Abstract
<p>Fruit nutrient elements content during harvest could considerably effect on postharvest life of apples. In this study, apple fruits cultivar Red Delicious were harvested at the commercial maturity stage at 20 commercial orchards. Fruits were divided into three groups according to peel color; dark red, medium and light red. The mineral elements nutrient content such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium and their ratios were measured in the harvested fruits. Thereafter, fruits were places in the cold storage at 0 °C and relative humidity of 90% for 4 months. The characteristics such as fruits weight loss, firmness, TSS, dry matter, total anthocyanin content, antioxidant activity, respiration rate and ethylene production were measured at the end of storage. The results showed a positive significant correlation between fruit firmness at the end of storage time with N+K:Ca, K+Mg:Ca, K:Ca and Mg:Ca ratios. Furthermore, a negative significant correlation was found between total anthocyanin with Nitrogen content, Mg:Ca and N:Ca ratios. The results also showed a positive significant correlation between fruit respiration rate and Nitrogen, N+K:Ca and N:Ca ratios. The analysis of regression based on mean values of three red apple groups showed a significant negative correlation between total anthocyanin with fruit ethylene production at the storage time and Mg:Ca ratio. The relationship between these two variables and Anthocyanin was expressed by the equation of regression: Anthocyanin = 100.22–1.651 Ethylene–43.963 Mg:Ca. Overall, the results confirm that measurement of fruit mineral composition during harvest time could be a strategy for predicting postharvest behaviors of apple fruits at the cold storage. Also the results showed that a relationship between mineral nutrient composition and the characteristics such as firmness, anthocyanin, respiratory rate in apple fruits.</p>
Highlights
Apple (Malus domestica (Borkh.) is a good source of soluble and insoluble fiber (Iqbal et al, 2012)
The results showed a significant difference between apple fruits with different peel pigmentation for firmness, TSS, total anthocyanin, total antioxidant capacity, respiration rate, ethylene production, phosphorus, calcium, Mg:Ca and N:Ca (Table 1)
The results showed that fruit mineral composition especially Ca can be used as a guide to predict postharvest behavior of “Red Delicious” apples during cold storage
Summary
Apple (Malus domestica (Borkh.) is a good source of soluble and insoluble fiber (Iqbal et al, 2012). Polyphenols are the main source of antioxidants in apple; this fruit is a very important source of flavonoids in the U.S and European diets (Telias, 2011). Several studies have linked apple consumption with reduced risk for cancer, especially lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma, pulmonary problems, diabetes and obesity (Telias, 2011). These effects are due to the fruit’s antioxidant activity, anti-proliferative activity, inhibition of lipid oxidation and cholesterol-lowering (Telias, 2011). Fruit softening is typically assessed using a puncture test, known as a flesh firmness, fruit firmness, or fruit pressure test (Johnson, 2000)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
