Drying kinetics and selected physico - chemical properties of fresh cranberries preserved with microwave – vacuum process

[EN] A one stage drying process for dried cranberry production, employing a vacuum microwave technique, is proposed. The process consists of a specific sequence of microwave energy dosage at a given vacuum level. During the 60 minute process, three sub-stages can be identified: osmotic dehydration, intensive water evaporation and stabilization. Mass transfer, as well as quality changes during the process, has been described, and the final product quality compared to purchased control. The proposed method of dried cranberry production resulted in a microbiologically stable product (aw=0.62) of a decent sensory quality, with an antioxidant potential three times higher than traditional products.This work was performed in the frame of the multiannual programme (IO 2015-2020, PW 1.4.), financed by the Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.Piecko, J.; Konopacka, D.; Mieszczakowska-Frąc, M.; Kruczyńska, D.; Celejewska, K. (2018). Drying kinetics and selected physico - chemical properties of fresh cranberries preserved with microwave – vacuum process. En IDS 2018. 21st International Drying Symposium Proceedings. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1927-1934. https://doi.org/10.4995/IDS2018.2018.8365OCS1927193

Possibilities of improvement the quality of strawberry fruit by intra- and interspecific hybridization within the Fragaria genus

Prace badawcze nad poszerzaniem zmienności genetycznej u truskawki na świecie ukierunkowane są głównie na poprawę zewnętrznej i wewnętrznej jakości owoców. Celem podjętych w Instytucie Ogrodnictwa badań było określenie możliwości zwiększenia zawartości substancji bioaktywnych (przede wszystkim polifenoli, antocyjanów oraz kwasów organicznych) w owocach truskawki metodą hodowli konwencjonalnej. Na podstawie dwuletniej oceny fenotypowej spośród 6097 siewek, otrzymanych w wyniku krzyżowań wewnątrz- i międzygatunkowych w obrębie rodzaju Fragaria, wyselekcjonowano 90 wartościowych genotypów. W roku 2019 genotypy te oceniono pod względem plonu, masy, atrakcyjności i jędrności owoców, a także zawartości w owocach ekstraktu, związków fenolowych, antocyjanów i kwasu askorbinowego. Stwierdzono, że największe, najbardziej atrakcyjne i jędrne owoce wytworzyły klony T-201536-16 i T-201536-08 (‘Clery’ × ‘Grandarosa’), T-201514-04 i T-201514-05 (‘Candiss’ × ‘Panvik’) oraz T-201560-07 (‘Onda’ × ‘Panvik’). Największą zawartością ekstraktu odznaczały się owoce genotypów T-201536-16 i T-201536-09 (‘Clery’ × ‘Grandarosa’). Najwięcej związków fenolowych zawierały owoce klonów T-201501-02 (‘Alba’ × ‘Grandarosa’), T-201512-04 (‘Camarosa’ × ‘Panvik’) oraz T-201567-01 (‘Patty’ × ‘Panvik’), zaś antocyjanów - owoce klonów T-201514-08 (‘Candiss’ × ‘Panvik’), T-201508-01 (‘Alice’ × ‘Matis’), T-201517-05 (‘Chandler’ × ‘Matis’) oraz T-201580-01 (Fragaria chiloensis Del Norte × ‘Elsanta’). Najbardziej bogate w kwas askorbinowy były owoce klonów T-201526-05 (‘Cigaline’ × ‘Grandarosa’), T-201501-03 (‘Alba’ × ‘Grandarosa’), T-201536-15 (‘Clery’ × ‘Grandarosa’) oraz T-201567-01 (‘Patty’ × ‘Panvik’). Najwyższą łączną zawartością wszystkich analizowanych związków bioaktywnych w owocach odznaczały się klony T-201514-08 (‘Candiss’ × ‘Panvik’), T-201517-05 (‘Chandler’ × ‘Matis’) oraz T-201567-04 (‘Patty’ × ‘Panvik’).Research on widening genetic variation in strawberry around the world is focused mainly on improving external and internal fruit quality. The aim of the research undertaken at the Research Institute of Horticulture was to determine the possibility of increasing the content of bioactive compounds (polyphenols, anthocyanins and organic acids) in strawberry by conventional breeding. Based on a two-year phenotypic evaluation, 90 valuable genotypes were selected from 6097 hybrids obtained as a result of intra- and interspecific hybridization within the Fragaria genus. In 2019, these genotypes were assessed in terms of fruit yield, weight, attractiveness and firmness, as well as the content of the extract, phenolic compounds, anthocyanins and ascorbic acid in the fruit.We found that the largest, most attractive and firmest fruits were produced by clones T-201536-16 and T-201536-08 (‘Clery’ × ‘Grandarosa’), T-201514-04 and T-201514-05 (‘Candiss’ × ‘Panvik’) and T-201560-07 (‘Onda’ × ‘Panvik’). The highest extract content was noted in the fruits of genotypes T-201536-16 and T-201536-09 (‘Clery’ × ‘Grandarosa’). The greatest number of phenolic compounds were encountered in the fruits of clones T-201501-02 (‘Alba’ × ‘Grandarosa’), T-201512-04 (‘Camarosa’ × ‘Panvik’) and T-201567-01 (‘Patty’ × ‘Panvik’), while the highest anthocyanin levels were evident in the fruit of clones T-201514-08 (‘Candiss’ × ‘Panvik’), T-201508-01 (‘Alice’ × ‘Matis’), T-201517-05 (‘Chandler’ × ‘Matis’) and T-201580-01 (Fragaria chiloensis Del Norte × ‘Elsanta’). Moreover, the richest levels of ascorbic acid were in the fruits of clones T-201526-05 (‘Cigaline’ × ‘Grandarosa’), T-201501-03 (‘Alba’ × ‘Grandarosa’), T-201536-15 (‘Clery’ × ‘Grandarosa’) and T-201567-01 (‘Patty’ × ‘Panvik’). Finally, the highest total content of all analyzed bioactive compounds in fruits was noted for clones T-201514-08 (‘Candiss’ × ‘Panvik’), T-201517-05 (‘Chandler’ × ‘Matis’) and T-201567-04 (‘Patty’ × ‘Panvik’)

In Vitro Propagation Method for Production of Phenolic-Rich Planting Material of Culinary Rhubarb ‘Malinowy’

Culinary rhubarb is a popular vegetable crop, valued for its long, thickened stalks, very rich in different natural bioactive ingredients. Tissue cultures are a useful tool for vegetative propagation of virus-free rhubarb plants and rapid multiplication of valuable selected genotypes. The aim of this study was to develop an effective method for in vitro propagation of selected genotypes of Polish rhubarb ‘Malinowy’ characterized by high yield and straight, thick and intensive red stalks. Identification and quantification of anthocyanins and soluble sugars by the HPLC method in shoot cultures and ex vitro established plantlets were also performed. Shoot cultures were established from axillary buds isolated from dormant, eight-year-old rhizomes. Effective shoot multiplication of rhubarb ‘Malinowy’ was obtained in the presence of 6.6 µM benzylaminopurine or 12.4 µM meta-topolin. Both cytokinins stimulated shoot formation in a manner that depended on sucrose concentration. Increasing the sucrose concentration from 59 to 175 mM decreased the production of shoots and outgrowth of leaves by 3-fold but enhanced shoot length, single shoot mass and callus formation at the base of shoots. This coincided with increased accumulation of soluble sugars (fructose, glucose) and anthocyanins-cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside (max. 208.2 mg·100 g−1 DM) and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (max. 47.7 mg·100 g−1 DM). The highest rooting frequency (94.9%) and further successful ex vitro establishment (100%) were observed for shoots that were earlier rooted in vitro in the presence of 4.9 µM indole-3-butyric acid. Our results indicated that anthocyanin contents in leaf petioles were influenced by developmental stage. Under in vitro conditions, it is possible to elicit those pigments by sucrose at high concentration and meta-topolin

Impact of Innovative Technologies on the Content of Vitamin C and Its Bioavailability from Processed Fruit and Vegetable Products

Nowadays, thermal treatments are used for extending the shelf-life of vegetable and fruit products by inactivating microorganisms and enzymes. On the other hand, heat treatments often induce undesirable changes in the quality of the final product, e.g., losses of nutrients, color alterations, changes in flavor, and smell. Therefore, the food industry is opening up to new technologies that are less aggressive than thermal treatment to avoid the negative effects of thermal pasteurization. Non-thermal processing technologies have been developed during the last decades as an alternative to thermal food preservation. Processing changes the structure of fruit and vegetables, and hence the bioavailability of the nutrients contained in them. In this review, special attention has been devoted to the effects of modern technologies of fruit and vegetable processing, such as minimal processing (MPFV), high-pressure processing (HPP), high-pressure homogenization (HPH), ultrasounds (US), pulsed electric fields (PEF), on the stability and bioavailability of vitamin C

Growth and Quality of Leaf and Romaine Lettuce Grown on a Vertical Farm in an Aquaponics System: Results of Farm Research

The integration of indoor vertical cultivation with a recirculating aquaculture system into an aquaponic system has the potential to become one of the most effective sustainable production systems for fish and leafy vegetables. In this study, lettuce was produced on rafts in a coupled recirculation aquaponic system in the plant factory under controlled environmental conditions. The aims of this study were to evaluate the yield, mineral status, and health-promoting bioactive compounds of leaf and romaine lettuce cultivars grown in a recirculating aquaponic system. The yield and biometric parameters and quality parameters of lettuce leaves (nitrate, mineral, L-ascorbic acid, carotenoid, phenolic compound, and total polyphenolic contents) were examined. Monitoring of the water in the aquaponic system showed a low concentration of nitrates, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg), but the proportion of mineral nutrients as well as pH were stable throughout the lettuce cultivation period. The heads of romaine lettuce ‘Yakina’, ‘Pivotal’, and ‘Waygo’ reached a fresh weight of 86 g, on average, 23% higher than the leaf lettuce ‘Nordice’ over a three-week cultivation period. Despite the low nutrient concentration in the aquaponic solution, the nutrient status of the romaine lettuces ‘Yakina’ and ‘Pivotal’ was within the optimal range. The concentrations of chlorophyll a and carotenoids in ‘Yakina’ and ‘Pivotal’ were higher than those in ‘Nordice’ and ‘Waygo’. The nitrate, phosphorus, and potassium contents in the leaves of ‘Nordice’ and ‘Waygo’ were below the optimal range; however, their polyphenol concentrations were the highest. Our results indicate that the effectiveness of aquaponic cultivation of lettuce in terms of biomass production and the nutritional and health-promoting value of lettuce depends on the plant genotype

The Effect of Hybrid Drying (Convective-Microwave-Ultrasound) on the Bioactive Properties of Osmo-Treated Sour Cherries

The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of hybrid drying methods (convective-microwave and convective-microwave-ultrasound) for sour cherry fruit preservation compared to convective drying. As the raw material, three sour cherry cultivars varying in quality characteristics (‘Łutówka’, ‘Debreceni Bötermo’, ‘Nefris’) were used. Before drying, fruits were subjected to osmotic treatment. Three different drying methods were examined: 1) convective (C), 2) hybrid with microwaves (C-MV) and 3) hybrid with microwaves and ultrasound (C-MV-US). As the quality indicators of the investigated processes, the changes in chemical composition, including alterations in the main groups of bioactive components, as well as in the antioxidant potential were monitored at each production stage. It was found that, when compared to convective drying, the use of the hybrid techniques allowed the drying time to be reduced from 9 to just 3 hours. Furthermore, employing hybrid drying eliminated the problems associated with the dehydration barrier observed during convective drying of the cultivar ‘Debreceni Bötermo’. Regrettably, although the ultrasound used as the additional source of energy in the hybrid method slightly improved water evaporation, in general no significant effect on the retention of phenolic compounds was found. Irrespectively of the drying method, the effect of the cultivar proved to be crucial to the quality of the final product. Under the same processing conditions, ‘Nefris’ turned out to be the most promising cultivar for producing ready-to-eat fruit snacks of high nutritional value

Quality Of Cloudy Plum Juice Produced From Fresh Fruit Of Prunus Domestica L. – The Effect Of Cultivar And Enzyme Treatment

The quality of cloudy juices produced from two plum cultivars varied in chemical characteristics and native polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, and was studied in relation to specific pectinolytic activity of enzyme preparations used for fresh fruit maceration before pressing. Process effectiveness expressed as juice yield, turbidity and the rate of transfer of anthocyanins and polyphenols were determined for five different enzyme preparations, whose activity was also analysed. Juice yields obtained after 1 hour mash maceration (50 ºC, 100 g·t−1) were between 86.6 and 95.4%. The anthocyanins content of the obtained juices strongly depended on the cultivar and ranged from 26 to 50 mg·L−1 for ‘Promis’, and from 269 to 289 mg·L−1 for ‘Čačanska Najbolja’, which could be related to the differences in the measured PPO activity (175.4 and 79.8 nkat·g−1, respectively). The type of enzyme preparation strongly affected the degradation rate of anthocyanins during juice processing. Peonidin-3-rutinoside proved to be the most stable during plum juice production in contrast to cyanidin-3-glucoside. Irrespectively of the cultivar, the juice prepared with the mixture of Rohapect PTE + Rohament PL (2 : 1) showed the highest turbidity among the investigated combinations. The results suggest that for the production of cloudy plum juice use of a preparation with low pectin methyl esterase and polygalacturonase activities and high pectin lyase activity could be recommended

Quality Of Cloudy Plum Juice Produced From Fresh Fruit Of Prunus Domestica L. – The Effect Of Cultivar And Enzyme Treatment

The quality of cloudy juices produced from two plum cultivars varied in chemical characteristics and native polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, and was studied in relation to specific pectinolytic activity of enzyme preparations used for fresh fruit maceration before pressing. Process effectiveness expressed as juice yield, turbidity and the rate of transfer of anthocyanins and polyphenols were determined for five different enzyme preparations, whose activity was also analysed. Juice yields obtained after 1 hour mash maceration (50 ºC, 100 g·t−1) were between 86.6 and 95.4%. The anthocyanins content of the obtained juices strongly depended on the cultivar and ranged from 26 to 50 mg·L−1 for ‘Promis’, and from 269 to 289 mg·L−1 for ‘Čačanska Najbolja’, which could be related to the differences in the measured PPO activity (175.4 and 79.8 nkat·g−1, respectively). The type of enzyme preparation strongly affected the degradation rate of anthocyanins during juice processing. Peonidin-3-rutinoside proved to be the most stable during plum juice production in contrast to cyanidin-3-glucoside. Irrespectively of the cultivar, the juice prepared with the mixture of Rohapect PTE + Rohament PL (2 : 1) showed the highest turbidity among the investigated combinations. The results suggest that for the production of cloudy plum juice use of a preparation with low pectin methyl esterase and polygalacturonase activities and high pectin lyase activity could be recommended