Fruits Quality and Sensory Analysis

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Postharvest Biology, Quality, Safety, and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 May 2024) | Viewed by 35640

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Agro-Food Technology, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Orihuela (EPSO), Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche (UMH), Ctra. de Beniel, km 3.2, 03312 Orihuela, Spain
2. Phytochemistry and Healthy Food Lab. Research group on Quality, Safety, and Bioactivity of Plant Foods. Department of Food Science and Technology, CEBAS-CSIC, Campus Espinardo, 25, 30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain
Interests: food analysis; food quality; sensory analysis; chromatography; phenolic compounds; bioactive compounds; volatile compounds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Group “Food Quality and Safety (CSA)”, Department of Agro-Food Technology, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Orihuela (EPSO), “Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH)”, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche (UMH), Ctra. de Beniel, km 3.2, 03312 Orihuela, Spain
Interests: food processing; nuts; volatile; antioxidants; organic; sensory quality; bioactive components; chromatography
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fruits and vegetables are a fundamental part of human diet and are also an important source of bioactive compounds. Consumers today are increasingly demanding sustainable and higher-quality food, and therefore, the quality of fruit has become a key factor in purchase choice, both due to the increase in health awareness among the population, who are looking for foods that promote health and sustainability, as well as sensory qualities (visual and organoleptic) that makes fruits and vegetables attractive.

To reduce food quality losses and maintain the content of compounds related to health, as well as consumption by consumers, research is required to improve the quality and the parameters affected during the cultivation or processing of fruits, since, to obtain quality food products, it is necessary to control them from the moment they are planted and picked. Furthermore, preserving the integrity of bioactive ingredients during food processing is a challenge for the agri-food industry. Finally, sensory analysis in the food industry is recognized as one of the most important ways to ensure consumer acceptance of food.

This Special Issue focuses on reporting on the current state of the art, the changes undergone in the (functional, nutritional, and sensory) quality of fruits throughout their growth, processing, and shelf life, and acceptance by consumers through the sensory analysis tool. We invite researchers to contribute original studies and reviews that cover all the above aspects related to quality.

Dr. Paola Sánchez-Bravo
Dr. Luis Noguera-Artiaga
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • sensory analysis
  • bioactive compounds
  • antioxidant
  • food quality
  • volatile compounds
  • consumers
  • aroma
  • descriptive
  • behavior
  • color

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 4258 KiB  
Article
Comparative Metabolomic Fingerprinting Analysis of Tomato Fruits from Physalis Species in Mexico’s Balsas Basin
by Sergio Arias-Martínez, Guadalupe Oyoque-Salcedo, Oscar Giovanni Gutiérrez-Cárdenas, Ernesto Oregel-Zamudio and Jesús Rubén Torres-García
Horticulturae 2024, 10(6), 600; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10060600 - 7 Jun 2024
Viewed by 929
Abstract
This study investigated the chemical and sensory distinctions in tomato fruits from three Physalis species (P. ixocarpa, P. angulata, and P. philadelphica) found in Michoacán, Mexico, using metabolomic fingerprinting through GC-MS analysis. The objective was to identify organoleptic differences that could [...] Read more.
This study investigated the chemical and sensory distinctions in tomato fruits from three Physalis species (P. ixocarpa, P. angulata, and P. philadelphica) found in Michoacán, Mexico, using metabolomic fingerprinting through GC-MS analysis. The objective was to identify organoleptic differences that could influence consumer preferences, highlighting the significance of these species’ unique traits. These species represented a valuable genetic reservoir for potential hybridization or selection aimed at enhancing commercial varieties by focusing on organoleptic properties rather than traditional selection criteria like fruit size or yield. This research emphasizes the importance of preserving Mexican biodiversity and providing insights into domestication processes that prioritize flavor and sensory qualities. By analyzing metabolite profiles and their correlation with taste preferences, this study contributes to understanding how these differences could be leveraged in breeding programs to develop new tomato varieties with preferred flavors. It was suggested that variations in taste among the species are mainly due to differences in metabolite expression. This knowledge underscores the importance of organoleptic properties in the selection and domestication of edible fruits, offering a pathway toward the conservation and enhancement of tomato varieties through the exploitation of genetic diversity for organoleptic improvement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruits Quality and Sensory Analysis)
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16 pages, 3460 KiB  
Article
HS-SPME-GC–MS Profiling of Volatile Organic Compounds and Polar and Lipid Metabolites of the “Stendesto” Plum–Apricot Kernel with Reference to Its Parents
by Dasha Mihaylova, Aneta Popova, Ivayla Dincheva and Svetla Pandova
Horticulturae 2024, 10(3), 257; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10030257 - 7 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1219
Abstract
Plum–apricot hybrids are the successful backcrosses of plums and apricots. Plums and apricots are well-known and preferred by consumers because of their distinct sensory and beneficial health properties. However, kernel consumption remains limited even though kernels are easily accessible. The “Stendesto” hybrid originates [...] Read more.
Plum–apricot hybrids are the successful backcrosses of plums and apricots. Plums and apricots are well-known and preferred by consumers because of their distinct sensory and beneficial health properties. However, kernel consumption remains limited even though kernels are easily accessible. The “Stendesto” hybrid originates from the “Modesto” apricot and the “Stanley” plum. Kernal metabolites exhibited quantitative differences in terms of metabolites identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis and HS-SPME technique profiling. The results revealed a total of 55 different compounds. Phenolic acids, hydrocarbons, organic acids, fatty acids, sugar acids and alcohols, mono- and disaccharides, as well as amino acids were identified in the studied kernels. The hybrid kernel generally inherited all the metabolites present in the parental kernels. Volatile organic compounds were also investigated. Thirty-five compounds identified as aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, furans, acids, esters, and alkanes were present in the studied samples. Considering volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the hybrid kernel had more resemblance to the plum one, bearing that alkanes were only identified in the apricot kernel. The objective of this study was to investigate the volatile composition and metabolic profile of the first Bulgarian plum–apricot hybrid kernels, and to provide comparable data relevant to both parents. With the aid of principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), differentiation and clustering of the results occurred in terms of the metabolites present in the plum–apricot hybrid kernels with reference to their parental lines. This study is the first providing information about the metabolic profile of variety-defined kernels. It is also a pioneering study on the comprehensive evaluation of fruit hybrids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruits Quality and Sensory Analysis)
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17 pages, 4560 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Assessment of Coffee Varieties (Coffea arabica L.; Coffea canephora L.) from Coastal, Andean, and Amazonian Regions of Ecuador; A Holistic Evaluation of Metabolism, Antioxidant Capacity and Sensory Attributes
by Raluca A. Mihai, Diana C. Ortiz-Pillajo, Karoline M. Iturralde-Proaño, Mónica Y. Vinueza-Pullotasig, Leonardo A. Sisa-Tolagasí, Mary L. Villares-Ledesma, Erly J. Melo-Heras, Nelson S. Cubi-Insuaste and Rodica D. Catana
Horticulturae 2024, 10(3), 200; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10030200 - 21 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1855
Abstract
In Ecuador, the cultivation of two main coffee species, Coffea arabica L. and Coffea canephora L., holds significant economic, environmental, social, and public health importance. C. arabica displays wide adaptability to diverse growing conditions, while C. canephora exhibits less versatility in adaptation but [...] Read more.
In Ecuador, the cultivation of two main coffee species, Coffea arabica L. and Coffea canephora L., holds significant economic, environmental, social, and public health importance. C. arabica displays wide adaptability to diverse growing conditions, while C. canephora exhibits less versatility in adaptation but is superior in metabolite production in the ripe fruits (with the potential to double caffeine content). Our hypothesis revolves around the differences in the production of secondary metabolites, antioxidant capacity and sensory attributes based on the environmental conditions of the two studies species cultivated in Ecuador. The assessment of the metabolic composition of high-altitude coffee grown in Ecuador involved the determination of secondary metabolites and quantification of the antioxidant capacity through the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay, 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) quenching assay, and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. In the case of C. arabica, a high positive correlation was observed for total phenolic content (TPC) (4.188 ± 0.029 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g dry weight (dw)) and total flavonoid content (TFC) (0.442 ± 0.001 mg quercetin (QE)/g dw) with the antioxidant activity determined through ABTS free-radical-scavenging activity (23.179 ± 1.802 µmol Trolox (TEAC)/g dw) (R = 0.68), a medium correlation with DPPH radical-scavenging activity (65.875 ± 1.129 µmol TEAC/g dw) (R = 0.57), and a low correlation with ferric reducing antioxidant power assay ((100.164 ± 0.332 µmol Fe2+/g dw) (R = 0.27). A high correlation (R > 90) was observed for the values evaluated in the case of C. canephora. The caffeine content was high in C. arabica beans from Los Ríos province and in C. canephora beans from Loja. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruits Quality and Sensory Analysis)
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19 pages, 1244 KiB  
Article
Physicochemical Properties of Geographical Indication (GI) Sweet Cherries in China and Their Influencing Factors of Cultivar, Climate Type, and Soil Condition
by Ying Nie, Jiazhang Huang, Rui Liu, Pei Wang, Peng Liu, Man Lu and Junmao Sun
Horticulturae 2023, 9(10), 1118; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9101118 - 10 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1347
Abstract
As one of the fruits widely planted in China, the quality of sweet cherries is affected by various factors. This study aims to investigate the characteristics of geographical indication (GI) sweet cherries grown in China and to analyze the effects of cultivars, climate [...] Read more.
As one of the fruits widely planted in China, the quality of sweet cherries is affected by various factors. This study aims to investigate the characteristics of geographical indication (GI) sweet cherries grown in China and to analyze the effects of cultivars, climate types, and soil conditions on their quality traits. Twenty-two parameters of nine cherry samples and their planted soil properties were analyzed through a descriptive analysis and correlation analysis. There were significant differences in the physiochemical traits. Notable positive correlations between the fruit weight and its size, rate of edibility, and flavonoid content were shown. The Univariate-General Line Model exhibited that weight, soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), and total phenolic content (TPC) were mainly influenced by both the cultivar and climate type, while only the cultivar affected the maturity index (MI). Soil condition parameters were significantly different for each sample. Based on the established linear regression models, it was found that soil P had a positive impact on SSC and TA, but a negative effect on TPC (p < 0.05). On the other hand, soil K had a negative effect on TA but a positive impact on TPC (p < 0.05). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruits Quality and Sensory Analysis)
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13 pages, 2245 KiB  
Article
Physiological and Metabolic Traits Linked to Kiwifruit Quality
by Vaia Styliani Titeli, Michail Michailidis, Georgia Tanou and Athanassios Molassiotis
Horticulturae 2023, 9(8), 915; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9080915 - 10 Aug 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1686
Abstract
The assessment of fruit quality traits is a key factor in increasing consumer acceptance of kiwifruit. Here, an experiment was performed to evaluate the relationship between dry matter (DM) and soluble solids concentration (SSC), evaluated by both destructive (D) and non-destructive (ND) approaches, [...] Read more.
The assessment of fruit quality traits is a key factor in increasing consumer acceptance of kiwifruit. Here, an experiment was performed to evaluate the relationship between dry matter (DM) and soluble solids concentration (SSC), evaluated by both destructive (D) and non-destructive (ND) approaches, with acidity content and sensory evaluation, particularly taste, in fully ripened ‘Hayward’ kiwifruits from 20 orchards. Nutrient content and metabolomic analysis were also performed in ripened kiwifruit tissues (pericarp, placenta, and seeds) from four selected orchards of kiwifruits of high taste scores (HTS) and four orchards of low taste scores (LTS). The results suggest that ND-DM measurement positively correlated with D-DM and may serve as an indicator of kiwifruit taste. Moreover, the taste of kiwifruit was affected by both SSC and acidity. Based on the nutrient content of the pericarp and the primary metabolites of the pericarp and placenta, a clear separation was observed between kiwifruits with HTS and those with LTS, while no differences were found in seed samples. Metabolites such as fructose, maltose, mannobiose, tagatose, and citrate were accumulated in kiwifruits with a strong taste in the pericarp, whereas others, such as serine in the pericarp and placenta, have a negative impact on taste. The current study contributes to a greater understanding of the influence of dry matter, ripening characteristics, primary metabolites, and nutrient content on the taste of kiwifruits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruits Quality and Sensory Analysis)
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14 pages, 20959 KiB  
Article
Quality Grading Algorithm of Oudemansiella raphanipes Based on Transfer Learning and MobileNetV2
by Tongkai Li, Huamao Huang, Yangyang Peng, Hui Zhou, Haiying Hu and Ming Liu
Horticulturae 2022, 8(12), 1119; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8121119 - 29 Nov 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2015
Abstract
As a traditional edible and medicinal fungus in China, Oudemansiella raphanipes has high economic benefits. In order to achieve the automatic classification of Oudemansiella raphanipes into four quality levels using their image dataset, a quality grading algorithm based on neural network models was [...] Read more.
As a traditional edible and medicinal fungus in China, Oudemansiella raphanipes has high economic benefits. In order to achieve the automatic classification of Oudemansiella raphanipes into four quality levels using their image dataset, a quality grading algorithm based on neural network models was proposed. At first, the transfer learning strategy and six typical convolution neural network models, e.g., VGG16, ResNet50, InceptionV3, NasNet-Mobile, EfficientNet, and MobileNetV2, were used to train the datasets. Experiments show that MobileNetV2 has good performance considering both testing accuracy and detection time. MobileNetV2 only needs 37.5 ms to classify an image, which is shorter by 11.76%, 28.57%, 46.42%, 59.45%, and 79.73%, respectively, compared with the classification times of InceptionV3, EfficientNetB0, ResNet50, NasNet-Mobile, and VGG16. Based on the original MobileNetV2 model, four optimization methods, including data augmentation, hyperparameter selecting, an overfitting control strategy, and a dynamic learning rate strategy, were adopted to improve the accuracy. The final classification accuracy can reach as high as 98.75%, while the detection time for one image is only 22.5 ms and the model size is only 16.48 MB. This quality grading algorithm based on an improved MobileNetV2 model is feasible and effective for Oudemansiella raphanipes, satisfying the needs in the production line. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruits Quality and Sensory Analysis)
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16 pages, 960 KiB  
Article
Effect of Combination of KMnO4 Oxidation and UV-C Radiation on Postharvest Quality of Refrigerated Pears cv. ‘Ercolini’
by Ramiro Alonso-Salinas, José Ramón Acosta-Motos, Antonio J. Pérez-López, Luis Noguera-Artiaga, Estrella Núñez-Delicado, Francisco Burló and Santiago López-Miranda
Horticulturae 2022, 8(11), 1078; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8111078 - 16 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2836
Abstract
This present study proposes an improvement for the postharvest preservation of the ‘Ercolini’ pear, a fruit that is little tested in the field, using a combination of ethylene elimination methods. The techniques used were potassium permanganate filters in devices with ultraviolet radiation and [...] Read more.
This present study proposes an improvement for the postharvest preservation of the ‘Ercolini’ pear, a fruit that is little tested in the field, using a combination of ethylene elimination methods. The techniques used were potassium permanganate filters in devices with ultraviolet radiation and constant air flow to favour the contact of ethylene with the oxidising agents. The analysis carried out included weight, diameter, firmness, soluble solids content, total acidity, maturity index, ascorbic acid concentration, total phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity via the ORAC method and a descriptive sensory analysis using experts. In addition, the ethylene removal method was tested at two storage temperatures: 1 °C, near optimal temperature, and 8 °C, the standard temperature for transport and storage of fruit on a commercial scale. The results showed a marked improvement in the maintenance of postharvest physicochemical quality using the proposed combination of methods. The sensory analysis confirmed what was observed in the laboratory, with higher organoleptic quality values observed in pears treated with the complete system under study consisting of filter and machine, highlighting the greater presence of flavours and odours related to green fruit. Ultimately, this innovation could be highly relevant for the food industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruits Quality and Sensory Analysis)
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18 pages, 1183 KiB  
Article
Chemical Composition and Polyphenol Compounds of Vaccinium floribundum Kunth (Ericaceae) from the Volcano Chimborazo Paramo (Ecuador)
by Jorge M. Caranqui-Aldaz, Raquel Muelas-Domingo, Francisca Hernández and Rafael Martínez
Horticulturae 2022, 8(10), 956; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8100956 - 16 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2147
Abstract
Mortiño (Vaccinium floribundum Kunth) is considered a “superfruit” due to its antioxidant capacity and possible health benefits. To date, there is no known study that addresses the biochemical characterization of mortiño berries from the paramo of the Chimborazo volcano (Ecuador). So, the [...] Read more.
Mortiño (Vaccinium floribundum Kunth) is considered a “superfruit” due to its antioxidant capacity and possible health benefits. To date, there is no known study that addresses the biochemical characterization of mortiño berries from the paramo of the Chimborazo volcano (Ecuador). So, the aim of this research was to evaluate for the first time the effect of the stage of development of the mortiño berries (two stages) and environment of origin (three sampling areas) on fruit quality. Polyphenol compounds were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometric (ESI-MSn) and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). Moreover, antioxidant properties (ABTS•+, and DPPH), sugar and organic acids, and minerals were examined. The main organic acids were quinic and citric acid, while glucose, fructose, sucrose, mannose, and sorbitol were the main sugars determined in the mortiño fruits. The main constituents of the mortiño berries included hydroxycinnamic acids (5-O-caffeoylquinic acid), flavonols (quercetin 3-hexoside, quercetin 5-hexoside, quercetin 3-pentoside, and quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside) and anthocyanins. Seven anthocyanins were identified: glycosides of cyanidin, delphinidin, petunidin, peonidin, and pelargonidin. The research confirms that the mortiño berries produced in the Ecuadorian paramo area are a valuable source of polyphenolics, rich in sugars and organic acids, and can be classified as a good source of microelements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruits Quality and Sensory Analysis)
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11 pages, 487 KiB  
Article
Cultivar and Rootstock Effects on Growth, Yield and Nut Quality of Pistachio under Semi-Arid Conditions of South Mediterranean
by Samiha Ouni, Luis Noguera-Artiaga, Angel Carbonell-Barrachina, Imen Ouerghui, Fadwa Jendoubi, Ali Rhouma and Azza Chelli-Chaabouni
Horticulturae 2022, 8(7), 606; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8070606 - 5 Jul 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2287
Abstract
Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) cultivation under rainfed conditions of the South Mediterranean has not been studied in depth. Under changing climate conditions, knowledge of cultivar and rootstock performances allows for the optimal use of genetic resources to improve yield and nut quality. [...] Read more.
Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) cultivation under rainfed conditions of the South Mediterranean has not been studied in depth. Under changing climate conditions, knowledge of cultivar and rootstock performances allows for the optimal use of genetic resources to improve yield and nut quality. This study aimed to evaluate growth, yield, and fruit characteristics of ‘Mateur’ and ‘Achouri’ pistachio cultivars grafted on P. vera and P. atlantica rootstocks grown in northeastern Tunisia. The research was based on three years worth of monitoring of growth, yield and fruit quality. Results showed that annual bio-climatic features had significant effects on all studied parameters. The ‘Mateur’ cultivar showed higher vigor and fruit yield than ‘Achouri’. Fruit production was higher in P. atlantica rootstock for ‘Mateur’ but similar in both studied rootstocks for ‘Achouri’. Kernel fat contents (40.7–46.8%) and fatty acid profiles were low or not affected by cultivar, rootstock and their combination. Oleic acid (C18:1) was the major fatty acid (68.94–69.22%) in kernel oil. The unsaturated/saturated fatty acid and oleic/linoleic acid ratios indicated that nuts obtained had high quality. The lower performances of ‘Achouri’ cultivar in the studied conditions may be related to low acclimation ability of this cultivar. These conditions, however, seem to be suitable for both studied rootstocks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruits Quality and Sensory Analysis)
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13 pages, 3416 KiB  
Article
Relation between Rind Pigmentation and Internal Quality of Blood Orange ‘Sanguinelli’: Physicochemical and Sensory Studies
by Paula Tarancón, Begoña Cebrián, Paula Fernández-Serrano and Cristina Besada
Horticulturae 2022, 8(5), 448; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8050448 - 17 May 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2508
Abstract
This study evaluated the relation between rind colour and the internal physicochemical and sensory qualities of ‘Sanguinelli’ blood oranges, one of the main blood orange cultivars grown in the Mediterranean region. To this end, 400 fruits were harvested in three different orchards and [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the relation between rind colour and the internal physicochemical and sensory qualities of ‘Sanguinelli’ blood oranges, one of the main blood orange cultivars grown in the Mediterranean region. To this end, 400 fruits were harvested in three different orchards and classified according to rind pigmentation intensity (slight, medium, intense, very intense). All fruits were individually evaluated by determining rind and pulp colour, total soluble solids, acidity, maturity index, juice yield, firmness, and size. Moreover, 71 consumers performed a triangle test to evaluate if fruit sensory properties depended on rind pigmentation. Our results revealed (for the first time) that pulp pigmentation and total soluble solid (TSS) content strongly depend on rind colouration. Among the fruit from the same orchard, the redder the pigmented fruit was (externally) the deeper the red pulp, and the higher the TSS became. This pattern was corroborated in the three orchards under study. Other characteristics, such as acidity, juice yield, firmness, and fruit size, did not depend on external pigmentation. Sensory studies showed that the more coloured the fruit, the higher the accumulated sugar content; consumers perceive these fruits as being sweeter than slightly pigmented ones. This information can be very useful for the citrus industry as external colour may become a quality index for blood oranges, as well as for consumers to make purchase decisions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruits Quality and Sensory Analysis)
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Review

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39 pages, 3611 KiB  
Review
Strategies to Delay Ethylene-Mediated Ripening in Climacteric Fruits: Implications for Shelf Life Extension and Postharvest Quality
by Ramiro Alonso-Salinas, Santiago López-Miranda, Antonio José Pérez-López and José Ramón Acosta-Motos
Horticulturae 2024, 10(8), 840; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10080840 - 8 Aug 2024
Viewed by 3788
Abstract
Climacteric fruits undergo a characteristic ripening process regulated by ethylene, a key plant hormone. Extending the shelf life of these fruits while preserving their postharvest quality poses a significant challenge for the food industry. This review provides a comprehensive overview of physiological and [...] Read more.
Climacteric fruits undergo a characteristic ripening process regulated by ethylene, a key plant hormone. Extending the shelf life of these fruits while preserving their postharvest quality poses a significant challenge for the food industry. This review provides a comprehensive overview of physiological and molecular strategies to delay ethylene-mediated ripening in climacteric fruits and their impact on shelf life, postharvest quality, sensory attributes, and volatile compounds. Additionally, it examines the role of ethylene in fruit ripening, analysing various ethylene managing strategies including ethylene inhibitors, ethylene adsorbents, and ethylene scavengers by catalytic oxidation. This review concludes with future research directions including molecular and genetic approaches for reducing ethylene production or responsiveness in fruits, integrated strategies, environmental considerations, and commercial applications for improving postharvest handling and fruit quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruits Quality and Sensory Analysis)
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29 pages, 2017 KiB  
Review
Emerging Technologies for Prolonging Fresh-Cut Fruits’ Quality and Safety during Storage
by Rey David Iturralde-García, Francisco Javier Cinco-Moroyoqui, Oliviert Martínez-Cruz, Saúl Ruiz-Cruz, Francisco Javier Wong-Corral, Jesús Borboa-Flores, Yaeel Isbeth Cornejo-Ramírez, Ariadna Thalia Bernal-Mercado and Carmen Lizette Del-Toro-Sánchez
Horticulturae 2022, 8(8), 731; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8080731 - 14 Aug 2022
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 11315
Abstract
Fresh-cut fruits have been in great demand by consumers owing to the convenience of buying them in shopping centers as ready-to-eat products, and various advantages, such as the fact that they are healthy and fresh products. However, their shelf lives are brief due [...] Read more.
Fresh-cut fruits have been in great demand by consumers owing to the convenience of buying them in shopping centers as ready-to-eat products, and various advantages, such as the fact that they are healthy and fresh products. However, their shelf lives are brief due to their physiological changes and maturation. Therefore, this review includes information from the physicochemical, microbiological, nutritional, and sensory points of view on the deterioration mechanisms of fresh-cut fruits. In addition, updated information is presented on the different emerging technologies, such as active packaging (edible films, coatings, and modified atmospheres), natural preservatives (antioxidants and antimicrobials), and physical treatments (high hydrostatic pressure, UV-C radiation, and ozone). The benefits and disadvantages of each of these technologies and the ease of their applications are discussed. Having alternatives to preserve fresh-cut fruit is essential both for the consumer and the merchant, since the consumer could then obtain a high-quality product maintaining all its properties without causing any damage, and the merchant would receive economic benefits by having more time to sell the product. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruits Quality and Sensory Analysis)
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