μ_a) and scattering (μ_s′) properties of the pulp.This research was carried out in two seasons: in 2009, apples were measured by TRS at 670 nm and in the 740–1040 nm spectral range on four equidistant points around the equator, whereas in 2010 apples were measured by TRS at 670 nm and at 780 nm on eight equidistant points.The values of the absorption coefficients measured in the 670–940 nm range increased with IB development. On the contrary, μ_s′780 was higher in healthy fruit than in IB ones. The μ_a780 also significantly increased with IB severity, showing high values when IB affected the pulp tissues compared to the core ones. Also μ_a670 changed with IB development, but it was not able to clearly discriminate healthy fruit from IB ones because its value was also affected by the chlorophyll content of the pulp.The absorption and scattering coefficients were used as explanatory variables in the linear discriminant analysis in order to classify each apple tissue as healthy or IB; then the models obtained were used for fruit classification. The best classification performance was obtained in 2010 using μ_a780 and μ_s′780 and considering the IB position within the fruit: 90% of healthy fruit and 71% of IB fruit were correctly classified. By using all the μ_a measured in the 670–1040 nm range plus the μ_s′780, IB fruit classification was slightly better while healthy fruit classification was worse. The better result of 2010 was due to the increased number of TRS measurement points that allowed better exploration of the fruit tissues. However, the asymmetric nature of this disorder makes detection difficult, especially when the disorder is localized in the inner part of the fruit (core) or when it occurs in spots. A different TRS set-up (position and distance of fibers, time resolution) should be studied in order to reach the deeper tissue within the fruit in order to improve browning detection.     

Upregulation of polyphenol-related genes prevents ‘skin burning’ of well-colored ‘Cameo’ apples stored under stressful controlled atmosphere conditions

‘Skin burning’ of ‘Cameo’ apples resulting in poorly colored fruit can occur in storage under high CO₂ condition. To elucidate possible reasons for this physiological disorder, we assessed the differential expression of polyphenol-related genes. Poorly colored and well-colored mature ‘Cameo’ apples were stored under either high (3%) or low (0.7%) CO₂ levels, both in combination with 1% O₂, and monitored for seven months for ‘skin burning’. Samples were obtained by the end of storage period, and qPCR analyses were conducted using gene specific primers. We found expression levels of chalcone synthase (MdCHS), chalcone isomerase (MdCHI), anthocyanidin synthase (MdANS), flavonol synthase (MdFLS), dihydroflavonolreductase (MdDFR), and leucoanthocyanidinreductase (MdLAR1) genes to be substantially higher in well-colored compared to poorly colored apples. The delay in establishing the stressful controlled atmosphere (CA) storage condition (3% CO₂ level) led to significantly higher expression levels of MdLAR1, MdCHI, anthocyanidinreductase (MdANR) and flavanone 3-hydroxylase (MdF3H), which may explain the lower incidence of ‘skin burning’ by delayed CA fruit. On the other hand, after seven months in storage, the expression levels of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (MdPAL), MdCHS, MdCHI, MdDFR, MdFLS, and MdF3H, were significantly higher in poorly colored injured apples, which reflect a feedback mechanism to synthesize more polyphenols to counteract the stressful storage condition.     

Fluorescence imaging as a non-destructive method for pre-harvest detection of bitter pit in apple fruit (Malus domestica Borkh.)

Bitter pit in apples still causes significant losses, especially in the export markets of ‘Golden Delicious’ apples from South Africa. Orchard practices to reduce the possibility of bitter pit are followed, as well as destructive methods to predict the probability thereof, but the occurrence of bitter pit is still unacceptably high. Fluorescence imaging is a fast, non-destructive technique, able to evaluate numerous fruit within a short time span. By applying fluorescence imaging on individual fruit before any symptoms of bitter pit were apparent, lower fluorescence was shown to be associated with bitter pit development in apples in selective cases. Our results showed that, using averaged cumulative distribution functions (CDFs) of pitted and non-pitted fruit classes, it was possible to show a difference between these classes with fluorescence imaging. However, the individual distinction between all pitted and non-pitted fruit of our total sample, could not been defined as clearly.

In the majority of cases, on a single fruit basis, separation in groups was not satisfactory (less than 100% accurate) based on industry requirements for a prediction technique. Results of pre-harvest imaging on apples to identify fruit with bitter pit potential at harvest showed that pitted fruit were correctly classified (75–100%). However, misclassification of non-pitted fruit (50% and less) with fluorescence imaging is still too high to be of any commercial use.     

Investigating non-destructive quantification and characterization of pomegranate fruit internal structure using X-ray computed tomography

In this study, X-ray computed tomography (CT) coupled with image analysis techniques was investigated for non-destructive characterization and quantification of internal structure of intact pomegranate fruit (cv. Shani-Yonay). X-ray tomograms of intact fruit were acquired using a V|Tome|X L240 commercial X-ray CT system based on X-ray radiation generated from a source voltage of 200 kV with the electron current set at 100 μA. Two-dimensional (2D) radioscopic images were acquired with a microfocus direct X-ray tube and used to reconstruct three-dimensional (3D) images to quantify volumes occupied by air space, albedo, and arils, using image processing software. The calculated volumes for these fruit fractions were 7.82 ± 1.09, 167.29 ± 16.54, and 182.11 ± 17.04 mL, estimated to contribute 2.22, 46.86 and 50.92% of total fruit volume, respectively. Destructive validation data were similar to non-destructive data, with volumes for albedo and arils of 166.08 ± 14.69 and 170.58 ± 14.25 mL, respectively, contributing 46.07 and 47.32% of total fruit volume. The remaining 6.61% of total fruit volume tested destructively could be due to the presence of air space and calyx. This work has demonstrated the capability of X-ray CT with image analysis as a useful non-destructive technique to study the quantity and distribution of edible and non-edible portions of pomegranate fruit.     

Measuring consumer response to ‘Gala’ apples treated with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP)

Post-harvest apple treatment with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) was previously found to inhibit fruit ripening but also to inhibit the production of volatile compounds that contribute to apple flavor. The first objective of this study was to determine if consumers could distinguish 1-MCP treated and untreated Gala apples [Malus sylvestris L. (Mill.) var. domestica Borkh. Mansf.] following long-term storage. Chemical analysis showed 1-MCP treated fruit had reduced flavor volatiles compared to untreated fruit. Consumer difference tests showed they could distinguish between 1-MCP treated and untreated fruit. A second objective was to compare consumers’ acceptance for 1-MCP treated to untreated apples. Both 1-MCP treated and untreated apples received high overall liking scores that were not significantly different. Equal numbers of consumers indicated preference for 1-MCP treated and untreated fruit and there was no difference in purchase intent. However, subsets of consumers who eat Gala, Fuji or Red Delicious apples showed preference for untreated over 1-MCP treated fruit compared to consumers who do not eat these varieties.     

基于最小外接圆直径的苹果分级研究

苹果大小是苹果品质分级的重要因素之一,为实现苹果的大小分级,针对苹果外形近似球的特点,专门设计了一套基于图像处理的苹果大小分选系统。研究采用30个果径为65~95 mm的苹果,模拟苹果在输送翻转装置上的多种随机姿态,对每个试验样本进行9个不同角度的拍摄,将拍摄的所有图像传送给计算机进行二值化、去噪去斑及边缘处理等预处理,提取苹果果径面图像。根据图像边缘确定苹果的质心,寻求质心与边缘的最远距离则为苹果图像的最小外接圆半径;寻求9个图像中苹果的像素面积与其最小外接圆面积最接近的图像,计算出苹果样本果径面的最小外接圆直径。将苹果的实际大小与系统测量大小进行比较,试验表明,研究分选的正确率为96.67%,为苹果大小自动分选提供参考。     

Control of blue mold decay of apple during commercial controlled atmosphere storage with yeast antagonists and sodium bicarbonate

A mixture of two yeast antagonists, Metschnikowia pulcherrima and Cryptococcus laurentii, originally isolated from apples and exhibiting greater biocontrol activity against blue mold of apple than either yeast applied alone, were used in combination with sodium bicarbonate (SBC) in a pilot test in which treated fruit were stored under commercial controlled atmosphere (CA) storage conditions. Conidia of Penicillium expansum, antagonists cells and SBC were added to the drench solution. The treatments were applied to apples by drenching entire bins filled with apples containing 100 wounded fruit evenly distributed among five positions in each bin. The treated fruit were stored in commercial CA storages for approximately six months in the 2005–2006 and 2006–2007 storage seasons and then evaluated for incidence of decay. In both years, the treatments with the antagonist alone or in combination with SBC were equally effective and reduced blue mold incidence by 84–97% in 2005–2006 and 73–82% in 2006–2007. SBC alone significantly reduced blue mold incidence compared to the non-treated control but was less effective than the antagonist alone or in combination with SBC. This pilot test showed that the combination of these two antagonists and SBC can be an effective decay control method under commercial CA conditions, confirming results from our earlier laboratory studies using similarly treated fruit stored under CA conditions.     

Postharvest physiology of ‘Aroma’ apples in relation to position on the tree

The effects of fruit position within the canopy on the onset of the respiratory climacteric and the rise in ethylene production as well as changes in peel colour and chemical composition were studied in apples (Malus x domestica Borkh. cv. Aroma) during ripening in normal air at 20 °C for 6–8 weeks over two crop seasons. The commencement of the rise in both CO₂ and ethylene production was equal independent of fruit position but the peak of ethylene was behind that of CO₂ with a lag of several days. While the climacteric ethylene peak was considerably higher in shaded inside apples, the internal ethylene concentration was at the same level independent of canopy position. During maturation on the tree outside fruit developed a red peel colour while inside fruit remained green. Outside fruit had a higher content of dry matter, soluble solids and soluble sugars but a somewhat lower amount of titratable acidity than inside fruit. High summer temperatures in the second year resulted in a significantly higher content of soluble solids and organic acids independent of fruit position but diminished the soluble solids difference between outside and inside fruit and increased the difference in malic and citric acid concentrations. High summer temperatures also increased the difference in peel colour between outside and inside fruit. Independent of canopy position, the soluble solids concentrations remained unchanged during ripening while the amounts of sucrose as well as malic acid and the titratable acidity decreased with a concomitant rise in the cell sap pH. The higher content of soluble sugars and a somewhat lower amount of titratable acidity in outside red-coloured apples probably contribute to improved fruit quality but the difference seems to be strongly dependent on the growing conditions, especially the sum of heat units.     

Involvement of ethylene in browning development of controlled atmosphere-stored ‘Empire’ apple fruit

‘Empire’ apples [Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill var. domestica (Borkh.) Mansf.] are susceptible to development of chilling injury, expressed as firm flesh browning, during controlled atmosphere (CA) storage. Because of this susceptibility, fruit are typically stored at 2–4 °C, but the incidence of flesh browning can be increased by 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment at these temperatures. In this study, flesh browning development has been investigated in relationship to ethylene production, internal ethylene concentration (IEC), flesh firmness, total phenolic concentrations, and the activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POX) in the flesh tissues. Fruit were harvested from two orchards, either untreated or 1-MCP treated, and then stored under CA conditions at either 0.5 or 4 °C. Fruit were removed from storage at 1.5-month intervals for 10.5 months. 1-MCP treated apples were firmer than those of untreated apples, and had lower IECs, at all removals. Flesh browning incidence and severity developed earlier in 1-MCP-treated apples than untreated apples stored at either temperature. Total phenolic concentrations differed by orchard, but no major differences in concentrations were detected between untreated and 1-MCP treated apples. However, PPO activities were higher in the flesh of 1-MCP treated apples than untreated apples from both orchards and at both storage temperatures. POX activity was not consistently affected by 1-MCP treatment or storage temperature. Overall, our results suggest that inhibited ethylene production, either as a result of storage at 0.5 °C, or by treatment with 1-MCP at either temperature, may cause stress and damage to cells and result in higher PPO activity that leads to progressive flesh browning development during CA storage.     

1-甲基环丙烯对苹果低温贮藏期间品质的影响

综述了低温条件下1-甲基环丙烯(1-Methylcyclopropene,1-MCP)贮藏苹果,对其生理代谢及贮藏品质的影响。1-MCP处理可抑制苹果呼吸强度和乙烯释放量,保持较高的可溶性固形物含量,延缓果实硬度的下降,降低了过氧化物酶和多酚氧化酶的活性。低温环境下通过1-MCP处理苹果,其贮藏寿命比常温环境下延长1倍,保持苹果的品质。     

Application of optical coherence tomography to non-destructively characterise rind breakdown disorder of ‘Nules Clementine’ mandarins

The feasibility of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for imaging histological changes associated with the development of a progressive rind breakdown (RBD) disorder of ‘Nules Clementine’ mandarin (Citrus reticulate Blanco.) was investigated. The investigation utilised fruit with different levels of the disorder, carefully selected from a batch of fruit stored for eight weeks at 8 ± 0.5 °C. Images of healthy and RBD-affected intact mandarin fruit were acquired using a Thorlabs OCT system based on a broadband 930 nm source. OCT provided high resolution 2D images of fruit rind to a depth of about 1.1 mm. Immediate and non-destructive acquisition of images showing histological and microstructural features in intact rind tissues was demonstrated. The oil glands stayed intact in unaffected fruit and gradually collapsed in RBD affected fruit. At advanced stages of the disorder, the collapsed oil glands became increasingly deformed and flattened. The study showed that OCT is a promising technique for immediate, real-time and non-destructive acquisition of images showing histological and microstructural rind features of ‘Nules Clementine’ mandarin fruit.     

废弃苹果皮革的制备工艺研究

利用废弃苹果提取果胶来制作苹果皮革,增加废弃苹果的附加产值,以腐烂废弃的苹果为基本材料,从废弃苹果中提取果胶,分别探究料液比、pH值、黄原胶和氯化铜等条件对苹果皮革的硬度、拉伸强度、黏附性和感官弹性等性质的影响。结果表明,制备皮革的最佳工艺为料液比1∶1,pH值5,黄原胶15%,氯化铜2.5%。该试验为废弃苹果制备水果皮革提供了一个新的思路。