Change in Taste-altering Non-volatile Components of Blood and Common Orange Fruit during Cold Storage

Cold storage may cause changes in the volatile and non-volatile components of orange fruit, in association with the decrement of the characteristic fruit flavour and sensory acceptability. The aim of this work was to evaluate the changes of some non-volatile taste-altering components (total and individual sugars, acids, anthocyanins, putrescine and limonin) that may affect the organoleptic perception of cold-stored orange fruit. Three blood orange varieties ('Tarocco TDV', 'Tarocco Gallo', and 'Moro') and a common variety ('Washington navel') were stored at 6 ± 1 °C and 90-95 % Relative Humidity (RH) for 60 d. Chemical and sensory assessments were performed during fruit storage at 15 d intervals. During storage, no dramatic change of the physicochemical parameters was recorded and the ascorbic acid content remained almost unchanged in all varieties. As expected, total anthocyanins significantly increased during storage. Limonin significantly decreased in all varieties. A consistent and significant increase in putrescine occurred during storage in the fruit of the pigmented varieties, not recorded in the common orange variety. Putrescine behaviour showed direct correlation with the accumulation of off-flavour in cold-stored 'Moro' and 'T. TDV' fruit, showing a clear influence of its relative concentration on the sensory perception of fruit. Finally, principal component analysis showed that the complete quality profile of the four investigated varieties represented clear differentiation without overlapping clusters. Our results suggest that the arise of a negative sensory perception in cold stored blood orange fruit might be linked to their accumulation of putrescine

CARATTERI MORFOMETRICI DEL VERME DI FUOCO HERMODICE CARUNCULATA (ANNELIDA): CONFRONTO TRA POPOLAZIONI

We assessed the relationships among allometric traits (body length, weight, and number of chaetigers) in Hermodice carunculata specimens from Porto Cesareo (Ionian Sea) and Tropea (Tyrrhenian Sea). Regression analyses evidenced that, with a given length, specimens from Porto Cesareo are heavier than those from Tropea. This result may be explained by the lack of small-sized worms in the samples, which are hard to observe on the filed, or to local adaptation/differentiation

Influence of different organic fertilizers on quality parameters and the delta N-15, delta C-13, delta H-62, delta S-34, and delta O-18 values of orange fruit (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck)

To investigate the influence of different types of fertilizers on quality parameters, N-containing compounds, and the δ15N, δ13C, δ2H, δ 34S, and δ18O values of citrus fruit, a study was performed on the orange fruit cv. ‘Valencia late’ (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck), which was harvested in four plots (three organic and one conventional) located on the same farm. The results demonstrated that different types of organic fertilizers containing the same amount of nitrogen did not effect important changes in orange fruit quality parameters. The levels of total N and N-containing compounds such as synephrine in fruit juice were not statistically different among the different treatments. The δ15N values of orange fruit grown under fertilizer derived from animal origin as well as from vegetable compost were statistically higher than those grown with mineral fertilizer. Therefore, δ15N values can be used as an indicator of citrus fertilization management (organic or conventional), because even when applied organic fertilizers are of different origins, the natural abundance of 15N in organic citrus fruit remains higher than in conventional ones. These treatments also did not effect differences in the δ13C, δ2H, δ34S, and δ18O values of fruit

Effects of organic fertilisation on ‘Valencia late’ orange bearing trees

In a study realised over a three year period on orange bearing trees (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) ‘Valencia late’, grafted on sour orange (C. aurantium L.), the effect of organic fertilisers (OF) on plant nutrition and performance was verified. In a randomized block experimental design, four treatments were compared, namely: mineral fertiliser (MF) treatment adopted as control, citrus byproduct compost (CB), poultry manure (PM) and livestock waste compost (LW). The trees, with the exception of (MF) treatment, were organically grown since 1994 in the experimental farm of CRA-ACM in Lentini, Sicily, and received the same N input every year. Significant differences for micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn) were noticed in leaf analyses, whereas no difference was found between treatments for leaf macronutrient content. The δ15N detected in leaves, proteins of pulp and amino acids of juice showed the lower level in MF, an intermediate value in CB and the highest level in animal derived fertilisers treatments (PM and LW). Fruit of the CB treatment showed values of total soluble solids and total acidity significantly lower than other treatments. Orange peel Chroma C* in CB and MF was higher than in PM and LW treatments. Discriminant analysis of the leaf and fruit analytical data set successfully separated treatments. First discriminant canonical function explains the 96,9% of the variability, with highly significant Wilks’ lambda. Cross validation classified correctly all MF and CB samples, whereas PM and LW in few cases were mixed up