Abstract
After harvest, apples are stored at low temperature to slow down the ripening physiological processes. This strategy can, however, also promote the development of superficial scald, a chilling injury-related disorder showing brown-discoloured areas on the fruit skin, totally compromising its marketability. To examine thoroughly the underlying physiological mechanisms and genetic control of superficial scald, the “Scald-Cold” project, a three-year Interegional Project Network, was granted by the European Region Tyrol, South Tyrol and Trentino (EGTC). The project is centred on a comprehensive approach, integrating into a joint effort different scientific disciplines, ranging from genetics and transcriptomics to NIR spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging, together with the employment of distinct postharvest storage technologies distinguished by a specific regime of low oxygen. The core of this project aims to disclose novel regulatory processes of this disorder, providing new series of tools important for both the scientific and technical communities interested in apple breeding and postharvest. The “Scald-Cold” project will identify new molecular markers suitable for the selection of new apple varieties genetically resistant to superficial scald, while developing tools for an early detection of this phenomenon.
Highlights
Apples, after harvest, are cold stored to enable a continuous year-round availability, and to retain the freshness of the fruit in the market
The main symptoms typical of this phenomenon are characterized by the development of brown-discoloured area on the fruit skin, resulting from the oxidation of the chlorogenic acid in the skin tissue, compromising, in the end, the overall fruit marketability
The information acquired through the analysis of the variation of the transcriptome profiling following different postharvest technologies, and the early detection of superficial scald development with non-destructive and on-line systems, would improve the fine tuning of the postharvest strategies towards the valorisation of the fruit quality in apples during storage
Summary
After harvest, are cold stored to enable a continuous year-round availability, and to retain the freshness of the fruit in the market. The Laimburg Research Center and the University of Innsbruck (Table 1) The aims of this project are addressed to the global deciphering of the superficial scald physiology, achieved through the employment of several technologies. The different disciplines representing the core of this project aim to disclose novel regulatory processes of this disorder, gaining new knowledge important for apple breeding and postharvest activities. The information acquired through the analysis of the variation of the transcriptome profiling following different postharvest technologies, and the early detection of superficial scald development with non-destructive and on-line systems, would improve the fine tuning of the postharvest strategies towards the valorisation of the fruit quality in apples during storage
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