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Effect of Preharvest and Postharvest Technologies on Fruit Ripening and Senescence

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A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Product Quality and Safety".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 September 2023) | Viewed by 20616

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Dr. María E. García-Pastor

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Guest Editor

Department of Food Technology, EPSO, University Miguel Hernández, Ctra. Beniel Km. 3.2, 03312 Orihuela, Alicante, Spain
Interests: plant growth regulators; preharvest treatments; postharvest plant physiology; fruit quality; antioxidant system
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Maria Jose Gimenez Torres

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Guest Editor

Department of Food Technology, EPSO, University Miguel Hernández, Ctra. Beniel km. 3.2, 03312 Alicante, Spain
Interests: antioxidants; eco-friendly technologies; food safety; fruit quality; postharvest; preharvest
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fruits and vegetables are an important source of health-promoting bioactive compounds that are able to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases in regular consumers through their daily diets. The metabolic networks regulating fruit ripening are very complex, and ethylene appears to be a key factor acting in concert with other environmental signals and endogenous factors. For many years, ripening and senescence were considered as a series of degradative processes resulting in metabolic disruption and cellular disintegration. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the earliest responses of plant cells under abiotic stresses and senescence. Many changes related to ripening and senescence processes comprise fruit quality traits; therefore, studying the delay of quality losses associated with senescence has been the subject of extensive research. Moreover, the control of fruit ripening is essential to maintain fruit quality and to reduce losses during the postharvest shelf-life. Recently, the application of natural and eco-friendly compounds as preharvest treatments to delay ripening and senescence and preserve fruit and vegetable quality has received considerable attention.

We invite you to share your successful research on the effect of preharvest or postharvest technologies on fruit ripening and senescence worldwide in this Special Issue.

Dr. María E. García-Pastor
Dr. Maria Jose Gimenez Torres
Guest Editors

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Keywords

antioxidant compounds
crop treatments
eco-friendly tools
fruit quality
postharvest alternatives
reactive oxygen species
ripening index

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 1627 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Potential Preharvest Application of γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) on Improving Quality of ‘Verna’ Lemon at Harvest and during Storage

by Fátima Badiche-El Hilali, Juan Miguel Valverde, Huertas Díaz-Mula, María Serrano, Daniel Valero and Salvador Castillo

Agriculture 2023, 13(7), 1397; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13071397 - 14 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1564

Abstract

γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a naturally occurring plant compound that acts as a signalling agent during stress conditions, mainly due to unstable events, although sometimes the endogenous content does not reach sufficient levels. Thus, the main aim of this study was to apply GABA preharvest treatments in lemon and to study its effects on quality attributes at harvest and during postharvest storage. GABA was applied as foliar spray at 10, 50, and 100 mM, and quality traits during 28 days of storage at two temperatures (at 2 and 10 °C) were determined. Results show that all GABA treatments had a positive effect on reducing the weight losses and fruit softening. In addition, crop yield in terms of kg tree⁻¹ and fruit number tree⁻¹ was improved for the first and second harvest as well as the total phenolics content and total antioxidant activity (TAA). In conclusion, GABA at 50 mM concentration was the most effective preharvest treatment, enhancing shelf life being enhanced for 14 and 7 days at 2 and 10 °C, respectively, with respect to control lemons. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Preharvest and Postharvest Technologies on Fruit Ripening and Senescence)

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13 pages, 2025 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimal Preharvest Melatonin Applications to Enhance Endogenous Melatonin Content, Harvest and Postharvest Quality of Japanese Plum

by Daniel Cortés-Montaña, María Josefa Bernalte-García, Manuel Joaquín Serradilla and Belén Velardo-Micharet

Agriculture 2023, 13(7), 1318; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13071318 - 28 Jun 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1983

Abstract

Plum is one of the most produced stone fruits worldwide. Melatonin is an environmentally eco-friendly substance that, in low concentrations, activates defence systems against biotic and abiotic stresses. This substance is considered a tool that could increase fruit quality. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different preharvest foliar applications with different melatonin concentrations (0.1, 0.3, 0.5 mmol L⁻¹) to enhance melatonin content and shelf life of ‘Primetime’ plum. To this purpose, two and three applications were carried out at different critical stages of fruit growth. Different quality characteristics such as size, colour, titratable acidity, total soluble solids, ripening index, respiration rate, ethylene production rate, anthocyanins and total antioxidant activity, as well as endogenous melatonin content, were tested at harvest and after 40 days of cold storage. Results showed that ‘Primetime’ plums that received 3 applications of 0.5 mmol L⁻¹ enhanced endogenous melatonin content at harvest and showed less softening, delayed darkening, higher anthocyanin concentration and total antioxidant activity after 40 days of storage. Therefore, the concentration of 0.5 mmol L⁻¹ melatonin in 3 applications was effective in improving the quality of ‘Primetime’ plums. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Preharvest and Postharvest Technologies on Fruit Ripening and Senescence)

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13 pages, 1496 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) Cracking during Development on the Tree and at Harvest: The Impact of Methyl Jasmonate on Four Different Growing Seasons

by María Celeste Ruiz-Aracil, Juan Miguel Valverde, Jose Manuel Lorente-Mento, Alberto Carrión-Antolí, Salvador Castillo, Domingo Martínez-Romero and Fabián Guillén

Agriculture 2023, 13(6), 1244; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061244 - 14 Jun 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2432

Abstract

Rainfall occurring during the developmental stages of sweet cherries on the tree can lead to significant preharvest losses, primarily due to fruit cracking. Certain cultivars exhibit a higher susceptibility to such losses, particularly when persistent rains coincide with advanced phenological stages. The current study aims to investigate the efficacy of preharvest methyl jasmonate (MeJA) applications at harvest and during distinct developmental ripening stages in mitigating sweet cherry cracking at harvest and on-tree ripening. Preharvest foliar applications of 0.5 mM MeJA were applied across various sweet cherry cultivars, including ‘Prime Giant’, ‘Early Lory’, ‘Sweetheart’, and ‘Staccato’. By conducting this experiment over four growing seasons, we evaluated the impact of this natural elicitor on the cracking tolerance of these cultivars. The results of our analysis indicate that MeJA preharvest treatments effectively reduce fruit cracking, enhancing abiotic stress tolerance. Additionally, these treatments induce a general delay in fruit ripening on the tree across the examined cultivars. This delayed ripening effect is reflected in several quality parameters at harvest, such as the fruit firmness, external colour, total soluble solids, and total acidity. These parameters in the MeJA-treated fruit were delayed compared to the control fruit or remained unaffected for the total acidity. Conversely, the MeJA treatments delayed the accumulation of total polyphenols, exhibiting a minimal impact on reducing pedicel browning. The enhanced tolerance to cracking and delayed ripening attributed to the MeJA preharvest treatments could be helpful for plot management. Consequently, these MeJA-based preharvest treatments hold potential as valuable tools in adapting to climate change and mitigating abiotic stress in sweet cherry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Preharvest and Postharvest Technologies on Fruit Ripening and Senescence)

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13 pages, 1245 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Effect of Melatonin and 1-Methylcyclopropene Postharvest Applications for Extending ‘Hayward’ Kiwifruit Storage Life

by María Celeste Ruiz-Aracil, Fabián Guillén, Mihaela Iasmina Madalina Ilea, Domingo Martínez-Romero, José Manuel Lorente-Mento and Juan Miguel Valverde

Agriculture 2023, 13(4), 806; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13040806 - 31 Mar 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2344

Abstract

Kiwifruit, like many other fruits, is susceptible to dehydration, leading to texture changes and a loss of flavour during storage. Exposing kiwifruit to suboptimal temperatures can control these changes but can cause internal browning. Postharvest treatments with substances such as 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) are some of the most successful commercial technologies in the conservation of fruits and vegetables. In recent years, there has been a growing interest among researchers in alternative technologies based in postharvest treatments with plant growth regulators. In this sense, melatonin (MT) has been shown to improve fruit quality, extending shelf life. The aim of this study was to compare these two different technologies applied at postharvest to evaluate the impact on kiwifruit quality. Optimal 1-MCP fumigations and MT solutions were assayed on ‘Hayward’ kiwifruit under similar conditions. Quality parameters were evaluated at 14-day intervals during 84 days of cold storage plus 5 days at 20 °C. The results showed that both treatments were similarly effective in maintaining quality parameters such as weight loss, respiration, firmness, and acidity. Although 1-MCP treatments delayed the evolution of kiwifruit colour and chlorophyll degradation as compared to MT, MT treatments controlled chilling injury better than 1-MCP. This effect was not related to a greater cell membrane integrity since fruit batches treated with 1-MCP were the ones that showed the lowest electrolyte leakage level. In conclusion, both treatments maintained fruit quality and delayed ripening in a similar way. In this sense, the results suggest that MT immersion treatments could act as efficient delaying senescence as fumigations with 1-MCP maintaining kiwifruit quality during refrigerated storage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Preharvest and Postharvest Technologies on Fruit Ripening and Senescence)

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10 pages, 1023 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Effect of Fertigation on the Physicochemical Quality and Antioxidant System of ‘Fino’ Lemons during Postharvest Storage

by Vicente Serna-Escolano, Alicia Dobón-Suárez, María J. Giménez, Pedro J. Zapata and María Gutiérrez-Pozo

Agriculture 2023, 13(4), 766; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13040766 - 26 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2368

Abstract

Fertigation is a technique of injecting fertilizers along the irrigation lines, allowing a precise control of the moisture and the application. Nowadays, the main fertilizers used are nitrogen and potassium. Usually, an excess of fertigation is applied to achieve an early harvest of the lemon fruit. However, there is no literature available regarding the effects of excess fertigation on lemon fruit quality and antioxidant systems at harvest and during cold storage. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate these effects. This experiment was developed by comparing two plots: the first one with standard fertigation (SF) and the second one with intensive fertigation (IF). The yield per tree in the early harvest was higher in the IF than the SF plot; however, total yield was similar under both fertigation strategies. Lemons from the SF plot maintained higher total phenolic content and total antioxidant activity compared with lemons from the IF plot. In addition, firmness, total soluble solids and titratable acidity were also higher in SF lemons. Furthermore, weight loss, ethylene production, colour (parameter a*) and decay incidence were reduced in lemon fruits from the SF plot. Early lemons harvested from the standard fertigation plot showed high physicochemical quality and antioxidant properties, reducing lemon fruit decay during cold storage and providing high-quality fruits to consumers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Preharvest and Postharvest Technologies on Fruit Ripening and Senescence)

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16 pages, 5256 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Foliar Fertilization of Potassium Silicon Improved Postharvest Fruit Quality of Peach and Nectarine [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] Cultivars

by Walid Abidi, Rawaa Akrimi, Hichem Hajlaoui, Hichem Rejeb and Yolanda Gogorcena

Agriculture 2023, 13(1), 195; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13010195 - 12 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2623

Abstract

Peach fruit quality is dependent on preharvest treatments and orchard practices. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of preharvest potassium silicon fertilization on fruit postharvest quality. Two peach cultivars (“Early Bomba” and “Plagold 17”) were sprayed with three concentrations of potassium silicon (K-Si) at fruit set, stone hardening, and physiological maturity stages. The applied treatments corresponded to control (T0 = 0% K-Si) pulverized with distilled water and two K-Si treatments (T1 = 3% K-Si and T2 = 4.5% K-Si). The blooming and harvesting dates, vegetative growth and agronomical parameters were analyzed over two growing seasons (2021–2022). Peach fruits were stored at 5 °C and 95% RH during two cold storage periods (2 and 4 weeks) followed by 2 days at room temperatures. The fruit weights (FW), color, firmness, soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), pulp stone ratio (P/S) and fruit weight loss (FWL) were evaluated. The anthocyanins, flavonoids, total phenolics, carotenoids and antioxidant capacity (DPPH) were determined. Vitamin B5 and vitamin C were analyzed by HPLC. The ethylene rate and the chilling injury symptoms (CI) were analyzed after two cold storage periods (2 and 4 weeks). Results showed that the applied potassium silicon treatments (3% K-Si and 4.5% K-Si) enhanced the FW, SSC, TA, FWL, fruit composition and CI. Anthocyanins and total phenolics increased after cold storage period under K-Si treatments. The nectarine cultivar (cv) Early Bomba showed low sensibility to chilling injury symptoms as compared to the cv Plagold 17. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Preharvest and Postharvest Technologies on Fruit Ripening and Senescence)

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19 pages, 4952 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Markers Associated with Physiological and Biochemical Traits during Storage of ‘Nam Dok Mai Si Thong’ Mango Fruits

by Tibet Tangpao, Nutthatida Phuangsaujai, Sila Kittiwachana, David R. George, Patcharin Krutmuang, Bajaree Chuttong and Sarana Rose Sommano

Agriculture 2022, 12(9), 1407; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12091407 - 6 Sep 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3049

Abstract

Mango ‘Nam dok mai si thong’ is in high demand worldwide, displaying desirable attributes which include a particularly sweet flavour and visually appealing appearance. Physiological and biochemical changes that occur in the fruit post-harvest are key factors in determining fruit quality and, consequently, predicted shelf life. In order to understand which post-harvest markers play crucial roles during the ripening process, as well as those which are a consequence of disease infection and physical damage caused by essential oil vapour, partial least squares (PLS) correlation models were used. During storage, physiochemical (percent weight loss, peel colour, firmness, pH, and peel electrolyte leakage) and biochemical (titratable acidity, total soluble solids, total phenolic compounds, total flavonoid compounds, antioxidants, total sugar, and reducing sugar content) parameters, as well as near-infrared (NIR) spectra, were monitored and correlated with visual post-harvest physiological responses. The majority of analysed markers displayed distinct relationships with the ripening process of mangoes, where for non-destructive parameters (R² = 0.86), lightness (L*) and b* value were notably significant, and for destructive parameters (R² = 0.79), pH and total soluble solids were notably significant. Similarly, the same markers were also correlated with physical damage and post-harvest mango disease infection severity, possibly through polysaccharide deformation and activation of browning-related enzymes. NIR imaging results also revealed the absorbent regions involved in biochemical alterations (water and enzymes; absorbance at 1170 nm, 1400–1500 nm, and 2150–2250 nm) that pertain to the fruit’s quality. The findings from this work provide an initial step towards the development and assessment of quality measures for ‘Nam dok mai si thong’ mango. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Preharvest and Postharvest Technologies on Fruit Ripening and Senescence)

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17 pages, 5078 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adverse Effects of Long-Term Continuous Girdling of Jujube Tree on the Quality of Jujube Fruit and Tree Health

by Junhui Ran, Wensong Guo, Can Hu, Xufeng Wang and Ping Li

Agriculture 2022, 12(7), 922; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12070922 - 25 Jun 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2082

Abstract

In order to improve fruit yield, girdling technology is widely used in fruit production. However, in the practice of Hui jujube planting in Southern Xinjiang, it was found that the jujube fruit quality declined and the health problems and death rate of jujube trees increased after jujube trees have been girdled continuously for many years, which seriously affected the economic benefits of jujube planting. So, this study was carried out to explore the specific influence law of continuously jujube-tree girdling for many years on the main nutrients (soluble solid, protein, total acid, vitamin C, total sugar, fat and so on), physical quality attributes (single-fruit weight, hardness and geometric-mean diameter) of jujube fruit and tree health. Through the detection of the nutrients of jujube fruit, it was found that the long-term girdling of jujube trees significantly reduced the main nutrients of jujube fruit. The total sugar and reducing sugar content of jujube-fruit samples from the trees without girdling were 134.23% and 109.62% of the corresponding indexes of jujube-fruit samples from girdled ones, respectively; furthermore, the sugar–acid ratio of jujube samples from the girdled trees was 149.95, while the sugar–acid ratio of fruit from non-girdled trees reached 183.78. Moreover, the protein content of fruit from non-girdled trees was 5.91% higher than that of fruit from girdled ones. In addition, the single-fruit weight, hardness and geometric-average diameter of jujube from non-girdled jujube trees were 20.25%, 13.31% and 20.21% higher than those of jujube from girdled ones, respectively. Moreover, microstructural analysis of the callus and the newly formed phloem showed that the adverse effects of girdling on the phloem function were persistent and permanent. It was also found that jujube-tree girdling can also cause damage, to a certain extent, to the xylem around the girdling wound. The above research results further explained the internal cause of jujube-tree death caused by long-term continuously jujube-tree girdling. The results of this study can provide some scientific basis for the effective application of fruit-tree-girdling technology in fruit production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Preharvest and Postharvest Technologies on Fruit Ripening and Senescence)

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