Umbu physicochemical quality, diversity in the Caatinga biome and promising genotypes for consumption

Umbu (Spondias tuberosa Arruda) is a wild fruit species distributed all over the Caatinga biome in the Northeast of Brazil. The objective of this study was to analyze the physicochemical quality variability of umbu genotypes in the Caatinga biome, and to identify the most promising ones for fresh fruit consumption, processing industry and breeding programs. The fruit of 69 umbu genotypes were harvested at the maturity stage known as swollen, presenting full size and beginning of softening. The plants were cultivated in the umbu germplasm bank (UGB) at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa, Petrolina, PE, Brazil. Each genotype was characterized by the global position system (GPS) coordinates to understand the distribution of fruit physicochemical quality in different regions in the Caatinga biome. According to the results, fruit physicochemical quality, such as mass, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), and SS/TA ratio are homogeneously distributed all over the Caatinga biome. However, there were three main genotype groups, one characterized by higher fruit mass (52, 55, 57, 60, 65, and 68), other by higher SS (08, 09, 11, 20, 38, 41, and 62), and another by lower AT (02, 03, 07, 08, 16, 24, 27, and 51). Umbu genotypes with the highest mass and SS content can be used for commercial production in order to obtain fruit with desirable trait for the market. In addition, genotypes from all three groups can be used in breeding programs to obtain new genotypes with all desirable traits for fresh fruit consumption and processing industry.Umbu (Spondias tuberosa Arruda) is a wild fruit species distributed all over the Caatinga biome in the Northeast of Brazil. The objective of this study was to analyze the physicochemical quality variability of umbu genotypes in the Caatinga biome, and to identify the most promising ones for fresh fruit consumption, processing industry and breeding programs. The fruit of 69 umbu genotypes were harvested at the maturity stage known as swollen, presenting full size and beginning of softening. The plants were cultivated in the umbu germplasm bank (UGB) at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa, Petrolina, PE, Brazil. Each genotype was characterized by the global position system (GPS) coordinates to understand the distribution of fruit physicochemical quality in different regions in the Caatinga biome. According to the results, fruit physicochemical quality, such as mass, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), and SS/TA ratio are homogeneously distributed all over the Caatinga biome. However, there were three main genotype groups, one characterized by higher fruit mass (52, 55, 57, 60, 65, and 68), other by higher SS (08, 09, 11, 20, 38, 41, and 62), and another by lower AT (02, 03, 07, 08, 16, 24, 27, and 51). Umbu genotypes with the highest mass and SS content can be used for commercial production in order to obtain fruit with desirable trait for the market. In addition, genotypes from all three groups can be used in breeding programs to obtain new genotypes with all desirable traits for fresh fruit consumption and processing industry

Solanaceous Fruits

Catface is expressed as malformation and the cracking of fruit at the blossom-end. Tomatoes showing this disorder usually present deep clefts that may cover the pericarp to varying degrees. Puffiness is used to refer to fruit usually showing flat or angular sides. Internally, tomato locules may be partially full of gel or even empty and the fruit may be hollow to different degrees depending on the severity of the disorder. Cracking is the splitting of the fruit epicarp caused by mechanical tissue failure. Internal cell layers could also be affected once the fruit cuticle and epidermis collapse. Varieties differ greatly in their susceptibility to cracking, so selecting tolerant genotypes is one of the most effective practices to reduce the problem. Uneven or nonsynchronic ripening in a gradient across the latitudinal axis is a common phenomenon in many fruits. Sunscald results from the combined damage caused by high temperatures and radiation and consequently normally occurs on the sun-exposed sides of fruit.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y ForestalesCentro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de AlimentosLaboratorio de Investigación en Productos Agroindustriale

Abscisic acid on the quality of tomato fruits

The use of abscisic acid (ABA) in agriculture has increased in the last few years due to the increase in ABA commercial availability at lower costs. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of exogenous ABA on tomato fruit quality parameters such as soluble solids (SS), total and soluble pectins, titratable acidity (TA) and flesh firmness. Tomatoes from the cultivar ‘Santa Clara’ were the study followed a complete randomized block desig, with four treatments in five repetitions. The treatments were plants not treated with ABA (control), foliar sprayed with ABA at 500 mg L-1, 150 mL drench with ABA at 500 mg L-1, or foliar plus drench treated with ABA. After harvesting, the physicochemical characteristics of the fruits were evaluated in the laboratory. All treatments were weekly applied to the plants from anthesis to harvest at fully maturity. Root treatment increased SS by up to 26.12%, increased ratio SS/TA, firmness and decreased soluble pectin. According to the results, it can be concluded that the application of ABA to leaves and roots can improve fruit quality by increasing the SS, ratio SS/TA. The method of application affects the SS content

Rapid and non-destructive determination of quality parameters in the ‘Tommy Atkins’ mango using a novel handheld near infrared spectrometer

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of a new handheld ultra-compact near infrared (NIR) spectrometer, based on the linear-variable filter (LVF) technology for rapid and non-destructive quality control analysis of the 'Tommy Atkins' mango. Multivariate calibration models were built using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression method to determine soluble solids (SS), dry matter (DM), titratable acidity (TA) and pulp firmness (PF). Different spectral pre-processing techniques were tested. Coefficient of determination and root mean square errors of prediction (RMSEP) values were, respectively: 0.92 and 0.55 degrees Brix for SS, 0.67 and 0.51% for DM, 0.50 and 0.17% citric acid for TA, 0.72 and 12.2 N for PF. The predictive models allowed monitoring physico-chemical changes in each fruit during ripening. The results show the feasibility of using the new NIR handheld spectrometer to determine quality parameters in the 'Tommy Atkins' mango197B12071214CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À CIÊNCIA E TECNOLOGIA DO ESTADO DE PERNAMBUCO - FACEPEFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPsem informaçã

Dynamic Alternations in Cellular and Molecular Components during Blossom-End Rot Development in Tomatoes Expressing sCAX1, a Constitutively Active Ca2+/H+ Antiporter from Arabidopsis1[W][OA]

Although calcium (Ca) concentration in cellular compartments has been suggested to be tightly regulated, Ca deficiency disorders such as blossom-end rot (BER) in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit may be induced by abnormal regulation of Ca partitioning and distribution in the cell. The objectives of this work were to analyze the effects of high expression of the constitutively functional Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) Ca2+/H+ exchanger (sCAX1) tonoplast protein in tomato fruit on cellular Ca partitioning and distribution, membrane integrity, and the transcriptional profile of genes potentially involved in BER development. Wild-type and sCAX1-expressing tomato plants were grown in a greenhouse. Wild-type plants did not develop BER, whereas sCAX1-expressing plants reached 100% BER incidence at 15 d after pollination. The sCAX1-expressing fruit pericarp had higher total tissue and water-soluble Ca concentrations, lower apoplastic and cytosolic Ca concentrations, higher membrane leakage, and Ca accumulation in the vacuole of sCAX1-expressing cells. Microarray analysis of healthy sCAX1-expressing fruit tissue indicated down-regulation of genes potentially involved in BER development, such as genes involved in membrane structure and repair and cytoskeleton metabolism, as well as up-regulation of genes that may have limited BER damage expansion, such as genes coding for heat shock proteins, glutathione S-transferases, and peroxidases. The results indicate that the high expression of the sCAX1 gene reduces cytosolic and apoplastic Ca concentrations, affecting plasma membrane structure and leading to BER symptom development in the fruit tissue

Comparing the analytical performances of Micro-NIR and FT-NIR spectrometers in the evaluation of acerola fruit quality, using PLS and SVM regression algorithms

The main goal of this study was to investigate the analytical performances of a state-of-the-art device, one of the smallest dispersion NIR spectrometers on the market (MicroNIR 1700), making a critical comparison with a benchtop FT-NIR spectrometer in the evaluation of the prediction accuracy. In particular, the aim of this study was to estimate in a non-destructive manner, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid content in acerola fruit during ripening, in a view of direct applicability in field of this new miniaturised handheld device. Acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) is a super-fruit characterised by a considerable amount of ascorbic acid, ranging from 1.0% to 4.5%. However, during ripening, acerola colour changes and the fruit may lose as much as half of its ascorbic acid content. Because the variability of chemical parameters followed a non-strictly linear profile, two different regression algorithms were compared: PLS and SVM. Regression models obtained with Micro-NIR spectra give better results using SVM algorithm, for both ascorbic acid and titratable acidity estimation. FT-NIR data give comparable results using both SVM and PLS algorithms, with lower errors for SVM regression. The prediction ability of the two instruments was statistically compared using the Passing-Bablok regression algorithm; the outcomes are critically discussed together with the regression models, showing the suitability of the portable Micro-NIR for in field monitoring of chemical parameters of interest in acerola fruits

Modeling 'Tommy Atkins' mango cooling time based on fruit physicochemical quality

Mango physicochemical quality can potentially affect fruit cooling time. In that case, an efficient cooling time should take into account fruit quality parameters. The objective of this study was to develop models that can be used to predict 'Tommy Atkins' mango cooling time based on fruit physicochemical quality. The prediction models were developed using 150 fruit harvested at maturity stages ranging from 2 to 4. Two thermocouples were fixed in each fruit, one immediately below the epidermis and the other close to the endocarp. From the total number of fruit, 83 were subjected to hydrothermal treatment and 67 were maintained at room temperature (25 degrees C). The hydrothermal treatment was applied by keeping the mangoes in water bath at 46 degrees C for 75 min. This treatment is commercially used as a phytosanitary method for mangoes exported to North America and Asian countries. After hydrothermal treatment, treated and non-treated fruit were kept in a cold room to determine the cooling time of the flesh immediately below the epidermis and close to the endocarp, until reaching 12 degrees C. After reaching storage temperature, each fruit was evaluated for physicochemical characteristics, which were used to obtain the cooling time prediction models. Quality attributes presenting the highest to the lowest influence on fruit cooling time were fruit weight, flesh and skin color (Chroma, Hue angle and Lightness), soluble solids, dry matter, fruit diameter, fruit length, flesh thickness and seed thickness. Cooling time prediction models were generated with these variables by multiple linear regression (MLR) and exhibited high prediction accuracy for fruit without hydrothermal treatment (R-SEC(2) = 88% RMSEC 42.1% R-SEP(2) = 85.5% RMSEP = 52.2%) and with hydrothermal treatment (R-SEC(2) = 72.2% RMSEC 42.4% R-SEP(2) = 73.6% RMSEP = 47.2%). According to the results, the models developed based on physicochemical parameters can predict with relatively high accuracy the cooling time of 'Tommy Atkins' mangoes. These models can be used in the mango industry to determine the most effective cooling time required to maintain fruit quality24441342

Disassembly of the fruit cell wall by the ripening-associated polygalacturonase and expansin influences tomato cracking

Crop genetics: Keeping tomato skins together Researchers in the USA reveal a link between cell wall composition and splitting skin in ripe tomatoes, known as cracking. To unravel the mechanism behind cracking, a team led by Elizabeth Mitcham of the University of California, Davis, compared wild-type tomato plants, mutant plants with increased soluble solids, and mutant plants with altered cell wall structure. They treated the three lines with the hormone ABA to induce cracking and measured several traits in the fruit. ABA treatment did not affect cracking incidence in the cell wall mutant but increased its frequency in the other two lines. Cell wall composition and thickness were the traits with the strongest correlation with cracking rate. Altogether, these findings show that cell wall structure is a major determinant of cracking and point the way towards reducing skin splitting in tomatoes