Evoluzione dei parametri fisiologici in shelf-life di frutti di tangelo "Page"in seguito a trattamento anaerobio e ceratura

"Page" tangelos were N2 exposed for 24 hours, waxed and stored 30 days at 20°C and 70% relative humidity (SL). Respiration strongly decreased during SL, internal CO2 and O2 rose and decreased, respectively, while the resistance to CO2 diffusion increased. Waxing significantly reduced respiration, conversely increased resistance to CO2 diffusione and promoted off-flavour development, while N2 treatment did not. Both waxed and anaerobic treated fruit kept fresher than control with non waxed-nitrogen treated fruits gaining the best overall quality. Nella presente nota si è studiato l'effetto di una breve esposizione dei frutti a condizioni anaerobie e successiva ceratura sull'evoluzione dei parametri fisiologici e sulle caratteristiche merceologiche del frutto, con lo scopo di determinare il miglior trattamento per un'adeguata conservazione in condizioni di mercato

Effect of short heat treatments with a sodium bicarbonate solution on storability of the yellow germoplasm plum 'Meloni'

The behavior of a Sardinian plum, cv. Meloni, was investigated with regard to short-heat treatments at 20, 50, 55 or 60°C in water with 0 or 2% NaHCO3 (SBC) for 0, 15, 30, 45 or 60 seconds. Fruits were stored for one month at 5°C and 95% RH followed by a simulated marketing period (SMP) at 20°C and 80% RH for six days. Quality and decay percentagewere monitored. In addition, fruits were artificially inoculated with P. expansum and stored for 10 days at 25°C and 95% RH. Compared to the control, all short-heat dip treatments lowered the degree of decay, and the efficacy was positively correlated with temperature and treatment duration. The use of SBC increased the efficacy of decay control and the best results were attained at 55 and 60°C. Heat treatments increased levels of total flavonoids and antioxidant activity after SMP. None of the heat treatments induced rind damage (browning or discoloration), but the overall appearance decreased significantly when fruit was treated at 55 or 60°C for 60 s after SMP. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations showed that treatments at 55 and 60°C with SBC cause damage and loss of cuticular wax on fruit surface

Decay control of "Femminello Santa Teresa" lemon fruits by prestorage high temperature conditioning

Marketing quality and juice chemical parameters of late harvested "Femminello Santa Teresa" lemon fruits (Citrus limon Burm), wrapped with a 15 mm heat shrinkable film or left unwrapped, and then either conditioned at 36°C for 72 hours in a 85-90%, relative humidity (RH) atmosphere or not conditioned, were determined over 3 months storage at 6°C and 95% RH or after 1 week at 20°C and 75% RH following each month of storage. Conditioning significantly reduced the incidence of decay caused by Penicillium digitatum, but not that due to other pathogens, such as Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria citri, especially in combination with film wrapping. Positive was the effect of heating in ameliorating the physiological response of lemon fruit to low temperature, although the beneficial effect appeared to be time-dependent, in fact at the end of the storage period severe symptoms of chilling injury were also noticed in conditioned fruit. No differences were instead observed in chilling sensitivity between conditioned and nonconditioned wrapped fruit. Weight loss was higher in conditioned fruit than in non conditioned one. Regarding chemical parameters, either conditioning or fi1m wrapping hastened the rate of degradation of acidity, total soluble solids (SST) and vitamin C

Influence of film wrapping on quality maintenance of "Salustiana" oranges held in shelf-life conditions

"Salustiana" oranges were dipped in a 500 mg/L imazalil emulsion and wrapped in polystyrene trays using three different plastic films: Omni, MR and MY, with high, medium and low permeability to gases and water vapour, respectively. Fruits were then stored at ambient temperature (18°-20°C) and relative humidity (60-65%) for 6 weeks. MY film created in-package anaerobic conditions (about 10% CO2 and 8% 02, increased the rate of deterioration of internal quality parameters and promoted pathogen development, even in fruits treated with imazalil (28% decayed fruits after 6 weeks). Omni film did not alter the nutritional composition, but had little influence in reducing the transpiration rate as fruits at the end of storage lost about 14% weight, compared to 18% for non-wrapped fruits and 2% for those wrapped with the other two films. Very positive results were obtained with the imazalil-MR film combination, which let the fruits maintain their initial chemical and aesthetical characteristics during the entire storage time and limited loss due to decay to about 1%

Response of cactus pear fruit to high temperature conditioning and film wrapping

First crop cactus pear cv "Gialla" fruits harvested the 15th of September were wrapped with a 19 mm thick film or left unwrapped and then divided into two lots, of whom one was immediately stored at 17°C and 60% relative humidity (RH) for 2 or 4 weeks, while the other one before being stored at the same conditions, was conditioned at 36°C and 90% RH for 36 hours. At each inspection time fruit were checked for incidence of decay, overall appearance and presence of dermatosis. High temperature conditioning, although not detrimental, had a negative effect on overall appearance and dermatosis. Dermatosis appeared in the form of brown spots on the peel similar to the symptoms of chilling injury previously described by other authors. The incidence of decay was higher in conditioned fruits than in nonconditioned ones. Plastic film had a positive effect in reducing ageing and dermatosis, while promoted microorganism development. Neither the plastic film nor the curing treatment had important influence on chemical parameters, while significant was the effect of the storage period on pH, which changed from 5.95 of harvest to 6.3 after 4 week's storage, and titratab1e acidity (% citric acid), which decreased from 0.077% of harvest to 0.045% at the end of the storage period. In conclusion, the results show a very positive contribution of the plastic film in maintaining the initial quality of the fruits, in fact at the end of the trial the wrapped fruit appeared as fresh as at harvest, while no positive influence was exerted by the cwing treatment

Sodium icarbonate induces crystalline wax generation, activates host-resistance, and increases imazalil level in rind wounds of oranges, improving the control of green mold during shborage

Imazalil (IMZ) was quantified in the flavedo and albedo (Citrus fruits outer and inner tissue of the exocarp) of wounded and unwounded Valencia L. Olinda oranges following a 2 min immersion at 25 °C in 50, 100, or 250 μg mL−1 of the fungicide mixture with or without 3% sodium bicarbonate (SBC). The addition of SBC significantly reduced the decay incidence throughout 30 d of storage at 10 °C with 95% RH and 6 d of simulated marketing period at 25 °C and 75% RH. In unwounded oranges, IMZ uptake was not changed by the coapplication of SBC, and the fungicide was predominantly recovered in the flavedo. To the contrary, in the albedo of wounded fruit, the residue level increased by about 6-fold when the fungicide was applied with SBC. When SBC was coapplied to wounded fruit, the phytoalexin scoparone was induced in the albedo and the accumulation was not affected by IMZ. When fruit was treated with SBC, scanning electron microscopy observations evidenced a production of crystalline wax patches with branched stripes and the magnitude was positively correlated to the salt concentration in the mixture. The generation as fast as 24 h post-treatment, and the different morphology of the new wax suggests a displacement of intracuticular waxes which can affect the fungicide sorption and diffusion coefficient into the rind

Bioactive Compounds from Leaves and Twigs of Guayule Grown in a Mediterranean Environment

Guayule (Parthenium argentatum) is one of the most promising alternatives to produce natural rubber. As the guayule leaves represent a waste byproduct in the rubber extraction process, their exploitation might contribute to the valorization of the whole plant biomass. The specific aim of our study was to determine the antioxidant capacity and the content of phenolic compounds in leaves and twigs of different guayule lines cultivated in a Mediterranean environment. The antioxidant capacity and the contents of phenolic were affected significantly by guayule accession and harvest time. Overall means in twigs represented about 60% of the corresponding leaf values for antioxidant capacity as DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and not tannic phenolic and about 55% as ABTS (2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt), total phenolic, tannic phenolic and total flavonoid contents. Five individual phenolic compounds were identified in methanolic extracts of leaves. Neochlorogenic acid (62.5–174.8 mg g−1 DW) and chlorogenic acid (28.6–41.1 mg g−1 DW) were the most abundant phenolic acids. In addition to the compounds quantified in leaves, cynarin was identified only in twigs and for the first time in guayule biomass. Our results indicate that guayule leaves and twigs represent a rich source of antioxidants for potential applications in fodder, nutraceutical and pharmacological sectors

Antioxidant Contents in a Mediterranean Population of Plantago lanceolata L. Exploited for Quarry Reclamation Interventions

Plantago lanceolata L. (plantain) is an interesting multipurpose perennial species whose aerial parts are used in herbal medicine due to its precious phytochemicals and are palatable to animals. Moreover, peculiar traits such as drought tolerance, an extended growth season and a deep root system, make plantain a promising pioneer plant for quarry reclamation based on the use of native species. This study evaluated the effects of different environmental conditions and seasons on the accumulation of the bioactive compounds of its aerial organs. An autochthonous plantain population was grown in three locations in Sardinia (Italy). Leaves, peduncles and inflorescences were collected between October 2020 and July 2021. Phenolic contents and antioxidant capacity were determined. The analysis of the individual phenolic compounds was performed using liquid chromatography. In leaves, the content of total phenolics, antioxidant capacity and total flavonoids were significantly influenced by location and season. Total phenolic content ranged from 65 to 240 g gallic acid equivalent kg−1, whereas total flavonoids were from 16 to about 89 g catechin equivalent kg−1. Neochlorogenic, chlorogenic, cryptochlorogenic acids, verbascoside, diosmin and luteolin were identified in the methanolic extracts of leaves, peduncles and inflorescences. Verbascoside was the main antioxidant isolated from plantain extracts. Results evidenced an increasing accumulation pattern of phenolics from vegetative stage to flowering, followed by a decrement towards the seed ripening as well as site-specific differences with amounts of phenolics even 25% higher for same plantain accession

Subterranean Clover and Sulla as Valuable and Complementary Sources of Bioactive Compounds for Rainfed Mediterranean Farming Systems

Mediterranean pasture and forage legumes are important components of sustainable production systems. Subterranean clover and sulla represent key species having proven high agronomic value and traits for production and multiple services. Our research investigated the potential of the abovementioned species as a source of phenolic compounds and antioxidants for contributing to support their full exploitation in the fodder, animal welfare, and nutraceutical sectors. Antioxidant capacity, as well as the content of total phenolic compounds and individual phenolic compounds, was determined in subterranean clover and sulla shoots at the vegetative, flower bud, flowering, and seed ripening phenological stages. The antioxidant capacity and the phenolic content were affected significantly by harvest time. In subterranean clover, 10 individual phenolic compounds were detected, and isoflavones were the most abundant (3.19–18.27 mg·g−1 DM). Eleven phenolic compounds were identified in sulla shoots, and chlorogenic acid (0.76–3.43 mg·g−1 DM) and diosmin (3.64–4.94 mg·g−1 DM) were the most represented compounds at the vegetative and flower bud stage. On the basis of our findings, a complementary utilization of both legume species is suggested; this might ensure the exploitation of all phenolic compounds in view of the potential benefits for animal production and health

Preharvest aminoethoxyvinylglycine treatments reduce internal browning and prolong the shelf-life of early ripening pears

The effect of aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) on internal browning (IB) and keeping quality of early maturing European pears cv ‘Camusina di Genova’ and ‘Camusina di Bonarcado’ was examined over 10 days of storage at 18 °C. AVG was applied at 125 or 250 mg/L 2 weeks before harvest. At harvest fruit treated with AVG was less ripe than control fruit, being significantly firmer and experiencing lower values of maturity stage (based on ground color), maturity index (calculated value) and IB, depending on the AVG dose and cultivar. During storage, there was no treatment-dependent difference in titratable acidity and total soluble solids of juice, while both treatments reduced ethylene and respiration rates, delayed the ripening process and lowered the incidence of IB and the loss of firmness, especially when applied at 250 mg/L. In addition, AVG treatment significantly reduced decay development in both cultivars, mainly when it was applied at 250 mg/L. This effect was related to the delay of ripen and to possible inhibition of ethylene production by the pathogens and/or infected tissues