New degreening treatments to improve the quality of citrus fruit combining different periods with and without ethylene exposure

In the Mediterranean area, early-season citrus fruit reach acceptable internal maturity standards for marketing, while the fruit are still green. A degreening treatment is widely used as a postharvest practice to improve the external color. Nevertheless, the application of ethylene during this treatment can be associated with calyx senescence. The aim of this study was to evaluate new degreening treatments in order to reduce this disorder. ‘Clemenules’ mandarins and ‘Navelina’ oranges, harvested at different external colors, were submitted to different degreening treatments, combining periods with and without ethylene exposure. In both cultivars, the periods without ethylene exposure during degreening reduced the incidence of calyx disorders. To obtain a typical ‘Clemenules’ variety color with the lowest incidence of calyx alteration, the optimum degreening treatment was based on 72 h with ethylene and 48 h without ethylene when fruit were harvested with a color index of between −9 and −3. On the other hand, a treatment of 24 h with ethylene plus 48 h without ethylene is recommended for fruit with an external color index higher than −2. For ‘Navelina’ oranges, highly sensitive to calyx senescence during degreening, a treatment consisting of 24 h with ethylene plus 48 h without ethylene is recommended, which involves harvesting the fruit with a color index of over 0.     

Sodium carbonate and bicarbonate treatments induce resistance to postharvest green mould on citrus fruit

The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of two salts, sodium carbonate and bicarbonate, to activate defence mechanisms in citrus fruit against postharvest green mould caused by Penicillium digitatum. In particular, once there was confirmed salt antifungal activity in the absence of direct contact with the pathogen, changes in enzyme activity and expression levels of chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), and phytoalexin (scoparone, scopoletin, umbelliferone) and sugar (glucose, fructose, sucrose) contents in treated oranges were analyzed. Overall, sodium carbonate and bicarbonate increases the activity of β-1,3-glucanase, peroxidase, and PAL enzymes in orange tissues. Gene expression analyses confirmed PAL up-regulation particularly 12 h after treatment application. HPLC analyses of peel extracts showed increased amounts of the sugars and phytoalexins, compared to control tissues, with sucrose and scoparone being the most represented. The results suggest that, although salts exert a direct antifungal effect on P. digitatum, they are also able to induce citrus fruit defence mechanisms to postharvest decay. The defence response seems correlated with the up-regulation of the phenylpropanoid pathway, which has a role in the adaptation to various stresses. This response could result in natural reaction to wounding and pathogen attack in citrus, enhancing its protective effect. As a consequence, the fruit might have a better chance of successful defence against the decay.     

Combination of hot water,Bacillus amyloliquefaciens HF-01 and sodium bicarbonate treatments to control postharvest decay of mandarin fruit

An antagonistic isolate Bacillus amyloliquefaciens HF-01, sodium bicarbonate (SBC) and hot water treatment (HW) were investigated individually and in combination against green and blue mold and sour rot caused by Penicillium digitatum, P. italicum and Geotrichum citri-aurantii respectively, in mandarin fruit. Populations of antagonists were stable in the presence of 1% or 2% SBC treatment, and spore germination of pathogens in potato dextrose broth was greatly controlled by the hot water treatment of 45 °C for 2 min. Individual application of sodium bicarbonate at low rates and hot water treatment, although reducing disease incidence after 8 weeks or 4 weeks of storage at 6 °C or 25 °C respectively, was not as effective as the fungicide treatment. The treatment comprising B. amyloliquefaciens combined with 2% SBC or/and HW (45 °C for 2 min) was as effective as the fungicide treatment and reduced decay to less than 80% compared to the control. B. amyloliquefaciens HF-01 alone or in combination with 2% SBC or/and HW significantly reduced postharvest decay without impairing fruit quality after storage at 25 °C for 4 weeks or at 6 °C for 8 weeks. These results suggest that the combination of B. amyloliquefaciens HF-01, SBC and HW could be a promising method for the control of postharvest decay on citrus while maintaining fruit quality after harvest.     

Effects of carboxymethyl cellulose and chitosan bilayer edible coating on postharvest quality of citrus fruit

There is increasing public interest in development of edible natural biodegradable coatings to replace the currently used commercial synthetic waxes for maintaining postharvest quality of citrus fruit. We tested the efficacy of a newly developed polysaccharide-based edible bilayer coating comprising carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and chitosan in preserving postharvest quality of various citrus fruit, including ‘Or’ and ‘Mor’ mandarins, ‘Navel’ oranges, and ‘Star Ruby’ grapefruit after simulated storage and marketing. In all citrus species, it was found that the CMC/chitosan bilayer coating was equally effective as the commercial polyethylene wax in enhancing fruit gloss. Furthermore, the CMC/chitosan bilayer coating slightly increased fruit firmness, especially of oranges and grapefruit, but was mostly not effective in preventing post-storage weight loss. Both the CMC/chitosan bilayer coating and the commercial wax had no significant effects on juice total soluble solids and acidity levels, and had similar effects on gas permeability, as indicated by only slight increases in internal CO₂ levels and in juice ethanol accumulation after storage. Sensory analyses revealed that neither the CMC/chitosan bilayer coating nor the commercial wax coating had any deleterious effects on flavor preference of ‘Navel’ orange and ‘Star Ruby’ grapefruit. However, application of the commercial wax, and moreover the CMC/chitosan bilayer coating, resulted in a gradual decrease in flavor acceptability of ‘Or’ and ‘Mor’ mandarins because of increased perception of off-flavors. Overall, we showed that the CMC/chitosan bilayer edible coating sufficiently enhanced fruit gloss, but was not effective in preventing postharvest weight loss. Furthermore, flavor quality was slightly impaired in mandarins but not in oranges and grapefruit.     

Predicting the spread of postharvest disease in stored fruit,with application to apples

Postharvest diseases can cause considerable damage to harvested fruit in controlled atmosphere storage. Since there is a large cost associated with opening the storage rooms, regular assessment of damage levels is not feasible, and many experts agree on the need for a reliable predictive model. Presented here is a simulation model that predicts the overall incidence of disease in a bin of stored fruit as a function of initial infection levels and the fruit's susceptibility to fungal attack. Uninfected fruit tissue, infected fruit tissue, and fungal growth are modelled by a system of three ordinary differential equations. Simulations of the growth and spread of the pathogen in storage were conducted, with disease incidence measured monthly. The model provides insight into the dynamics of postharvest fungal disease, and forms the basis of a predictive model that could be used by packinghouses to determine how long a given crop of fruit can be stored before the infection risk rises above a predetermined tolerable level.     

Effect of antifungal hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-beeswax edible coatings on gray mold development and quality attributes of cold-stored cherry tomato fruit

Edible composite coatings based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), beeswax (BW), and food preservatives with antifungal properties, were evaluated on cherry tomatoes during cold storage. Food preservatives selected from previous research work included sodium propionate (SP), potassium carbonate (PC), ammonium phosphate (APh) and ammonium carbonate (AC). Cherry tomatoes artificially inoculated with Botrytis cinerea were coated and stored up to 15 d at 5 °C followed by 7 d of shelf-life at 20 °C. All antifungal HPMC-BW coatings significantly reduced gray mold development on inoculated and cold-stored cherry tomatoes, the SP-based coating being the most effective. Analytical and sensory fruit quality was also evaluated after cold storage and shelf-life. The AC-based coating was the most effective to control weight loss and maintain the firmness of coated cherry tomatoes. Respiration rate, firmness, color, sensory flavor, off-flavor, and fruit appearance were not adversely affected by the application of the antifungal coatings. Overall, the application of HPMC-BW edible composite coatings containing AC could be a promising treatment to extend the postharvest life of cherry tomatoes. Further studies should focus on the modification of some physical characteristics of the coatings in order to enhance the general performance and provide higher peel gloss.     

Evaluation of postharvest treatments with chemical resistance inducers to control green and blue molds on orange fruit

Preventive and curative activities of postharvest treatments with selected chemical resistance inducers to control postharvest green (GM) and blue (BM) molds on oranges (cvs. ‘Valencia’ or ‘Lanelate’) artificially inoculated with Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum, respectively, were evaluated. In vivo primary screenings to select the most effective chemicals and concentrations were performed with benzothiadiazole (BTH), β-aminobutyric acid (BABA), 2,6-dichloroisonicotinic acid (INA), sodium silicate (SSi), salicylic acid (SA), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and harpin. INA at 0.03 mM, SA at 0.25 mM, BABA at 0.3 mM and BTH at 0.9 mM were selected and tested afterwards as dips at 20 °C for 60 or 150 s with oranges artificially inoculated before or after the treatment and incubated for 7 d at 20 °C. Although it was an effective treatment, SSi at 1000 mM was discarded because of potential phytotoxicity to the fruit rind. Preventive or curative postharvest dips at room temperature had no effect or only reduced the development of GM and BM very slightly. Therefore, these treatments cannot be recommended for inclusion in postharvest decay management programs for citrus packinghouses.     

The potential role of PR-8 gene of apple fruit in the mode of action of the yeast antagonist,Candida oleophila,in postharvest biocontrol of Botrytis cinerea

Several pathogenesis-related (PR) genes of apple have been cloned and their response to different pathogens has been studied. Different PR genes, however, may have a variable response depending on the specific organ or tissue as well as microbe. The objective of the current study was to characterize the expression of specific apple PR genes in fruit tissues in response to the antagonistic yeast, Candida oleophila (a common postharvest biocontrol agent), and the fungal pathogen, Botrytis cinerea (a major postharvest pathogen). Apple PR-5 and PR-8 gene expression was characterized in fruit in response to C. oleophila and B. cinerea. Results indicated that PR-8 expression was significantly elevated in response to both fungi. In contrast, neither C. oleophila nor B. cinerea treatment markedly affected PR-5 expression. The PR-8 gene was then synthesized and cloned into a Pichia pastoris expression system to study the antifungal activity of the PR-8 protein against B. cinerea both in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, the PR-8 gene of apple is associated with the response to B. cinerea infection, and may play a role in the mechanism by which C. oleophila effectively inhibits B. cinerea disease in apple fruit, namely by the induction of this specific host PR gene.     

Effects of a phospholipase D inhibitor on postharvest enzymatic browning and oxidative stress of litchi fruit

Membrane lipid degradation catalyzed by phospholipase D (PLD) results in postharvest browning and senescence of litchi fruit. The effects of n-butanol, a specific PLD inhibitor, on enzymatic browning and oxidative stress during storage of litchi fruit at room temperature were evaluated. n-Butanol-treated fruit had a lower browning index and disease index than untreated fruit. n-Butanol treatment also decreased PLD activity. As a result, the decompartmentalization of litchi polyphenoloxidase and substrates was reduced. The conversion of substrates (−)-epicatechin and procyanidin A₂ into quinones was slowed down and enzymatic browning of litchi pericarp tissues was lower after 6 d storage. Additionally, n-butanol-treated fruit possessed significantly lower malondialdehyde contents than untreated fruit after 4 d storage. Analysis of antioxidative enzyme activities showed that n-butanol treatment inhibited oxidative stress mainly by maintaining high catalase activity in litchi pericarp tissues. Consequently, senescence of litchi fruit during storage was moderated.     

Control of postharvest diseases on citrus fruit by preharvest applications of biocontrol agent Pantoea agglomerans CPA-2: Part II. Effectiveness of different cell formulations

Infection of citrus fruit by postharvest pathogens often occurs in the field prior to harvest; therefore, it could be advantageous to apply biocontrol agents before harvest, which would reduce initial infection and then remain active and control pathogens in storage and under commercial conditions. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the effectiveness of different formulations of Pantoea agglomerans applied preharvest for controlling postharvest diseases on citrus. Results confirmed the protective effect of the additive Fungicover (FC) on populations of P. agglomerans exposed to non-conducive field conditions. In general, when osmotic-adapted and lyophilised P. agglomerans cells were used in bacterial treatments, these treatments showed greater survival rates than treatments with non-osmotic-adapted or fresh cells under field conditions. However, this superiority was only found when Fungicover was also added to suspensions of bacterial treatments. Therefore, bacterial treatments with Fungicover had population levels of P. agglomerans cells 1.2 and 2.8 log CFU cm⁻² higher than bacterial treatments without Fungicover during field experiments. These results allowed us to conclude that it is possible to improve environmental stress tolerance and ecological competence of P. agglomerans cells by integrating certain formulation strategies. Consequently, the improved formulation of P. agglomerans provided an effective control for orange fruit against natural postharvest pathogen infections and artificial infections of Penicillium digitatum with values of decay reduction higher than 50%. These latter results also demonstrated that it is possible to control postharvest pathogens using bacterial preharvest treatments.     

Effects of chlorine dioxide treatment on respiration rate and ethylene synthesis of postharvest tomato fruit

Tomato fruit at the mature green stage were treated with ClO₂ gas in a sealed container for 12 h, and then stored at 23 °C with 85% relative humidity (RH) for 23 d. Respiration rate, respiration-related enzymes including phosphohexose isomerase (PHI), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGDH), ethylene production, and the expression of LeAOX1a, LeCOX1, LeACS2, LeACS4 and LeACO1 genes were measured. The results showed that application of ClO₂ gas was effective in reducing total respiration, cytochrome pathway respiration and the expression of LeCOX1, but no significant reduction in the activities of respiration-related enzymes was observed during storage. Fruit treated with ClO₂ resulted in lower ethylene production. Furthermore, the expression of ethylene biosynthesis related genes, including LeACS2, LeACS4 and LeACO1 was reduced by the ClO₂ treatment. These results indicate that ClO₂ treatment might delay the ripening of tomato fruit, possibly by a mechanism involving suppression of respiration rate and ethylene biosynthesis.     

Effect of postharvest biofumigation on fungal decay,sensory quality,and antioxidant levels of blueberry fruit

Postharvest decay, caused by various fungal pathogens, is an important concern in commercial blueberry production, but current options for managing postharvest diseases are limited for this crop. Four plant essential oils (cinnamon oil, linalool, p-cymene, and peppermint leaf oil) and the plant oil-derived biofungicides Sporan (rosemary and wintergreen oils) and Sporatec (rosemary, clove, and thyme oils) were evaluated as postharvest biofumigants to manage fungal decay under refrigerated holding conditions. Hand-harvested Tifblue rabbiteye blueberry fruit were inoculated at the stem end with conidial suspensions of Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum acutatum, or sterile deionized water (check inoculation) and subjected to biofumigation treatments under refrigeration (7 °C) for 1 wk. Sporatec volatiles reduced disease incidence significantly (P < 0.05) in most cases, whereas other treatments had no consistent effect on postharvest decay. Sensory analysis of uninoculated, biofumigated berries was performed utilizing a trained sensory panel, and biofumigation was found to have significant negative impacts on several sensory attributes such as sourness, astringency, juiciness, bitterness, and blueberry-like flavor. Biofumigated fruit were also analyzed for antioxidant capacity and individual anthocyanins, and no consistent effects on these antioxidant-related variables were found in treated berries. Because of limited efficacy in reducing postharvest decay, negative impacts on sensory qualities, and failure to increase antioxidant levels, the potential for postharvest biofumigation of blueberries under refrigerated holding conditions appears limited.     

Effect of chitin on the antagonistic activity of Rhodosporidium paludigenum against Penicillium expansum in apple fruit

This study aimed to investigate the effect of chitin on the antagonistic activity of Rhodosporidium paludigenum against Penicillium expansum, the cause of blue mold in apple fruit, and the possible mechanisms involved. Our results showed that biocontrol efficacy and population growth of R. paludigenum were greatly enhanced when it was harvested from nutrient yeast dextrose with added chitin (NYCB) medium compared with that harvested from nutrient yeast dextrose (NYDB) medium. The ability of R. paludigenum produced in NYCB to induce resistance to blue mold in apple fruit was significantly enhanced. The enhanced disease control efficacy was correlated with higher levels of polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in apple fruit treated with R. paludigenum. Moreover, the SOD and catalase (CAT) activities of R. paludigenum were stimulated by cultivating in NYCB, while malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation in the yeast cells was suppressed. These results indicated that adding chitin to normal media might be an effective method to improve the antagonistic activity of R. paludigenum and the active oxygen metabolism of R. paludigenum might be closely related to the biocontrol activity of the yeast.     

保鲜剂与保鲜膜在芒果贮藏保鲜中的应用试验

芒果(MangiferaindicaL.)是典型热带水果,七八成熟的果实采后在常温下5～7d,即可完全成熟,而后稍不加控制马上会迅速腐烂。分析其原因有两个:一是果实发生生理病变,如营养失调,过度失水,有毒代谢产物过多积累等,导致果实组织中毒,扰乱果品正常生理;二是病原真菌和细菌浸染,引起果实组织败坏崩解而腐烂。其中后者产生的作用更为严重。急需加强采后保鲜技术研究。笔者试验的目的是研究贵妃芒、台农芒的采后生理及保鲜措施,为芒果保鲜提供技术服务。     

Control of postharvest diseases on citrus fruit by preharvest application of the biocontrol agent Pantoea agglomerans CPA-2: Part I. Study of different formulation strategies to improve survival of cells in unfavourable environmental conditions

The objective in the present study was to investigate the survival and effectiveness of different biological agent Pantoea agglomerans formulations against Penicillium spp. with different preharvest treatments. Results indicated a high sensitivity of non-adapted and osmotic-adapted P. agglomerans cells to environmental conditions in the field, resulting in preharvest treatments which were ineffective against Penicillium spp. In the second part of this study, dry conditions and solar radiation were identified as important environmental conditions that seriously affect populations of P. agglomerans cells. Different formulation strategies were tested in order to improve the resistance of cells to unfavourable environmental conditions. Osmotic-adapted P. agglomerans cells in the presence of 25 g L⁻¹ of NaCl in the production medium [osmotic-adapted treatment (P25)] or at water activities (a_w) of 0.98 [osmotic-adapted treatment (P98)] had higher survival rates than non-adapted cells, when these cells were sprayed on oranges and stored in hermetically sealed chambers at a low RH of 43%. Among seven additives tested, the presence of 5% Fungicover in the bacterial suspension improved adherence and persistence of P. agglomerans cells on oranges exposed to unfavourable conditions. Therefore, while P. agglomerans cells sprayed alone had log values of 0.5 CFU cm⁻², in combination with Fungicover the population level of P. agglomerans cells reached log values of 5 and 4.2 CFU cm⁻², at 0 and 24 h after application. Lyophilised cells showed greater resistance to unfavourable environmental conditions than fresh cells. The present study has demonstrated that the formulation improvement can provide better performance of biocontrol agents under environmental conditions non-conducive for growth and survival.     

Suitability of nectarine cultivars for minimal processing: The role of genotype,harvest season and maturity at harvest on quality and sensory attributes

Six cling-stone melting nectarine cultivars (‘Big Top’, ‘Luciana’, ‘Honey Royale’, ‘Nectareine’, ‘Big Nectared’ and ‘Nectalady’) were cut and dipped into an aqueous solution of 2% ascorbic acid, 1% citric acid and 1% calcium chloride before being stored in amorphous polyethylene terephthalate trays. Their suitability to be processed as fresh-cut product was then investigated on the basis of their initial quality, browning potential and sensory attributes as well as the changes in these parameters after processing. At harvest, two maturity stages were selected for each cultivar based on their index of absorbance difference. Nonetheless, no significant effect of maturity stage at harvest was observed for most of the physico-chemical and/or sensory parameters during storage. On the contrary, differences among cultivars were emphasized when comparing ethanol and acetaldehyde production, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, volatiles production, sensory profile, and consumer acceptance. ‘Honey Royale’ and ‘Nectalady’ wedges showed higher volatiles production, whereas ‘Big Nectared’ and ‘Luciana’ had a slightly lower browning index (BI). In the sensory evaluation, ‘Nectareine’ had the highest acceptability scores, whereas ‘Big Nectared’ had the lowest. The significant correlations between volatiles, sensory attributes and degree of liking observed in this study underline the importance of aroma in fresh-cut products.     

Effect of postharvest ethylene treatment on carotenoid accumulation and the expression of carotenoid biosynthetic genes in the flavedo of orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) fruit

Degreening with ethylene is a common postharvest practice in citrus fruit. In this work we have examined the effect of ethylene treatment on carotenoid content and composition, and on the expression of carotenoid biosynthetic genes in the flavedo of Navelate orange (Citrus sinensis L.) harvested at two ripening stages. The ethylene-induced fruit coloration and carotenoid content in the flavedo increased with the ripening stage of the fruit. Analysis of the changes in individual carotenoids revealed that ethylene stimulated an increase in phytoene, phytofluene, (9Z)-violaxanthin which is the main carotenoid in fully ripened orange peel, and the apocarotenoid β-citraurin, and decreased the concentration of chloroplastic carotenoids. These changes are consistent with the effect of ethylene on the expression of carotenoid biosynthetic genes, since it up-regulated the expression of phytoene synthase, ζ-carotene desaturase and β-carotene hydroxylase genes, sustained or transiently increased accumulation of phytoene desaturase, plastid terminal oxidase, β-lycopene cyclase and zeaxanthin epoxidase mRNAs, and decreased the expression of the ɛ-lycopene cyclase gene. These data indicate that exogenous ethylene reproduces and accelerates the physiological and molecular changes in the carotenoid biosynthesis naturally occurring during maturation of citrus fruit. On the other hand, gibberellic acid, which delays fruit degreening, reduced the ethylene-induced expression of early carotenoid biosynthetic genes and the accumulation of phytoene, phytofluene and β-citraurin.     

Effect of high-pressure hot water washing treatment on fruit quality, insects, and disease in apples and pears: Part II. Effect on postharvest decay of d’Anjou pear fruit

A hot water pressure process (HWP) was evaluated for its effect on conidia of Penicillium expansum and on development of blue mold, gray mold, and mucor rot of d’Anjou pear fruit. Spores were removed from the water system through dilution and also as a result of hot water in the system that was lethal to the spores. When the system was heated, viable spores were not detected after 2–4 h of operation. Reductions in decay in the HWP system were 36, 29, and 13% for Botrytis cinerea, Mucor piriformis, and P. expansum, respectively. The response of P. expansum appeared related to the length of time fruit was in cold storage. Heat injury was observed on fruit treated with 40 and 50 °C water but not on fruit at 30 °C nozzle temperature. The HWP system described in this study should be considered as a component of an integrated decay control strategy.     

Effect of high-pressure hot water washing treatment on fruit quality, insects, and disease in apples and pears: Part IV: Use of silicone-based materials and mechanical methods to eliminate surface arthropod eggs

The presence of surface arthropods on commercially processed apples and pears poses a problem when these fruits are exported to countries where there are either limits on the numbers of eggs or a total quarantine restriction against these pests. Removal of mite and other arthropod eggs, such as European red mite (ERM) and codling moth (CM) eggs, may be enhanced by the use of a surface cleaning system, such as a hot water, high-pressure spray. Even if organosilicones, like Silwet L-77, have been used to kill spider mites, it was unclear if these chemicals could also facilitate the removal of arthropod eggs from the surface of fruit. In the present study, high-pressure washing process was highly effective in removing CM and ERM eggs at pressures as low as 400 kPa, resulting in greater than 60% removal of ERM eggs and 90% of CM eggs. High-pressure washing was the most important factor in removal of codling moth and European red mite eggs than organosilicone dips or hot water sprays.