Dissipation of teflubenzuron and triflumuron residues in field-sprayed and cold-stored pears.

Dissipation of residues of benzoylurea insecticides teflubenzuron (TFB) and triflumuron (TFM) under field conditions was evaluated on a pear orchard in Greece. Residues were determined by UV-HPLC analysis, with a detection limit of 0.030 mg/kg for both pesticides. TFB residues in pears were found to persist for 2 weeks and decline thereafter with 48% of the initial deposit remaining 42 days after the last application. TFM residues were found to decline following first-order kinetics and with a half-life of 39(+/-7) days. Residues of both pesticides found in pears collected at harvest maturity were lower than the maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by individual countries. Dissipation of TFB and TFM in cold-stored pears was also evaluated. TFB residues were very persistent for the whole storage period, whereas TFM residues did not dissipate for 6 weeks and then showed a constant decline; 7% of the initial concentration remained at the end of the storage period of 29 weeks.     

Determining the potential to breed for enhanced antioxidant status in Malus: mean inter- and intravarietal fruit vitamin C and glutathione contents at harvest and their evolution during storage

Vitamin C (L-ascorbate, L-ascorbic acid; L-AA) and glutathione (GSH) are major hydrophilic antioxidants in plants with important roles in stress resistance and nutrition. To evaluate the potential for breeding for enhanced levels of these compounds, a comprehensive screen of the fruit from some 31 apple (Malus) cultivars has been carried out to determine the biodiversity present in the mean inter- and intracultivar concentrations of both the oxidized and reduced forms of these compounds, as well as the impact of storage on their concentrations. It is noted that despite limited variation at harvest, cultivars differed substantially in their ability to maintain L-AA levels during storage, primarily due to the loss of L-AA by "low-vitamin C" cultivars. Generally, cultivars that could maintain their L-AA and GSH pools also had better storage properties. Interestingly, there was also a correlation between fruit vitamin C contents and the harvest date, such that cultivars with the highest vitamin C contents were harvested latest in the season and the lowest contents were found among the early varieties. Correlations with other physiological parameters, however, were too weak to serve as useful predictive tools.     

Carbohydrate and acid contents of Gala apples and Bartlett pears from regular and controlled atmosphere storage.

Gala apples and Bartlett pears were harvested over two crop seasons at different maturities and growing sources then stored in refrigerated storage alone and in controlled atmosphere storage (1% O(2) plus 1% CO(2) or 2% O(2) plus 3% CO(2)). Before and after storage of 45 or 90 days, the juice from the fruit was examined for carbohydrate and acid compositions and contents. For Gala apples, the type and length of storage had no significant effect on juice carbohydrate and acid contents and compositions, whereas the time of harvest greatly influenced both parameters. Storage atmosphere did not affect the carbohydrate and acid contents and compositions of Bartlett pear juice; however, the source of the fruit and subsequent amount of ripening did appear to significantly cause changes in the same parameters. The carbohydrate and acid compositions and contents of Gala apple juice were within the compositional range for worldwide apple juice. Bartlett pear juice contained significantly greater concentrations of citric acid than shown in previously published studies.     

双孢菇高氧动态气调保鲜参数优化

为提高双孢蘑菇保鲜效果,在(2±1)℃下采用高氧动态气调方法对双孢蘑菇进行贮藏试验,选取第1阶段不同O_2/CO_2比例的气体组分、换气时间、第2阶段不同O_2/CO_2比例的气体组分作为影响因素,考察双孢蘑菇贮藏过程中总色差ΔE、硬度以及感官品质的变化,对双孢蘑菇的动态气调参数进行优化。研究结果显示,第1阶段O_2比例高于80%时,可显著抑制双孢蘑菇ΔE的上升(P0.05);第2阶段80%O_2+20%CO_2气体组分,可使双孢蘑菇的ΔE显著低于其他处理,硬度显著高于其他处理(P0.05);而换气时间则影响较小。最优的动态气调条件为:第1阶段气体组分100%O_2,第3天换气,第2阶段气体组分80%O_2+20%CO_2,双孢蘑菇的ΔE、硬度值和感官品质评分分别为:19.40、6.84×105 Pa和9.52。将此最优动态气调运用于双孢蘑菇的保鲜,研究发现,与静态气调相比,该动态气调显著抑制了双孢蘑菇的呼吸速率与膜结构的损坏,维持了较高的过氧化物酶、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶活性与较低的多酚氧化酶活性,有效抑制了贮藏过程中的酶促褐变,保持了较高的可溶性蛋白含量,并延长其保鲜期至28 d,提高了双孢蘑菇的耐贮性。     

降温方法对不同采收期鸭梨采后果心褐变和膜脂组分的影响

为了探讨缓慢降温抑制采后鸭梨果实褐变的机理,研究了不同降温方法对不同采收期鸭梨果心膜脂脂肪酸组分、含量、膜相变温度、脂氧合酶（LOX）活性以及果心褐变的影响。结果表明：鸭梨果心含有月桂酸、豆蔻酸、棕榈酸、棕榈油酸、珠光酸、硬脂酸、油酸、亚油酸、亚麻酸,其中含量较多的是亚油酸、棕榈酸和油酸。缓慢降温提高了早采鸭梨果心的亚麻酸和亚油酸相对含量及不饱和脂肪酸与饱和脂肪酸比值（U/S）,降低了果心的膜相变温度,明显抑制了果心LOX活性和褐变。推迟采收提高了鸭梨果心的U/S值,降低了膜相变温度,但由于采收期晚,果实衰老较快,后期果心LOX活性快速升高,膜脂过氧化严重,导致晚采果更容易褐变。总之,适当早采结合缓慢降温可以提高鸭梨果心膜脂不饱和脂肪酸含量和U/S值,抑制果心褐变。     

Compositional changes in 'Bartlett' pear ( Pyrus communis L.) cell wall polysaccharides as affected by sunlight conditions

Preharvest conditions can have a great impact on fruit quality attributes and postharvest responses. Firmness is an important quality attribute in pear, and excessive softening increases susceptibility to bruising and decay, thus limiting fruit postharvest life. Textural characteristics of fruits are determined at least in part by cell wall structure and disassembly. Few studies have analyzed the influence of fruit preharvest environment in softening, cell wall composition, and degradation. In the current work 'Bartlett' pears grown either facing the sun (S) or in the shade (H) were harvested and stored for 13 days at 20 °C. An evaluation of fruit soluble solids, acidity, color, starch degradation, firmness, cell wall yield, pectin and matrix glycan solubilization, depolymerization, and monosaccharide composition was carried out. Sun-exposed pears showed more advanced color development and similar levels of starch degradation, sugars, and acids than shaded fruit. Sunlight-grown pears were at harvest firmer than shade-grown pears. Both fruit groups softened during storage at 20 °C, but even after ripening, sun-exposed pears remained firmer. Sunlight exposure did not have a great impact on pectin molecular weight. Instead, at harvest a higher proportion of water-solubilized uronic acids and alkali-solubilized neutral sugars and a larger mean molecular size of tightly bound glycans was found in sun-exposed pears. During ripening cell wall catabolism took place in both sun- and shade-grown pears, but pectin solubilization was clearly delayed in sun-exposed fruit. This was associated with decreased removal of RG I-arabinan side chains rather than with reduced depolymerization.     

不同CO2浓度下鸡蛋呼吸仿真分析及验证

贮存环境中CO_2浓度对鸡蛋呼吸作用及新鲜度变化具有重要影响,为了进一步考察在不同CO_2浓度下鸡蛋呼吸释放CO_2的扩散及新鲜度变化情况,该研究测定贮存在温度为25℃、相对湿度为65%、CO_2体积分数分别为1.5%、3.0%、4.5%及空气(对照组)环境下鸡蛋呼吸和新鲜度,利用FLUENT软件完成不同CO_2浓度下鸡蛋第1天呼吸释放CO_2的扩散过程仿真。结果表明,利用Fluent软件计算所得气体速度值和试验值基本一致,模拟值与实测值相对误差在4%～9%。不同CO_2浓度下鸡蛋释放CO_2的扩散过程符合重气扩散的特点,其扩散方向受到CO_2浓度的影响,且随着贮存环境中CO_2浓度的增加,鸡蛋呼吸释放CO_2的扩散量和扩散速度逐渐变小,呼吸得到抑制。再通过分析贮存过程中不同CO_2体积分数下鸡蛋呼吸强度和新鲜度变化得出,对照组1.5%CO_2与3.0%CO_2下的鸡蛋呼吸强度和新鲜度具有显著差异(P0.05),当贮存环境中CO_2体积分数达到3.0%时,对鸡蛋呼吸强度的抑制效果不再明显,且新鲜度变化保持不变。3.0%CO_2和4.5%CO_2体积分数下贮存鸡蛋20 d,其新鲜度等级仍在AA级以上,综合经济因素,3.0%CO_2保鲜鸡蛋效果较优。该研究可为鸡蛋呼吸和气调保鲜技术提供理论及数据基础。     

“JONAGOLD” APPLE FRUIT QUALITY AS INFLUENCED BY FALL SPRAYS WITH CALCIUM CHLORIDE AT HIGH RATES

The aim of the experiment was to examine the effects of fall sprays with calcium (Ca) as calcium chloride at high rates on ‘Jonagold’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) fruit quality. Trees were sprayed with Ca both in summer (9, 7, 5, and 3 weeks before fruit harvest) at a rate of 3 kg Ca ha^?1and in fall (one week before fruit harvest) at rates of 8, 16, or 24 kg Ca ha^?1. Fall Ca sprays resulted in leaf injuries and defoliation; however they had no effect on cold hardiness of one-year-old shoots. Fruit yield, weight, maturity at harvest, surface condition, and color were not influenced by Ca sprays during three consecutive years. Fruit Ca concentration corresponded with amount of Ca applied. In two of three years, summer Ca sprays decreased sensitivity of apples to bitter pit. Fruit sprayed with Ca both in summer and in fall had higher firmness and titratable acidity after storage and were more resistant to bitter pit and internal breakdown than controls and fruit sprayed only with Ca in summer. Apples sprayed with Ca in summer and in fall at the highest rate were the least sensitive to bitter pit and internal breakdown and were more resistant to decay than control fruit.     

Influence of harvest date within the season and cold storage on cherimoya fruit ripening

Cherimoya ripening with and without prior storage at 8 degrees C was studied in fruit harvested on early- (EH), mid- (MH), and late-season (LH) dates. Most of the differences in the ripening behavior were observed between EH cherimoyas and fruit from the other two harvest dates. During ripening of nonstored fruit, the increases in ethylene production and respiration rates and in soluble sugars and organic acids contents were faster in EH than in the other fruits (which ripened 1 day later). These differences could be due to variations in the physiological stage at harvest as a result of the different heat units (degree/month) accumulated in the last month of fruit development. During ripening of cold-stored fruit the differences in the time to the onset of the increase in ethylene production and in the accumulation of malic and citric acid were minimized, especially after longer storage times, and the relationship of harvest date with the increases in respiration rate was lost. Glucose and fructose accumulation was reduced by prior cold storage, especially after longer storage duration and in MH and LH fruit, but sucrose hydrolysis was almost complete, as in nonstored fruit. It is suggested that glucose and fructose accumulation is more sensitive to low temperature than sucrose metabolism and that this differential sensitivity is more marked in MH and LH cherimoyas. The time to ripen was inversely related to prior cold storage duration and was dependent on harvest date: the later the harvest date, the longer storage time it took to shorten subsequent ripening.     

Changes in the volatile compounds and chemical and physical properties of Kuerle fragrant pear (Pyrus serotina Reld) during storage

Volatiles from stored Kuerle fragrant pears (Pyrus serotina Reld) were studied using high-resolution gas chromatography and the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The dominant components were hexanal, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl butanoate, ethyl acetate, hexyl acetate, ethanol, alpha-farnesene, butyl acetate, and ethyl (E,Z)-2,4-decadienoate. By using GC-olfactometry, it demonstrated that the volatile compounds from SPME were responsible for the aroma of the Kuerle fragrant pear. The levels of sugars, organic acids, and phenolic acids in Kuerle fragrant pears were investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Fructose was the dominant sugar, followed by glucose and sucrose. With increasing storage time, sucrose levels decreased; however, changes in fructose and glucose levels were not remarkable. There was a slight decrease in flesh firmness during storage. The general soluble solids concentration (SSC) declined slightly after 5 months storage. Some aroma-related volatile components increased during storage, while others decreased, especially the esters. The organic acids and phenolic acids also changed. The flavor of the Kuerle fragrant pears was affected by the change of volatile compounds and changes in chemical and physical properties.     

FACE对水稻土产甲烷菌和甲烷氧化菌种群及其活性的影响

利用江都市小记镇的稻-麦轮作FACE平台,采用最大可能(MPN)法,在2005年水稻生长季研究了不同施肥(常规N量和低N量)、不同秸秆还田(秸秆全还田和秸秆不还田)处理土壤中的产甲烷菌和甲烷氧化菌数量在大气CO2浓度升高(FACE)条件下随时间的变化情况,并且借助气相色谱测定了土壤的产甲烷潜力和甲烷氧化潜力。结果表明:在秸秆全还田情况下,FACE对于产甲烷菌在分蘖期具有促进作用,而在抽穗期与收获期具有抑制作用,这种作用在低N条件下达到显著性(P<0.05)水平。而秸秆不还田情况下,FACE对产甲烷菌无明显促进作用;在低量N的施用情况下,FACE对于土壤甲烷氧化菌的活性具有刺激作用,在水稻抽穗期土壤甲烷氧化菌数量明显地高于对照,达到显著性水平(P<0.05);而常规施N量秸秆全还田的情况下,在水稻的分蘖期、拔节期和收获期FACE土壤中的甲烷氧化菌数量却受到一定程度的抑制。土壤的产甲烷潜力测定结果表明,FACE能促进土壤的CH4释放,尤其是在常规N量施用条件下。当底物(加入外源CH4)充足时,FACE条件下能使土壤具有较高的氧化CH4的能力,其CH4氧化潜力明显大于对照土壤,并且这种作用在常规N肥施用条件下尤为明显,达极显著性水平(P<0.01)。     

Epimeric separation of L-ascorbic acid and D-isoascorbic acid by capillary zone electrophoresis

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) was used for separation of L-ascorbic acid (L-AA) and D-isoascorbic acid (D-IAA) in a model system. The effects of borate buffer concentration (0.05-0.25 M) and pH (pH 7.5-9.0) on migration time, resolution (Rs), and theoretical plates (N) were investigated. The migration times of L-AA and D-IAA increased with the increasing pH of carrier electrolyte (0.2 borate buffer), and the resolutions (Rs) of L-AA and D-IAA were calculated to be 12.98 at pH 9.0. Concentrations of borate buffer (pH 9.0) increased the Rs values of L-AA and D-IAA, and buffer concentrations >0.1 M were found to be effective for separation of L-AA and D-IAA. Methanol in the carrier electrolyte was also influential in improving the separation of L-AA and D-IAA, which increased with the increasing concentrations (0-10%) of methanol. The optimal separation conditions for L-AA and D-IAA were as follows: carrier electrolyte, 0.2 M borate buffer (pH 9.0); applied voltage, 25 kV, with an uncoated fused silica capillary, 75 microm (i.d.) x 57 cm.     

Impacts of Delayed Drying on Discoloration and Functionality of Rice

In‐bin, on‐farm drying systems for rough rice present challenges for maintaining kernel quality when drying fronts stall and the top layer of grain maintains its harvest moisture content (MC) for extended periods. This high MC, in addition to ambient temperatures in early autumn in the Mid‐South United States, creates ideal conditions for quality losses to occur. This study evaluated the effects of rough rice storage at MCs of 12.5, 16, 19, and 21% for up to 16 weeks at temperatures of 20, 27, and 40°C on milling yields, kernel color, and functionality of three long‐grain cultivars. Head rice yield was negatively impacted only after other reductions in quality had occurred. Temperature‐specific discoloration patterns were observed at 27 and 40°C in 2014; the uniquely discolored kernels seen in 2014 at 27°C were absent from samples in 2015 under identical conditions. Peak viscosity, breakdown, and final viscosity tended to increase over storage duration at 20 and 27°C and all storage MCs but plateaued after 8 weeks. Storage of rice at 40°C and all MCs greatly reduced peak viscosity after 6 weeks. To prevent quality losses, in‐bin dryers should be monitored closely to avoid exceeding the thresholds of storage MC, temperature, and duration identified here.     

燃煤烟气对土壤-小麦系统中汞累积及分布的影响

为研究燃煤烟气对土壤-小麦系统中汞积累和分布的影响,在小麦苗期和成熟期采集河南省商丘市某燃煤电厂周围农田土壤和小麦植株样品,用ZYG-Ⅱ型智能冷原子荧光测汞仪测量样品中的汞含量。结果表明,小麦苗期和成熟期,土壤样品中汞含量没有超过土壤环境质量标准（GB15618—1995）二级标准的限值。燃煤电厂周围表层土中汞含量要明显高于深层土,呈表层富集现象,苗期小麦根的汞含量高于茎叶,其根、茎叶的汞含量与表层土的汞含量呈显著正相关。小麦从苗期到收获期,表层土、小麦根和茎叶的汞浓度升高。小麦从苗期到收获期,茎叶面积迅速增加,小麦叶片直接从大气中吸收燃煤烟气中的汞,使小麦茎叶通过叶面吸收的汞浓度增加,收获期燃煤电厂周围小麦各器官汞含量为茎叶〉根〉颖壳〉籽粒。成熟期小麦根的汞含量与表层土的汞含量呈显著正相关,而茎叶汞含量与表层土的汞含量无相关性。因此,燃煤烟气中汞沉降影响燃煤电厂周围种植的小麦各器官对汞的吸收和累积。     

Temperature and exposure time during ethylene conditioning affect ripening of Bartlett pears

Freshly harvested early- and mid-season Bartlett pears (Pyrus communis) were treated with ethylene (air plus 10 Pa C(2)H(4)) or air at 5, 10, and 20 degrees C for 24 and 48 h (experiment 1) and at 5 and 10 degrees C for 48, 72, and 96 h and at 20 degrees C for 24 h (experiment 2). Following C(2)H(4) or air treatment at different temperatures and durations, pears were transferred to 20 degrees C in air for ripening. Bartlett pears were evaluated for firmness, color, respiration, C(2)H(4) production, and activities of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase (ACC-S) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase (ACC-O). Ethylene action was temperature dependent. The duration of C(2)H(4) conditioning needed to fully induce ripening was longer at lower temperatures: 72 h at 5 degrees C, 48 h at 10 degrees C, and 24 h at 20 degrees C. Cold storage in air for as little as 3-4 days at 5 or 10 degrees C appeared to hasten subsequent ripening, but to a lesser extent than pears kept for 2 weeks at -1 degrees C in air. Despite a significant increase in ACC-S activity in pears treated with C(2)H(4) at 5 degrees C, there was not a simultaneous increase in ACC-O activity, resulting in low C(2)H(4) production that was insufficient to generate the threshold endogenous levels of C(2)H(4) required for ripening. Contrary to previous findings with pears, these data indicate that ACC-O could be a rate-limiting step in C(2)H(4) biosynthesis.     

Irradiation and modified atmosphere packaging effects on residual nitrite,ascorbic acid,nitrosomyoglobin, and color in sausage

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the irradiation and modified atmosphere packaging effects on emulsion-type cooked pork sausage during storage for 4 weeks. CO(2) (100%), N(2) (100%), or 25% CO(2)/75% N(2) packaged sausage were irradiated at 0, 5, and 10 kGy, and residual nitrite, residual ascorbic acid, nitrosomyoglobin (NO-Mb), color values, and their correlation were observed. Irradiation significantly reduced the residual nitrite content and caused partial reduction of NO-Mb during storage. No difference was observed in ascorbic acid content by irradiation. Irradiation decreased the Hunter color a value of sausage. CO(2) or CO(2)/N(2) packaging were more effective for reducing residual nitrite and inhibiting the loss of the red color of sausage compared to N(2) packaging. Results indicated that the proper combination of irradiation and modified atmosphere packaging could reduce the residual nitrite in sausage with minimization of color change.     

温室蔬菜高架栽培CO2供气负荷计算与设备选型方法

针对温室CO_2供给设备容量设计缺乏相关理论和设备配置的相关规范,在分析CO_2恒定浓度控制模型、低浓度控制模型、恒定供气流量控制模型的基础上,探索建立了温室内CO_2平衡模型,结合作物对CO_2的需求和大型连栋温室蔬菜高架栽培的土壤CO_2释放量低等特点,提出了温室CO_2施肥供气负荷计算方法;以天然气锅炉的回收烟气和液态CO_2为气源,提出了以CO_2供应为目标的天然气锅炉功率和液态CO_2储液罐容积计算方法,为相应设备的设计选型提供了理论依据。以栽培面积49 200 m~2,容积329 640 m~3的文洛型温室为案例,采用该文建立模型进行计算表明,在CO_2施肥恒定流量控制模式下,设定最低控制CO_2体积分数为600×10~(-6) m~3/m~3条件下,白天仅需运行1台额定蒸发量为10 t/h的天然气锅炉就可满足CO_2施肥需求;用液化CO_2施肥,在CO_2低浓度控制模式下,设定最低控制CO_2体积分数为500×10~(-6) m~3/m~3条件下,则需要配备容积为20m~3的储液罐。实际运行情况表明,该文建立的CO_2施肥供气负荷计算与设备选型方法切实可行,满足实际生产的要求。     

Microbial stability, phytochemical retention, and organoleptic attributes of dense phase CO2 processed muscadine grape juice

Dense phase CO2 processing (DP-CO2) is a promising alternative to thermal pasteurization potentially inactivating microorganisms without affecting food phytochemicals or organoleptic characteristics. To demonstrate these effects, studies were conducted by changing processing pressure and CO2 concentration in relation to microbial destruction. Subsequent storage stability (10 weeks at 4 degrees C) of muscadine grape juice processed by DP-CO2 (34.5 MPa at 8% or 16% CO2) was evaluated and compared to a heat-pasteurized juice (75 degrees C, 15 s). Thermal pasteurization decreased anthocyanins (16%), soluble phenolics (26%), and antioxidant capacity (10%) whereas no changes were observed for both DP-CO2 juices. DP-CO2 juices also retained higher anthocyanins (335 mg/L), polyphenolics (473 mg/L), and antioxidant capacity (10.9 micromol of Trolox equivalents/mL) than thermally pasteurized juices at the end of storage. Insignificant differences in sensory attributes (color, flavor, aroma, and overall likeability) were observed between unprocessed and DP-CO2 juices, while significant differences were observed between unprocessed and heat-pasteurized juices. Panelists preferred DP-CO2 over heat-pasteurized juices throughout the first 6 weeks of storage, whereby the growth of yeast and mold adversely affected the juice aroma. Comparable microbial counts were observed between DP-CO2 and thermally pasteurized juices during the first 5 weeks of storage. DP-CO2 protected phytochemicals in muscadine juice during processing and storage without compromising microbial stability or sensory attributes over 5 weeks of storage.     

Postharvest variation in apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) Flavonoids following harvest, storage, and 1-MCP treatment

The impact of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on the synthesis and retention of flavonoid compounds during storage and ripening of red Delicious (Malus x domestica Borkh.) apples was investigated. Numerous anthocyanins, flavonols, flavan-3-ols, and a hydroxycinnamic acid from three different fruit harvest maturities were monitored after a 120 day storage and 1 week shelf life period using high-performance liquid chromatography/diode array detector analysis. The total flavonoid concentration was 5% greater in fruit treated with 1-MCP, whereas chlorogenic acid levels were 24% lower. All compounds analyzed increased in concentration during fruit harvest; however, the anthocyanins generally declined after storage, while chlorogenic acid levels increased. 1-MCP treatment resulted in the retention of anthocyanins in the latter stages of storage but did not affect the flavonols and flavan-3-ols. Chlorogenic acid biosynthesis from early and optimal fruit harvest maturities was greatly inhibited by 1-MCP during storage and the 1 week shelf life period. However, 1-MCP did not affect chlorogenic acid concentrations in late-harvested fruit. Results suggest that 1-MCP may inhibit the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and subsequent biosynthesis of flavonoid compounds. However, because very little postharvest biosynthesis of flavonoids occurs in apples, 1-MCP treatment may be useful for maintaining some of the intrinsic flavonoid levels of red Delicious apples, if applied at the proper harvest maturity.     

Storage life of field-grown garlic bulbs (Allium sativum L.) as influenced by nitrogen and sulfur fertilization

The most important active compound in garlic is alliin. Sulfur (S) fertilization was shown to significantly increase the alliin concentration in garlic cloves, while high nitrogen (N) levels had an adverse effect. The effect of graded N and S application on the storage life of garlic has been paid little attention so far. A bifactorial field trial with 4 levels of N and S was conducted in a randomized block design. At harvest, 40 bulbs per treatment were stored under terms comparable to the storage conditions in average households (20 °C, dry, and dim) for 83 days. Every 3 weeks, samples were analyzed for their alliin and water content. The alliin concentration in peeled garlic cloves increased during storage from on average 9.2 mg g(-1) dry weight at harvest to 21.4 mg g(-1) dry weight after 83 days of storage. S fertilization increased the alliin concentration by a factor of 2.3 from 11.4 mg g(-1) in the control treatment to 26.6 mg g(-1) dry weight at the highest S level of 45 kg ha(-1) after 83 days of storage. N fertilization decreased by a trend of the alliin content. Fertilizer rates had only a minor influence on water losses from bulbs at short-term storage. After 83 days of storage, water losses were by trend lower at higher S levels, and this relationship proved to be significant when no N was applied. Best quality in terms of high alliin contents was obtained during the entire storage time at an S level of at minimum 30 kg ha(-1) S if no N was applied. The results show that the physiological S demand of 15 kg ha(-1) S for optimum yield is lower than the S requirement of 30 kg ha(-1) S for a longer storage life.