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Postharvest Management of Fruits and Vegetables Series II

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A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Quality and Safety".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 24392

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Imahori Yoshihiro

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Guest Editor

Graduate School of Agricultural, Osaka Metropolitan University, Sakai, Japan
Interests: ascorbate metabolism; CA storage; chilling injury; fruit and vegetables; low oxygen storage; stress treatment

Dr. Jinhe Bai

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Guest Editor

Horticultural Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
Interests: postharvest plant physiology; postharvest handling and storage of fruit; packaging; controlled atmosphere; modified humidity (MH) packaging; edible coating; volatile flavor
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The postharvest area of fresh fruit and vegetables (F&V) covers an important part of agriculture. It aims to maintain safety and quality of the products and reduce losses—approximately one-third of all fruit and vegetables produced globally are lost during postharvest process. Environmentally friendly agents, techniques, and efforts for energy saving must be considered.

Although the basic steps for F&V remain the same, the development and implementation of new technology is promising to further improve quality and extend postharvest life. However, emerging technology needs deeper information regarding the mechanisms underlying the physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology of postharvest ripening and storage.

Original articles or reviews with new findings including, but not limited to, the following topics are welcome:

Harvesting, pre- and postharvest treatments for F&V quality;
Ethylene, ripening physiology, and technology;
Biochemical alterations, quality determination, nutritional value, and consumer-perceived quality;
Physiological disorders and decay;
Packaging and packing lines;
Controlled and modified atmospheres;
Degreening and ripening;
Novel materials and/or technologies in postharvest area.

Prof. Dr. Imahori Yoshihiro
Dr. Jinhe Bai
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Foods is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

fruit and vegetables
ripening physiology
storage methods
transportion
degreening
texture
quality

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

5 pages, 202 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Postharvest Management of Fruits and Vegetables—Series II

by Yoshihiro Imahori and Jinhe Bai

Foods 2024, 13(7), 1049; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13071049 - 29 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1115

Abstract

Fruits and vegetables are crucial nutritional sources of carbohydrates, protein, minerals, vitamins, and dietary fiber, offering significant benefits to human health [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Postharvest Management of Fruits and Vegetables Series II)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

16 pages, 2876 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Genotype and Modified Atmosphere Packaging on the Quality of Fresh-Cut Melons

by Ranjeet Shinde, Yakov Vinokur, Elazar Fallik and Victor Rodov

Foods 2024, 13(2), 256; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13020256 - 13 Jan 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1140

Abstract

Marketing melons (Cucumis melo) as convenient fresh-cut products is popular nowadays. However, damage inflicted by fresh-cut processing results in fast quality degradation and food safety risks. The life of fresh-cut produce can be extended by a modified atmosphere (MA), either generated in a package by tissue respiration (a passive MA) or injected by gas flushing (an active MA). This work investigated the effect of passive and active MA formed in packages of different perforation levels on the quality of fresh-cut melons of two genetic groups: C. melo var. cantalupensis, characterized by climacteric fruit behavior, and non-climacteric C. melo inodorus. The best product preservation was achieved in passive MA packages: non-perforated for inodorus melons and micro-perforated for cantalupensis ones. The optimal packages allowed for the preservation of both genotypes for 14 days at 6–8 °C. The major factors limiting the shelf life of fresh-cut melons were microbial spoilage, translucency disorder and hypoxic fermentation associated with cantalupensis melons with enhanced ethyl acetate accumulation. Inodorus melons were found to be preferable for fresh-cut processing since they were less prone to fermented off-flavor development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Postharvest Management of Fruits and Vegetables Series II)

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13 pages, 3169 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of Thymol Vapors to Control Postharvest Decay Caused by Penicillium digitatum and Lasiodiplodia theobromae in Grapefruit

by Gabriela M. Olmedo, Jiuxu Zhang, Wei Zhao, Matthew Mattia, Erin N. Rosskopf, Mark Ritenour, Anne Plotto and Jinhe Bai

Foods 2023, 12(19), 3637; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12193637 - 30 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1221

Abstract

Two of the major postharvest diseases impacting grapefruit shelf life and marketability in the state of Florida (USA) are stem-end rot (SER) caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae and green mold (GM) caused by Penicillium digitatum. Here, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of vapors of thymol, a natural compound found in the essential oil of various plants and the primary constituent of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) oil, as a potential solution for the management of GM and SER. Thymol vapors at concentrations lower than 10 mg L⁻¹ significantly inhibited the mycelial growth of both pathogens, causing severe ultrastructural damage to P. digitatum conidia. In in vivo trials, the incidence and lesion area of GM and SER on inoculated grapefruit were significantly reduced after a 5 d exposure to 50 mg L⁻¹ thymol vapors. In addition, the in vitro and in vivo sporulation of P. digitatum was suppressed by thymol. When applied in its vapor phase, thymol had no negative effect on the fruit, neither introducing perceivable off-flavor nor causing additional weight loss. Our findings support the pursuit of further studies on the use of thymol, recognized as safe for human health and the environment, as a promising strategy for grapefruit postharvest disease management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Postharvest Management of Fruits and Vegetables Series II)

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14 pages, 2539 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Combined 1-Methylcyclopropene and Melatonin Treatment on the Quality Characteristics and Active Oxygen Metabolism of Mango Fruit during Storage

by Fang Yuan, Chunyan Wang, Ping Yi, Li Li, Guifen Wu, Fang Huang, Min Huang and Ting Gan

Foods 2023, 12(10), 1979; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12101979 - 12 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1581

Abstract

In this study, mango fruit (Tainong No. 1) was treated with either 0.1 mg/L 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) alone or with a combination of 0.1 mg/L 1-MCP and 0.2 mM melatonin (MT). The mango fruit was then stored for 10 days at 25 °C and 85–90% relative humidity. Quality characteristics and the active oxygen metabolism of postharvest mangoes were evaluated every 2 days. Compared to untreated mango fruit, those with the treatments of 1-MCP alone or 1-MCP + MT had a better appearance and higher levels of soluble sugar, ascorbic acid, and titratable acidity. Moreover, these treatments prevented the loss of fruit firmness, successfully delayed the escalation of a* and b* values, and reduced malondialdehyde content and superoxide anion generation rate. After 10 days of storage, mango fruit treated by 1-MCP alone or 1-MCP + MT exhibited increased activities of antioxidant enzymes such as ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and other peroxidases; nevertheless, the two treatment protocols maintained higher mango total phenolic content only at the later stage of storage. These findings suggest that mango fruit treated with 1-MCP alone or with 1-MCP + MT improves the quality characteristics and antioxidant activities. Moreover, compared to 1-MCP treatment alone, 1-MCP + MT-treated mangoes exhibited higher quality and a stronger regulation of active metabolism during storage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Postharvest Management of Fruits and Vegetables Series II)

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36 pages, 6024 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thorough Characterization of ETHQB3.5, a QTL Involved in Melon Fruit Climacteric Behavior and Aroma Volatile Composition

by Noelia Dos-Santos, María C. Bueso, Aurora Díaz, Eduard Moreno, Jordi Garcia-Mas, Antonio J. Monforte and Juan Pablo Fernández-Trujillo

Foods 2023, 12(2), 376; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12020376 - 13 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2176

Abstract

The effect of the QTL involved in climacteric ripening ETHQB3.5 on the fruit VOC composition was studied using a set of Near-Isogenic Lines (NILs) containing overlapping introgressions from the Korean accession PI 16375 on the chromosome 3 in the climacteric ‘Piel de Sapo’ (PS) genetic background. ETHQB3.5 was mapped in an interval of 1.24 Mb that contained a NAC transcription factor. NIL fruits also showed differences in VOC composition belonging to acetate esters, non-acetate esters, and sulfur-derived families. Cosegregation of VOC composition (23 out of 48 total QTLs were mapped) and climacteric ripening was observed, suggesting a pleiotropic effect of ETHQB3.5. On the other hand, other VOCs (mainly alkanes, aldehydes, and ketones) showed a pattern of variation independent of ETHQB3.5 effects, indicating the presence of other genes controlling non-climacteric ripening VOCs. Network correlation analysis and hierarchical clustering found groups of highly correlated compounds and confirmed the involvement of the climacteric differences in compound classes and VOC differences. The modification of melon VOCs may be achieved with or without interfering with its physiological behavior, but it is likely that high relative concentrations of some type of ethylene-dependent esters could be achieved in climacteric cultivars. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Postharvest Management of Fruits and Vegetables Series II)

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13 pages, 1857 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hyperspectral Imaging with Machine Learning Approaches for Assessing Soluble Solids Content of Tribute Citru

by Cheng Li, Mengyu He, Zeyi Cai, Hengnian Qi, Jianhong Zhang and Chu Zhang

Foods 2023, 12(2), 247; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12020247 - 5 Jan 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2158

Abstract

Tribute Citru is a natural citrus hybrid with plenty of vitamins and nutrients. Fruits’ soluble solids content (SSC) is a critical quality index. This study used hyperspectral imaging at two spectral ranges (400–1000 nm and 900–1700 nm) to determine SSC in Tribute Citru. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) and support vector regression (SVR) models were established in order to determine SSC using the spectral information of the calyx and blossom ends. The average spectra of both ends as well as their fusion was studied. The successive projections algorithm (SPA) and the correlation coefficient analysis (CCA) were used to examine the differences in characteristic wavelengths between the two ends. Most models achieved performances with the correlation coefficient of the training, validation, and testing sets over 0.6. Results showed that differences in the performances among the models using the one-sided and two-sided spectral information. No particular regulation could be found for the differences in model performances and characteristic wavelengths. The results illustrated that the sampling side was an influencing factor but not the determinant factor for SSC determination. These results would help with the development of real-world applications for citrus quality inspection without concerning the sampling sides and the spectral ranges. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Postharvest Management of Fruits and Vegetables Series II)

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15 pages, 1912 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Amendment and Storage Effect the Quality of Winter Melons (Benincasa hispida (Thunb) Cogn.) and Their Juice

by Jinhe Bai, Erin N. Rosskopf, Kristen A. Jeffries, Wei Zhao and Anne Plotto

Foods 2023, 12(1), 209; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12010209 - 3 Jan 2023

Viewed by 2644

Abstract

Winter melon fruits were grown in the field using anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) and conventional fertilizer alone as the control treatment. Fruits were harvested and stored at 20 °C for 120 d, the juice was processed on day one and day 120, and the effects of soil amendment and 120 d storage on the juice’s physical and chemical (sugars, acids, volatile and nutritional compounds) properties were evaluated. Fruit juice extracted from ASD-grown fruit had greater magnitude of zeta potential than the control juice, indicating it was physically more stable than the juice obtained from the control conditions. ASD fruit juice had lower soluble solids content (SSC), and lower volatile compounds that contribute green, grass, and sulfur notes, and negatively influence flavor quality. ASD fruit juice had higher vitamin B5 and cytidine. Juice processed from 120 d stored fruit had less yield due to 12.4–15.6% weight loss. The non-soluble solids content was higher and particle size was larger, and the SSC and individual sugars decreased. However, titratable acidity (TA) increased primarily due to increased citric acid. Out of 16 free amino acids, 6 increased and only 1 decreased. However, three out of five nucleosides decreased; vitamins B1 and B6 increased; vitamins B2, B3 and C decreased. Overall, juice derived from fruit produced using ASD was physically more stable and had less SSC and off-odor volatiles than the control, while the fruit juice of those stored for 120 d had lower SSC and higher TA and nutritional profiles, comparable to freshly harvested fruit. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Postharvest Management of Fruits and Vegetables Series II)

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12 pages, 1250 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigations into Determinants of Blueberry Coating Effectiveness

by David Obenland, Francisco M. A. Leyva-Gutierrez and Tong Wang

Foods 2023, 12(1), 174; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12010174 - 30 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1711

Abstract

Coatings have been investigated as a means of slowing weight loss and helping to preserve quality in blueberries but reported results have been inconsistent with the inadequate presentation of the impact of coatings on blueberry appearance. In this study, we compare the ability to limit weight loss, along with the effect on appearance, of several previously studied coatings for blueberries and attempt to identify reasons why coatings have not been more successful in limiting weight loss in blueberries. In a two-year study, coatings were applied either as a spray or a dip, depending on the nature of the coating, and included 1% chitosan (CH) with and without either 1% or 2% oleic acid (OA), 1% Semperfresh (SF), 2% sodium caseinate (SC), and carnauba wax (CAR). None of the coatings reduced weight loss in either year of the study and sometimes enhanced it. CH, CH + OA, CAR, and SF greatly altered the appearance of the berries by removing all or a part of the waxy bloom. SC also did this to some degree but was generally better at maintaining the natural appearance. It was found that coating application did not effectively limit weight loss through either the cuticle or stem end of the blueberries. Loss of the bloom on the blueberry surface, confirmed visually and by scanning electron microscopy, occurred during coating application, but was found to not influence coating effectiveness. Using CH + OA as an example, it was found that increasing the amount of handling during the drying process significantly increased subsequent weight loss relative to blueberries with minimal handling. This indicates that careful handling during the coating process is important for coating success. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Postharvest Management of Fruits and Vegetables Series II)

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14 pages, 2147 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Change of Carbon and Nitrogen Sources in Colonized Apples by Penicillium expansum

by Di Gong, Yang Bi, Yuanyuan Zong, Yongcai Li, Edward Sionov and Dov Prusky

Foods 2022, 11(21), 3367; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11213367 - 26 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1643

Abstract

Penicillium expansum is a necrotrophic pathogen, which actively kills host cells and obtains nutrients from dead cells to achieve infection. However, few reports have elucidated the differential levels of carbon and nitrogen sources over increasing distances of the leading edge in fungal colonized fruit tissues during colonization. Our results showed that the highest consumption of sucrose and fructose, as well as the accumulation of glucose, were found in the decayed region of P. expansum-colonized ‘Delicious’ apple fruit compared with the healthy region at the leading edge and the healthy region 6 mm away from the leading edge. As nitrogen sources, the contents of methionine, glutamate, leucine, valine, isoleucine and serine were the lowest in the decayed region compared with the healthy regions during colonization. In addition, the titratable acidity, oxalic acid, citric acid, succinic acid and malic acid showed the highest accumulation in the decayed region compared with the healthy regions. P. expansum colonization induced the accumulation of saturated fatty acids in the decayed region, while the level of unsaturated fatty acids was the lowest. These changes were not observed in the healthy regions. These results indicated that P. expansum kills cells in advance of its colonization in order to obtain the nutrients of the apple tissue from the distal leading tissue of the colonized apple. It is understood that more carbon and nitrogen sources are required for fungal colonization, and a stronger defense response against colonization occurred in the fruit, causing the transit of nutrients from the distal tissue to the infected sites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Postharvest Management of Fruits and Vegetables Series II)

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Review

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27 pages, 966 KiB

Open AccessReview

Postharvest Biology and Technology of Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.)

by Hafiz Muhammad Shoaib Shah, Ahmad Sattar Khan, Zora Singh and Saqib Ayyub

Foods 2023, 12(6), 1329; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12061329 - 20 Mar 2023

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3546

Abstract

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) fruit is a rich source of carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolics, sugars, and organic acids. Although it is classified as a non-climacteric fruit, susceptibility to mechanical and physical bruising causes its rapid deterioration by moisture loss and postharvest decay caused by pathogens. Anthracnose, canker, and purple spot are the most prevalent postharvest diseases of loquat fruit. Cold storage has been used for quality management of loquat fruit, but the susceptibility of some cultivars to chilling injury (CI) consequently leads to browning and other disorders. Various techniques, including cold storage, controlled atmosphere storage, hypobaric storage, modified atmosphere packaging, low-temperature conditioning, heat treatment, edible coatings, and postharvest chemical application, have been tested to extend shelf life, mitigate chilling injury, and quality preservation. This review comprehensively focuses on the recent advances in the postharvest physiology and technology of loquat fruit, such as harvest maturity, fruit ripening physiology, postharvest storage techniques, and physiological disorders and diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Postharvest Management of Fruits and Vegetables Series II)

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17 pages, 1811 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

A Review of Storage Temperature Recommendations for Apples and Pears

by Robert K. Prange and A. Harrison Wright

Foods 2023, 12(3), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12030466 - 19 Jan 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3745

Abstract

An exploration of the range of expert opinions on the optimum storage temperature for apples and pears in RA (refrigerated air), CA (controlled atmosphere), and DCA (dynamic controlled atmosphere) is provided, based on the accumulated postharvest data from the last 20 years. Apple cultivars have been divided into two storage temperature groups (0 to 1 °C and >1 °C), based on chilling sensitivity. Increasingly, gradual cooling, rather than rapid cooling, is recommended for apple cultivars, especially for chilling-sensitive cultivars. European pear cultivars are held at storage temperatures close to or just below 0 °C since they are not chilling-sensitive, and most cultivars require a cold temperature to induce ethylene production and ripening, especially if picked early for long-term storage. Asian pears apparently have higher temperature requirements in CA, compared with European pears. The temperature recommendations for RA and CA storage differ in some apple and European pear cultivars. In such cases, the CA recommendation is, on average, approximately 0.9 °C higher for apple cultivars and approximately 0.5 °C higher for pear cultivars, compared with RA. Research evidence suggests that some apple and pear cultivars can be stored at higher temperatures in DCA than in CA, and if the ethylene inhibitor, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), is applied in CA and/or DCA, leading to possible energy savings and quality benefits. A cool growing season may increase postharvest disorders, depending on cultivar and region. The store or packinghouse manager may choose to mitigate potential postharvest problems by maintaining the storage temperature at or above the temperature listed here and/or using stepwise (gradual) cooling. The storage temperature can affect the humidity and vapour pressure deficit (driving force) in the storage room. Altering the vapour pressure deficit controls the water loss in stored fruit, which can affect various quality parameters and the occurrence of several storage disorders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Postharvest Management of Fruits and Vegetables Series II)

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