Responses to temperature of fruit dry weight,oil concentration,and oil fatty acid composition in olive (Olea europaea L. var. ‘Arauco’)

Correlative studies in olive using data from different locations or years suggest that temperature can modulate crop oil yield and oil composition. However, there are no published studies of manipulative experiments that demonstrate a direct role for temperature as a regulator of oil yield and oil quality in olive. The objectives of this study were to: i) elucidate the effect of temperature during the fruit oil accumulation phase on fruit dry weight, oil concentration and fatty acid composition; and ii) identify the developmental window within the oil accumulation phase exhibiting the greatest sensitivity to temperature and that with the highest fruit capacity to recover from the temperature treatments. Two branch-level experiments were conducted in a commercial orchard at Los Molinos (La Rioja, Argentina) using var. ‘Arauco’. Both experiments were conducted during the oil accumulation phase by enclosing fruiting branches in transparent plastic chambers with individualized temperature control. The first experiment; known as the four month long experiment, employed four temperature treatments that were applied for a single period of four months: a control at ambient temperature, two heating levels (5 °C and 10 °C warmer than the control), and a cooling level (5 °C cooler than the control). The second experiment consisted of four separate successive one month long treatment periods, in each of which two temperature treatments were applied: control and heating (ca. 7 °C higher than control). In the four month long experiment, fruit dry weight was not affected by average temperatures in the 16–25 °C range, but it was reduced with further increases in temperature. Oil concentration decreased linearly at 1.1% °C⁻¹ across the whole range (16–32 °C) of average seasonal temperatures explored, while oleic acid concentration decreased 0.7% °C⁻¹ over the same range. In the one month long experiment, 30 days of temperatures ca. 7 °C above ambient had a permanent negative effect on oil concentration at final harvest, particularly when the exposure to high temperature took place at the beginning of oil accumulation. By contrast, oleic acid concentration at the end of the treatment interval fell with increasing temperature but it could recover after treatment was removed in all periods except the first one. These results show that high temperatures during the oil accumulation phase may negatively affect olive oil yield and quality in warm regions, particularly if the high-temperature event occurs early in the phase. Additionally, the response of oleic acid concentration (%) to temperature under our experimental conditions was found to be opposite to that of many annual oil-seed crops.     

Contrasting patterns of fatty acid composition and oil accumulation during fruit growth in several olive varieties and locations in a non-Mediterranean region

Olive growing has expanded considerably in the last few decades outside of the Mediterranean Basin to non-traditional regions in the Southern Hemisphere. When growing olive genotypes (i.e., varieties) outside of their area of origin, the importance of environmental factors such as temperature and genotype × environment interactions in determining olive oil production and oil quality has been suggested. In several Mediterranean varieties and one South American variety, we assessed the dynamics of fruit growth and oil accumulation along with the evolution of fatty acid composition at multiple locations over two growing seasons. Oleic acid content (%), the principal fatty acid present in olive oil, showed four contrasting patterns during fruit growth when modeled against thermal time from flowering using linear and bilinear regressions: (1) a sharp linear decrease for the varieties ‘Arauco’ and ‘Arbequina’; (2) a plateau followed by a late linear decrease of moderate slope for ‘Barnea’ and ‘Manzanilla Fina’; (3) a slow linear decrease for ‘Frantoio’; and (4) no decrease in ‘Coratina’. Linoleic acid (%) showed linear increases in ‘Arauco’ and ‘Arbequina’ that appear to be inversely related to the decreases in oleic acid, while bilinear patterns were found for many other varieties. Both the rates of fruit growth and of oil accumulation were more important in determining maximum fruit dry weight and oil concentration (%), respectively, than duration when expressed on a thermal time basis. Temperature during oil synthesis was negatively related to final oil concentration. Experiments under controlled conditions would greatly contribute to our understanding of how fruit growth as well as oil quantity and quality are influenced by environmental factors.     

Effect of oxalic acid on ripening attributes of banana fruit during storage

The effect of exogenous oxalic acid treatment on ripening attributes of banana fruit during storage was investigated. Banana fruit were dipped into solutions of 0 (control) or 20 mM oxalic acid for 10 min and then stored at room temperature (23 ± 2 °C) and 75–90% relative humidity. The application of oxalic acid reduced fruit deterioration during storage. The oxalic acid treatment also reduced the rates of respiration and ethylene production, and delayed the decreases in firmness, hue angle, and maximal chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) of banana fruit during storage. Furthermore, fruit treated with oxalic acid exhibited higher superoxide dismutase activity and antioxidant capability with a lower production of reactive oxygen species at the late storage period compared with non-oxalic acid-treated fruit. Overall, the oxalic acid treatment was effective in inhibiting postharvest ripening of banana fruit and exhibited the potential for commercial application to store the bananas at room temperature. It can be concluded that the delay in banana fruit ripening associated with oxalic acid treatment could be due to inhibition of respiration and ethylene production rates, and reduction of oxidative injury caused by reactive oxygen species through increased antioxidant activity.     

Physiology of fresh-cut ‘Galia’ (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus) from ripe fruit treated with 1-methylcyclopropene

‘Galia’ (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus L. Naud. cv. Galia) fruit were harvested at the three-quarter slip stage and treated with 1 μL L⁻¹ 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) at 20 °C for 24 h. The fruit were processed and stored as fresh-cut cubes and intact fruit for 10 d at 5 °C. Ethylene production of fresh-cut cubes was approximately 4–5-fold higher than intact fruit at day 1. Afterward, the ethylene production of fresh-cut cubes declined significantly whereas that of intact fruit remained relatively constant at about 0.69–1.04 ng kg⁻¹ s⁻¹. 1-MCP delayed mesocarp softening in both fresh-cut and intact fruit and the symptoms of watersoaking in fresh-cut fruit. Continuously stored fresh-cut cubes and cubes derived from intact fruit not treated with the ethylene antagonist softened 27% and 25.6%, respectively, during 10 d storage at 5 °C while cubes derived from 1-MCP-treated fruit softened 9% and 17%, respectively. Fresh-cut tissue from 1-MCP-treated fruit exhibited slightly reduced populations of both total aerobic organisms and Enterobacterium, although the differences did not appear to be sufficient to explain the differences in keeping quality between 1-MCP-treated and control fruit. Based primarily on firmness retention and reduced watersoaking, 1-MCP treatment deferred loss of physical deterioration of fresh-cut ‘Galia’ cubes at 5 °C by 2–3 d compared with controls.     

Effect of fruit load on oil yield components and dynamics of fruit growth and oil accumulation in olive (Olea europaea L.)

Olive oil yield and its components (fruit number, average fruit weight and fruit oil concentration) depend on crop load and source–sink ratios as affected by environmental conditions, management and the alternate bearing typical of the species. The aims of this work were to: (i) establish quantitative relationships between oil yield and its components as affected by fruit load in a high-yielding production system, (ii) analyse the dynamics of fruit weight and fruit oil concentration in terms of rates and durations, and (iii) explore the relationships between the dynamics of oil and water in fruit. In a fully irrigated olive orchard in Mendoza (32° S), Argentina, cv. Arbequina trees with similar crown volume and three fruit loads (3-fold range) were monitored during two seasons. Oil yield was positively associated with both fruit number and fruit fresh weight, but not with fruit oil concentration. Across seasons and fruit loads, fruit yield increased linearly with fruit number at ～1.5 kg per thousand fruit and reached a maximum ～60 kg tree^?1 (or 25 t ha^?1) at a fruit load of 32,700 fruit tree^?1. The fruit filling rate was affected by fruit load, while the duration of fruit growth and the dynamics of oil and water concentration were unaffected by fruit load. Fruit water concentration reached a minimum at the onset of Stage III of fruit growth, which was marked by a rapid increase in oil concentration. Fruit fresh weight and oil weight increased with source–sink ratio from ～0.5 up to a threshold ～2 m³ crown per thousand fruit. In contrast, a 8-fold range of source–sink ratio did not affect fruit oil concentration.     

Changes in bioactive compounds and response to postharvest storage conditions in purple eggplants as affected by fruit developmental stage

Fruit maturity stage at harvest influences the response to postharvest storage conditions and bioactive compounds content. In this work fruit from two purple eggplant cultivars (Monarca and Perla Negra) were harvested at 12, 15, 18, 20 and 23 d after fruit set (designated as stages I through V) and changes in size, dry weight, calyx area, cell wall material (AIR, alcohol insoluble residue), firmness, respiration, and antioxidants (peel anthocyanins and pulp carotenoids, ascorbic acid, phenolics and chlorogenic acid) were determined. In a second set of experiments the postharvest performance of fruit harvested at stages I (“baby” eggplants), III and IV (traditional harvest stages) during storage at 0 or 10 °C was assessed. Fruit growth continued until late ripening in contrast to calyx expansion and peel anthocyanin accumulation, which were relatively earlier events. Fruit dry weight decreased between stages I and III, remaining constant afterwards. “Baby” eggplants had higher antioxidant capacity, chlorogenic acid (ChA), carotenoids and ascorbic acid contents than late-harvested fruit. ChA predominated in pulp placental tissues at stage I, spreading throughout the fruit core at as ripening progressed. No marked differences in dry mass, antioxidant capacity or responses to postharvest storage regimes were found between fruit harvested at stages III and IV. Late pickings increased yields and led to less dense fruit, which had lower respiration rates. Within this harvest window, storage at 10 °C maximized quality maintenance. In contrast “baby” eggplants stored better at 0 °C. Understanding the developmental changes in bioactive compounds and postharvest performance may help in the maximization of fruit antioxidant properties as well as in the selection of the optimal handling conditions for each ontogenic stage.     

Temperature and relative humidity effects on quality,total ascorbic acid,phenolics and flavonoid concentrations,and antioxidant activity of strawberry

The physical qualities and antioxidant components of ‘Jewel’ strawberry fruit stored in 75, 85 or 95% relative humidity (RH) at 0.5, 10 and 20 °C for 4 days were studied. Overall fruit quality declined more rapidly at 20 °C, especially at 95% RH. Weight loss of fruit was negligible for 2 days at all temperatures but it increased at 10 °C in the lowest RH and increased rapidly from day 3 at 20 °C especially with lower RH. Firmness was maintained, or even increased, at 0.5 or 10 °C, while soluble solids concentrations (SSC) decreased at higher storage temperatures. Red color, assessed using chroma, hue and lightness, and anthocyanin concentrations were relatively unchanged at 0.5 or 10 °C but increased rapidly at 20 °C as fruit ripened. Firmness, SSC and color were not affected by RH. Total phenolic compounds were slightly higher at 20 °C than at other temperatures at all RHs. Total ascorbic acid concentrations of the fruit remained similar for the first 2 days of storage, then declined in fruit stored at 0.5 and 20 °C, but remained unchanged at 10 °C at all RHs. Total flavonoid content of fruit did not change over time at all temperatures. The total antioxidant activity of fruit was higher at 10 °C than at 0.5 and 20 °C on day 3, and no effect of RH was detected. In conclusion, while the best temperature for long-term storage is 0.5 °C, quality could be maintained at 10 °C for acceptable periods of time for marketing and may be associated with better nutritional quality.     

Postharvest ethylene conditioning as a tool to reduce quality loss of stored mature sweet oranges

Ethylene is related to senescence but also induces protective mechanisms against stress in plants. The citrus industry only applies the hormone to induce fruit degreening. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of ethylene on the quality of colored citrus fruit stored under commercial conditions to extend postharvest life, since it protects them from stress causing postharvest disorders such as chilling injury (CI) and non-chilling peel pitting (NCPP). The effect of conditioning mature Navelate and Lane Late sweet oranges (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) for 4 days with 2 μL L⁻¹ ethylene at 12 °C, rather than at higher temperatures used for degreening, on the quality of fruit stored at 2 or 12 °C, was examined. The ethylene conditioning (EC) treatment did not increase color but reduced calyx abscission and NCPP in fruit of both cultivars stored at 12 °C, and also CI in Navelate fruit at 2 °C. Lane Late fruit did not develop CI but showed a new disorder in EC fruit held at 2 °C. This disorder began as scalded areas around the fruit stem end and extended over the fruit surface during storage. EC had no deleterious effect on the quality of Navelate oranges stored at either 2 or 12 °C. Similar results were found in Lane Late fruit although EC slightly increased off-flavor perception at 2 °C and the maturity index at 2 and 12 °C. Moreover, EC slightly increased the content of bioactive flavonoids in the pulp of Navelate fruit but significant differences between control and EC fruit were only found after prolonged storage at 2 °C. In Lane Late fruit, EC avoided the initial decrease in flavonoid content found in control samples. Results show, therefore, that EC at 12 °C may be a tool to extend postharvest life of NCPP and CI-sensitive oranges, and that the tolerance of citrus cultivars to the combined effect of EC and non-freezing low temperature (2 °C) should be tested to select the proper storage temperature.     

Temperature effects on peel spotting in ‘Sucrier’ banana fruit

Banana fruit of the cultivar ‘Sucrier’ (Musa acuminata, AA Group) develops peel spotting at a relatively early stage of development (when the peel is about as slightly more yellow than green). Holding ripening bananas at 15 and 18 °C instead of room temperature (26–27 °C) only temporarily reduced spotting, but holding the fruit at 12 °C completely prevented it. The 12 °C treatment resulted in a lower level of total free phenolics, but had no effect on PAL or PPO activity. Transfer of banana fruit previously held at 12 °C to room temperature rapidly increased peel spotting. Transfer of bananas that had some spotting, from room temperature to 12 °C did not prevent further development of the spotting. It is concluded that holding spotless fruit at 12 °C prevents the spotting, although only if they are kept at that temperature, and that PAL and PPO activities seem not rate-limiting.     

Integrated ethylene and temperature conditioning for induction of ripening capacity in ‘Anjou’ and ‘Comice’ pears

‘Anjou’ and ‘Comice’ pears from three harvest dates were conditioned to develop ripening capacity by exposure to 100 μL L⁻¹ ethylene at 20 °C for 0, 24, 48, or 72 h, followed by varying durations of temperature conditioning at −0.5 or 10 °C. Ripening capacity was tested by measuring fruit firmness after 7 d at 20 °C after completion of conditioning treatments. Fruit firmness was also measured after conditioning but before ripening, and was designated “shipping firmness”, indicative of the potential for the fruit to withstand transport conditions without physical injury. Ripening capacity in both cultivars developed more rapidly with later harvest date, increasing duration of ethylene conditioning, and increasing duration of temperature conditioning. Ripening capacity developed much more rapidly at 10 °C than at −0.5 °C. Useful durations of temperature conditioning at 10 °C were limited by fruit softening below acceptable values of shipping firmness. However, sequential combinations of ethylene and temperature conditioning at both −0.5 and 10 °C were identified wherein post-conditioning shipping firmness was acceptable.     

Internal browning disorder and fruit quality in modified atmosphere packaged ‘Bartlett’ pears during storage and transit

Internal browning (IB) can be a serious problem with the use of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) for ‘Bartlett’ pears (Pyrus communis L.) grown in the Pacific Northwest during storage and transit to distant markets. To investigate this disorder, ‘Bartlett’ pears harvested at commercial maturity were packed in a commercial MAP (MAPc), an experimental MAP (MAPe) and commercial perforated plastic bags (control) and stored in air at −1.1 °C. After 1 and 3 months of storage, samples of MAPc and control fruit were transferred to rooms at temperatures of 2, 4.5, 7.5, and 10 °C for 3 weeks to simulate transit temperatures and the time required to reach distant markets. MAPc maintained an average internal atmosphere of 12.3% O₂ + 5.6% CO₂ and significantly extended ‘Bartlett’ pear storage life with high eating quality and without IB and other disorders for up to 4 months at −1.1 °C. The internal gas atmosphere of MAPe equilibrated at 2.2% O₂ + 5.7% CO₂, which resulted in fruit with 25.5 and 62.3% IB after 3 and 4 months of storage, respectively. During simulated transit conditions of 2, 4.5, 7.5, and 10 °C, the CO₂ level in MAPc was maintained at 5.6–7.9%, while O₂ was reduced dramatically to 10.5, 5.0, 2.5, and 1.0%, respectively. IB developed at 7.5 and 10 °C but not at 2 and 4.5 °C, regardless of pre-transit storage duration (1 and 3 months) at −1.1 °C. The longer the storage duration and the higher transit temperature, the higher the incidence and severity of IB. The MAP-related IB disorder observed in this study included two types of symptoms: classic pithy brown core and wet brown flesh. The MAPc storage gas atmospheres maintained fruit firmness, color and higher eating quality after ripening, eliminated senescent scald and core breakdown, suppressed the loss of ascorbic acid (AsA) and titratable acidity, and slowed the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) during storage at −1.1 °C for up to 4 months or 3 months + 3 weeks at simulated transit temperatures of 2 and 4.5 °C. In contrast, fruit held in MAP with low O₂ levels (1.0–2.5%) developed IB that appeared to be associated with a reduction in AsA, accumulated MDA and exhibited an increase in membrane leakage. MAP inhibited ripening at high CO₂ + high O₂ but lead to IB when the packaging material or elevated temperatures resulted in high CO₂ + low O₂ conditions. The incidence of IB closely correlated with lipid peroxidation and appeared to be related to fruit AsA concentration. The MAPc designed for pears appears to be suitable for ‘Bartlett’ fruit stored at −1.1 °C for up to 4 months or storage for 3 months and a transportation duration of up to 3 weeks at 0–4.5 °C during the early season and at 0–2 °C during the late packing season. These conditions yielded fruit of high eating quality and without IB or over-ripening upon arrival at distant markets.     

Papaya endoxylanase biochemical characterization and isoforms expressed during fruit ripening

Papaya fruit ripening processes involve the coordinated action of several hydrolases that causes cell wall degradation. Endoxylanase participates in xylan or arabinoxylan modifications and its importance has been related to papaya softening. However, endoxylanase has been not fully characterized biochemically and kinetically. Semipurified endoxylanase from ripe ‘Maradol’ papaya fruit had an optimal temperature from 45 °C to 50 °C, a pH optimum of 5.5 against Remazol brilliant blue-xylan (RBB-Xylan) and enzymatic activity remained stable during 36 h at 45 °C. The activation energy of the enzyme was 25.5 kJ mol⁻¹, and the V_max at 32, 37 and 42 °C was 788.9, 888.9 and 1085.6 μg kg⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively. The K_m did not change as a function of temperature and was measured as 1.8 g L⁻¹ and was within the range reported for other xylanases. Total proteins were extracted from color-break, half-ripe and ripe fruit. A pre-endoxylanase at 63.9 kDa was identified in the color-break fruit and an active endoxylanase at 32.5 kDa that was only found in ripe fruit, when the highest enzymatic activity was obtained. Immunodetection on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) protein blots showed three isoforms of the pre-endoxylanase at color-break and ripe stages and, four isoforms in ripe fruit that were absent in color-break fruit. The biochemical and kinetic characteristics of the endoxylanase are crucial to our understanding papaya fruit softening.     

Ethylene synthesis,ripening capacity,and superficial scald inhibition in 1-MCP treated ‘d’Anjou’ pears are affected by storage temperature

A continuing challenge for commercializing 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) to extend the storage life and control superficial scald of ‘d’Anjou’ pear (Pyrus communis L.) is how to initiate ripening in 1-MCP treated fruit. ‘D’Anjou’ pears harvested at commercial and late maturity were treated with 1-MCP at 0.15 μL L⁻¹ and stored either at the commercial storage temperature −1.1 °C (1-MCP@−1.1 °C), or at 1.1 °C (1-MCP@1.1 °C) or 2.2 °C (1-MCP@2.2 °C) for 8 months. Control fruit stored at −1.1 °C ripened and developed significant scald within 7 d at 20 °C following 3–5 months of storage. While 1-MCP@−1.1 °C fruit did not develop ripening capacity due to extremely low internal ethylene concentration (IEC) and ethylene production rate for 8 months, 1-MCP@1.1 °C fruit produced significant amounts of IEC during storage and developed ripening capacity with relatively low levels of scald within 7 d at 20 °C following 6–8 months of storage. 1-MCP@2.2 °C fruit lost quality quickly during storage. Compared to the control, the expression of ethylene synthesis (PcACS1, PcACO1) and signal (PcETR1, PcETR2) genes was stable at extremely low levels in 1-MCP@−1.1 °C fruit. In contrast, they increased expression after 4 or 5 months of storage in 1-MCP@1.1 °C fruit. Other genes (PcCTR1, PcACS2, PcACS4 and PcACS5) remained at very low expression regardless of fruit capacity to ripen. A storage temperature of 1.1 °C can facilitate initiation of ripening capacity in 1-MCP treated ‘d’Anjou’ pears with relatively low scald incidence following 6–8 months storage through recovering the expression of certain ethylene synthesis and signal genes.     

Effects of best management practices on dry matter production and fruit production efficiency of oil palm

Enhancing dry matter production with higher partitioning to fruit bunches is important for sustainable intensification of oil palm. A series of best management practices including site-specific nutrient management, canopy management, and harvesting has been developed for oil palm plantations. However, the effects of these practices on dry matter production and partitioning, and how the effects vary with climatic and soil conditions of plantation sites, remain largely unknown. We established a four-year field trial including 30 paired commercial blocks across Sumatra and Kalimantan, Indonesia. The paired treatments included site-specific best management practices, and standard estate practices as the control. The annual production of aboveground dry matter was 30.0 ± 0.5 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ (mean ± se) under best management practices, higher than 28.8 ± 0.5 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ under standard estate practices. The bunch index, an indicator of the fruit production efficiency, increased by 12% under best management practices compared to standard estate practices. Partitioning of dry matter to the fronds decreased by 8% under best management practices, compared to standard estate practices. The positive effect of best management practices on the annual production of total aboveground dry matter was stronger in the plantation site with higher annual rainfall. These results are useful for optimizing management practices to improve sustainable intensification of oil palm.     

Use of hot water treatment to control codling moths in harvested California ‘Bing’ sweet cherries

Preharvest gibberellic acid-treated California ‘Bing’ sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.) were treated with hot water baths (46–58 °C for 0.25–18 min), followed by hydrocooling. The fruit were then stored to simulate either air shipment or sea shipment to overseas markets, both followed by 15 h of shelf life at 20 °C. In separate experiments, cherries were also infested with codling moth larvae and subjected to similar hot water bath heating. The quality attributes showed different sensitivity to the combinations of temperature and time used for hot water bath treatment. Pitting was more common in fruit treated at lower temperatures for longer times, while stem browning was more common in fruit treated at high temperatures. Berry browning, stem color, and pitting were the quality attributes most affected by heat treatment. Browning of cherry stem color was a crucial factor in determining whether a combination of temperature and time for hot water bath treatment was successful. All cherries stored at 0 °C for 14 days to simulate sea shipment were of unacceptable quality after shelf life. Hot water bath treatments that provided 100% codling moth mortality and maintained overall acceptable fruit quality were very limited and included treatments at 50 °C for 10 min and at 54 °C for 6 min. Delaying the hot water bath treatment after fruit harvest, even if the cherries were kept at 0 °C, resulted in a greater loss in fruit quality compared with those treated on the harvest day. Using hot water baths as a quarantine treatment for codling moths (Cydia pomonella) on sweet cherries may be feasible if fruit are air shipped at 5 °C for 2 days, but not suitable if fruit are sea shipped at 0 °C for 14 days.     

Effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on storage life of durian fruit

Fruit of cv. Monthong durian (Durio zibethinus) were treated with 0 (control) or 500 nL L⁻¹ 1-MCP for 12 h at 25 °C. Fruit were then stored at 15 °C. To determine storage life, every 3 days a batch of fruit was transferred to 25 °C. The time to ripeness (adequate eating quality) at 25 °C in controls (no 1-MCP) decreased from 5 days in freshly harvested fruit to 3 days after 18 days of storage at 15 °C. Storage life was considered adequate if the time to ripeness was ≥3 days. The storage life at 15 °C of control fruit (no 1-MCP) was therefore 18 days. After the 1-MCP treatment the time to ripeness at 25 °C was 7 days in fresh fruit, while in fruit stored at 15 °C for 30 days it was about 3 days. The storage life at 15 °C of 1-MCP-treated fruit was therefore 30 days. Pulp firmness and pulp total soluble solids (TSS) were determined after 3 day storage intervals at 15 °C and when the fruit was ripe at 25 °C. These parameters were only slightly affected by the 1-MCP treatment. Furthermore, 1-MCP had no effect on pulp color, but delayed yellowing of the fruit exterior. It is concluded that treatment with 1-MCP before storage at 15 °C extended storage life from 18 to 30 days.     

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.