Fruit Quality Research Articles

Novel Technologies in the Freezing Process and Their Impact on the Quality of Fruits and Vegetables

Novel Technologies in the Freezing Process and Their Impact on the Quality of Fruits and Vegetables

Pseudomonas protegens volatile organic compounds inhibited brown rot of postharvest peach fruit by repressing the pathogenesis-related genes in Monilinia fructicola

Brown rot, caused by Monilinia fructicola, is considered one of the devasting diseases of pre-harvest and post-harvest peach fruits, restricting the yield and quality of peach fruits and causing great economic losses to the peach industry every year. Presently, the management of the disease relies heavily on chemical control. In the study, we demonstrated that the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of endophyte bacterial Pseudomonas protegens QNF1 inhibited the mycelial growth of M. fructicola by 95.35% compared to the control, thereby reducing the brown rot on postharvest fruits by 98.76%. Additionally, QNF1 VOCs severely damaged the mycelia of M. fructicola. RNA-seq analysis revealed that QNF1 VOCs significantly repressed the expressions of most of the genes related to pathogenesis (GO:0009405) and integral component of plasma membrane (GO:0005887), and further analysis revealed that QNF1 VOCs significantly altered the expressions of the genes involved in various metabolism pathways including Amino acid metabolism, Carbohydrate metabolism, and Lipid metabolism. The findings of the study indicated that QNF1 VOCs displayed substantial control efficacy by disrupting the mycelial morphology of M. fructicola, weakening its pathogenesis, and causing its metabolic disorders. The study provided a potential way and theoretical support for the management of the brown rot of peach fruits.

Comparative physiological and transcriptomic analysis reveals an improved biological control efficacy of Sporidiobolus pararoseus Y16 enhanced with ascorbic acid against the oxidative stress tolerance caused by Penicillium expansum in pears

Sporidiobolus pararoseus Y16, a species of significant ecological importance, has distinctive physiological and biological regulatory systems that aid in its survival and environmental adaptation. The goal of this investigation was to understand the complex interactions between physiological and molecular mechanisms in pear fruits as induced by S. pararoseus Y16. The study investigated the use of S. pararoseus Y16 and ascorbic acid (VC) in combination in controlling blue mold decay in pears via physiological and transcriptomic approach. The study results showed that treatment of S. pararoseus Y16 with 150 μg/mL VC reduced pears blue mold disease incidence from 43% to 11%. Furthermore, the combination of S. pararoseus Y16 and VC significantly inhibited mycelia growth and spore germination of Penicillium expansum in the pear's wounds. The pre-treatment did not impair post-harvest qualities of pear fruit but increased antioxidant enzyme activity specifically polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) activities as well as phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) enzyme activity. The transcriptome analysis further uncovered 395 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pathways involved in defense mechanisms and disease resistance. Notable pathways of the DEGs include plant-pathogen interaction, tyrosine metabolism, and hormone signal transduction pathways. The integrative approach with both physiological and transcriptomic tools to investigate postharvest pathology in pear fruits with clarification on how S. pararoseus Y16 enhanced with VC, improved gene expression for disease defense, and create alternative controls strategies for managing postharvest diseases.

Kaolin foliar spray induces positive modifications in volatile compounds and fruit quality of Touriga-Nacional red wine

Kaolin foliar spray induces positive modifications in volatile compounds and fruit quality of Touriga-Nacional red wine

The Expression of Key Ethylene and Anthocyanin Biosynthetic Genes of 'Honeycrisp' Apples Subjected to the Combined Use of Reflective Groundcovers and Aminoethoxyvinylglycine in the Mid-Atlantic US.

The decreased profitability of important apple cultivars, such as 'Honeycrisp', results from the poor red skin coloration and high fruit drop in the mid-Atlantic US. Apple red skin coloration is determined by the anthocyanin concentration. Reflective groundcovers promote red skin coloration, whereas aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) decreases the ethylene production and fruit drop, thus reducing the coloration. Although our previous study showed that combinations of these practices impact the fruit quality and color, research is lacking regarding their effects at the gene and metabolite levels. In this work, for two years, we compared the differences in the internal ethylene concentration (IEC), red skin coloration, fruit drop, transcript accumulation of key ethylene and anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway-related genes, and total anthocyanin concentration of 'Honeycrisp' apples. The fruit was treated with combinations of reflective groundcover (Extenday) and AVG (130 mg L-1) and was assessed throughout ripening. Extenday-only-treated fruit displayed the highest upregulation of ethylene and anthocyanin biosynthetic-related genes and of total anthocyanins, exceeding 50% blush, while boosting the IEC. In contrast, AVG significantly decreased the expression of key ethylene and anthocyanin biosynthetic-related genes and total anthocyanins, thus preventing apples from reaching 50% blush, while also decreasing the IEC and fruit drop. The combination of Extenday x AVG fine-tuned the transcript accumulation of ethylene and anthocyanin biosynthetic-related genes as well as the total anthocyanins, allowing the 'Honeycrisp' fruit to exceed 50% blush, while increasing the IEC moderately and reducing the fruit drop (as compared to Extenday-only and control), thus enhancing the fruit economic value.

Freeze drying technology and its impact on the characteristics of kopyor coconut flesh

Kopyor coconut is one of Indonesia's origin germplasms that has a high economic value. Theflesh of the kopyor coconuts is quickly damaged characterized by rancidity due to the presence of microorganisms. This study aimed to investigate the effect of blanching and freeze-drying processes, considering the factors of drying duration and pressure, on the quality of kopyor coconut Flesh. The kopyor coconuts used in this studywere obtained from Ciomas Plantation IOPRI Bogor Unit, Bogor, West Java. The kopyor coconut flesh was grouped into two categories: one treated with steam blanching at 100 °C for 10 min and the other without blanching treatment. Freeze-drying processes were carried out for 12, 24, 48, and 72 h and at absolute pressures of 0.01 and 0.05 mbar. The characteristics observed were the moisture content, pH, whiteness index,and free fatty acids content (FFA).The combining of steam blanching and freeze-drying process for 48 h and a pressure of 0.01 mbar was the best treatment. The dried product had uniform texture with moisture content of 5.31%, whiteness index of 89.67%, pH of 7,04 and free fatty acid of 0,51%. These values indicated that the quality of dried fruit complied with the Indonesian standard of dried fruit quality (SNI 3710:2018).

Preservative effects of Osmanthus fragrans flower flavonoids on fresh-cut Yuluxiang pear

Osmanthus fragrans flower flavonoids (OFFF) possess superior antioxidant and antibacterial activities. However, scant information exists on the efficacy of these secondary metabolites as preservatives for fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. Here, OFFF were tested as a natural preservative for the first time in fresh-cut Yuluxiang pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd.) to assess effects on fruit quality. OFFF-treated samples showed significant retention of firmness, titratable acid, soluble solid content, and weight. Moreover, OFFF maintained the original fruit color, inhibited the decline of total phenol, reducing power and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging power, and diminished polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase oxidase activities. Furthermore, OFFF treatment effectively inhibited microbial growth. OFFF-treated samples also displayed better sensory quality. Considering cost and effectiveness, the most suitable concentrations of OFFF extract for fresh-cut Yuluxiang pear preservation were 0.7 and 0.9 mg/mL. The results indicate that OFFF treatment may be a potent strategy to inhibit browning and enhance nutritional properties of fresh-cut pear fruit.

Design of Yellow Peach Quality Identification System Based on PlC and Machine Vision

China is the main producer and exporter of canned fruit, leading the world inhe processing and consumption of canned fruits. Most of the fruit can processing lines are semi-automated, while the fruit quality is mostly identified by naked eye and thus needs to be automatically identified again before the sealing of the cans on the production line for prevention of inferior pulp from entering the canned bottles. Based on this, this paper designs a fruit quality identification system for PLC canned yellow peach production line based on machine vision taking canned yellow peaches as an example, and analyzes the difficulties in identifying the control of sub-packaging. Software programming and hardware design were carried out for the visual inspection of canned yellow peaches, and the simulation and implementation of the system were completed. This system reduces labor costs, improves the production environment, and provides favorable solutions to the construction of semi-automated production workshops that meet the needs of enterprise development. Its promotion is of significant value.

A novel smart fertigation system for irrigation with treated wastewater: Effects on nutrient recovery, crop and soil

Both southern and northern regions of Italy are experiencing reduced precipitation and increased heat waves due to climate change, negatively affecting agricultural sector. Urban wastewater could be a solution to this problem, providing a constant source for irrigation and reducing synthetic fertilizer use. This research presents a two-year field study on using tertiary treated wastewater for processing tomato crop irrigation through an innovative smart fertigation system, designed to supply the exact doses of NPK nutrients considering those already delivered to the plants via the irrigation water. With the aim of studying the effects of irrigation with treated wastewater, three water sources were compared: fresh water added with chemical fertilizer, tertiary treated wastewater added with chemical fertilizer and tertiary treated wastewater without addition of fertilizer. The proposed system was efficient and consistent with the design, it saved considerable amounts of fertilizers, handling nutrient fluctuations in wastewater. Of the three irrigation water types that have been tested, only the one that used tertiary treated wastewater alone without additional fertilizers was not capable of meeting tomato nutritional needs, despite the fact that significant macronutrient savings were achieved. No negative effects on soil or plant physiological performances were observed. Plants irrigated with wastewater showed similar growth and productivity to those irrigated with fresh water and no significant differences in fruit quality were found, highlighting the benefits of wastewater reuse for crop irrigation.

Effects of Different Pre-Harvest Bagging Times on Fruit Quality of Apple.

Pre-harvest bagging can improve fruit color and protects against diseases. However, it was discovered that improper bagging times could lead to peel browning in production. Using the Ruixue apple variety as the research model, a study was conducted to compare the external and internal quality of fruits bagged at seven different timings between 50 and 115 days after full bloom (DAFB). Our findings indicate that delaying the bagging time can reduce the occurrence of peel browning in Ruixue apples. Compared to the control, the special bag reduced the browning index by 22.95%. However, the fruit point index of Ruixue fruits increased by 65.05% at 115 DAFB compared to 50 DAFB when bagging was delayed. The chlorophyll content of Ruixue fruits in special bags generally increased and then decreased, with the highest chlorophyll content of Ruixue fruits in special bags at 90 DAFB, which was 26.02 mg·kg-1. When the bagging process was delayed, the soluble solids, total phenols, and flavonoids content in the fruits increased, while the number of control volatiles decreased by 10. After two years of testing, results show that using special fruit bags at 90 DAFB bagging can significantly improve the fruit quality of Ruixue apple.

Pseudomonas protegens controlled brown rot (Monilinia fructicola) on peach fruit in postharvest by suppressing fungal development and inducing plant defense-related genes

Brown rot, caused by Monilinia fructicola (Wint.) Honey is one of the world's most economically important stone fruit diseases, incurring significant losses during pre-harvest and post-harvest phases. This study demonstrated the inhibitory effect of an endophyte bacterium Pseudomonas protegens (strain QNF1), isolated from Chinese leek (Allium tuberosum) roots. The in vitro experiment revealed that P. protegens significantly suppressed M. fructicola mycelial growth by 67.11 % and 95.53 % in the potato dextrose agar (PDA) and potato dextrose broth (PDB) media compared to the control. P. protegens cell-free supernatants (CFS) also restrained M. fructicola mycelial growth by 97.95 %. In addition, the in vivo experiment displayed P. protegens reduced brown rot of peach fruit inoculated with M. fructicola plug and dipped into M. fructicola fermentation broth by 81.57 % and 85.58 %, respectively. Moreover, P. protegens improved the peach fruit quality to a certain extent. In the early stage, P. protegens significantly induced defense-related genes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), chitinase (CHI), and beta-1,3-glucanases (GLU). Through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-MS analysis, 21 and 19 principal metabolites were identified in P. protegens, respectively. Among them, pyroglutamic acid, lysine, valine, tryptophan, tyrosine, and methionine were discovered by both analysis methods. The study revealed that P. protegens reduced the brown rot of peach fruit by suppressing fungal development and inducing plant defense systems. The main findings of the study proved that P. protegens represents a promising alternative for controlling the brown rot of peach fruit and other stone fruits during storage.

Simultaneous Detection of Grapevine Viruses via Multiplex Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction: An Academic Approach

Grapevine viruses pose a significant threat to the viticulture industry, resulting in reduced grape yield, poor fruit quality, and economic loss. Accurate and timely detection of multiple viruses are essential for effective disease management and the implementation of appropriate control measures. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV), grapevine fleck virus (GFkV), grapevine leafroll-associated virus‑1 (GLRaV-1), arabis mosaic virus (ArMV), and grapevine virus A (GVA) in 320 plant samples collected from the Aegean region of Turkey using the powerful technique of multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Through comprehensive analysis, 119 of the 320 infected samples were identified using PCR. The distribution of the detected viruses revealed the presence of 28 GFLV, 31 GLRaV‑1, 12 GFkV, 21 GVA, and 27 ArMV. By comprehensively analyzing the samples, the researchers were able to simultaneously detect and identify the target viruses using a single, cost-effective assay. These results reveal the prevalence and distribution of these viruses in the Aegean region, providing valuable insights into the viral landscape of grapevines in this important viticultural area. The high detection rates of these viruses highlight the urgent need for improved disease management strategies to safeguard vine health and productivity.

Integration of single-cell and spatial RNA sequencing uncovers spatiotemporal transition of fruit senescence trajectory from exocarp to mesocarp in Pitaya (Hylocereus undatus)

Senescence is the last critical stage of the fruit life cycle, which directly affects the maintenance of fruit quality and post harvest lifespan. The pericarp consists of various cell types, making it challenging to elucidate their roles in fruit senescence. In this study, an expression atlas of H. undatus pericarp was constructed using scRNA-seq profiles, encompassing data from thousands of individual cells. Five different algorithms, including deconvolution (SingleR and SciBet), supervised learning (RCTD and CARD), and multi-modal cross-analysis (MIA), were employed to assign 17 transcriptionally distinct cell clusters identified in single cells to four different cell types: exocarp, mesocarp, endocarp, and vascular bundles. Pseudotime trajectory analysis revealed a clear spatiotemporal transition from ROS-induced stress and disease resistance to senescence during the fruit ripening process, moving from the exocarp to the mesocarp. Previously unknown early response genes related to senescence and resistance were identified, providing novel tools for fruit senescence prediction based on mesocarp and enhancement of fruit resistance based on exocarp.

A 224-bp Indel in the Promoter of PeMYB114 Accounts for Anthocyanin Accumulation of Skin in Passion Fruit (Passiflora spp.).

Passion fruit (Passiflora spp.) is an important fruit tree in the family Passifloraceae. The color of the fruit skin, a significant agricultural trait, is determined by the content of anthocyanin in passion fruit. However, the regulatory mechanisms behind the accumulation of anthocyanin in different passion fruit skin colors remain unclear. In the study, we identified and characterized a R2R3-MYB transcription factor, PeMYB114, which functions as a transcriptional activator in anthocyanin biosynthesis. Yeast one-hybrid system and dual-luciferase analysis showed that PeMYB114 could directly activate the expression of anthocyanin structural genes (PeCHS and PeDFR). Furthermore, a natural variation in the promoter region of PeMYB114 alters its expression. PeMYB114purple accessions with the 224-bp insertion have a higher anthocyanin level than PeMYB114yellow accessions with the 224-bp deletion. The findings enhance our understanding of anthocyanin accumulation in fruits and provide genetic resources for genome design for improving passion fruit quality.

Optimalisasi Model Ensemble Learning dengan Augmentasi dan SMOTE pada Sistem Pendeteksi Kualitas Buah

Fruit quality is an important factor in selecting fruit for consumption because it affects consumer health and satisfaction. Identification of fruit quality has become the focus of research, and one of the approaches used is a non-destructive approach through measuring the gases produced by the fruit. Machine learning can be used to process this gas data and build system models that can classify fruit quality. This research discusses the application of the DCS-OLA and Stacking dynamic ensemble learning algorithms to build a fruit quality detection system model. The basic methods used to build models are Logistic Regression, Decision Tree, Gaussian Naïve Bayes, and Mul-ti-Layer Perceptron. The fruit used is mango with a shelf life of 7 days and Srikaya (sugar apple) with a shelf life of 4 days. The condition of the initial dataset is unbalanced. The research results show that trimming the mango dataset to only 4 days according to the shelf life of sugar apple helps reduce the difference in shelf life between the two. Then jittering and balancing techniques are used to increase and balance the number of datasets between the two types of fruit. High accuracy is achieved by the DCS-OLA ensemble and stacking ensemble by combining the basic methods of Logistic Regression and Decision Tree, especially in balanced dataset conditions. In conclusion, the use of ensemble learning in detecting fruit quality has great potential for real-world applications. However, further validation is needed with larger datasets and a wider variety of conditions.

Assessing phenotypic diversity between different landraces of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)

The objective of the present study was to investigate the morphological variations among collections of okra landraces in order to improve local varieties in Palestine. Eighteen okra accessions from various locations in the West-Bank region were evaluated for morphological variation. Different sixteen morphological traits were used for okra collection evaluation. The results revealed significant differences in seed color, leaf rib color, stem color, branching patterns, and fruit characteristics. Cluster and similarity analysis classified into two main clusters (I and II) with further sub-clusters. Genetic proximity did not strictly align with geographical boundaries, suggesting that factors beyond location influence genetic similarity. Cluster I exhibited greater diversity, with sub-clusters hinting at potential local adaptation. In contrast, Cluster II was smaller and less diverse, implying potentially distinct genetic origins. These findings provide insights for breeding strategies and germplasm conservation.

Impacts of some eco-friendly methods on the storage life of tomato fruits

The objective of current research was to explore the influence of several eco-friendly techniques, including modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), edible coating (EC), heat treatment and edible coating enriched with centaury oil (EO), on the postharvest storage of tomato fruit. Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) cv. Newton were harvested red ripe and used in this experiment. Experimental studies were established on 5th February 2023. A total of 8 treatments were tested. They were: 1) control, 2) MAP, 3) MAP+EC, 4) EC, 5) MAP+EC+EO, 6) EC+EO, 7) hot air and 8) MAP+hot air. The experiments were continued for 30 days and the measurement points time intervals were defined as 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 days (six different measurements points), 384 fruits in total were utilized in the storage studies and 8 extra fruits were used at the start as a control to identify the fruit's initial qualities. The fruits were kept for 30 days at 6 to 8 °C and 90 to 95 % relative humidity. According to the study's findings, each treatment had a significant impact on the fruit's decay incidence, weight loss, vitamin C content fruit firmness, chilling damage and SSC. The study found that all treatments significantly improved the quality of the tomato fruits, except for SSC. The best results were obtained from the MAP+EC and MAP+EC+EO treatments. Tomato fruits can be stored at a temperature range of 6 to 8°C for up to 20 days, demonstrating the effectiveness of the treatments.

An Automatic Monitoring System for Dragon Fruit Using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Internet of Things (IoT)

Plant diseases and pests have led to a decline in the quality of dragon fruit produced in Banyuwangi regency, Indonesia. Infections in dragon fruit cause rot, and farmers struggle to identify the pests responsible. To address this problem, this work proposed two concepts for the classification and monitoring systems of dragon fruit. The classification was done by processing some images of dragon fruits captured by DLSR camera and utilizes a convolutional neural network with three layers for training and testing. The monitoring system is based on the Internet of Things to tracks the status of ripe, raw, and rotten fruits. The application of the dragon fruit classification system to ripe, rotten, and raw fruits has yielded results that increase fold accuracy by 0.976, 0.981, and 0.986, respectively, with 200 training data in each of the three training and testing phases. There is a decrease of 0.024, 0.019, and 0.014 in fold loss accuracy. Meanwhile, the monitoring system's platform integrates the classification of dragon fruit to monitor the condition of ripe, raw, and rotting fruit in real time. With the implementation of the classification and monitoring system, farmers will be better equipped to predict when dragon fruit will ripen and prevent the spread of rot to other fruits.

Comparative proteomic analysis of papaya bud flowers reveals metabolic signatures and pathways driving hermaphrodite development

Papaya (Carica papaya) is a trioecious species with female, male, and hermaphrodite plants. Given the sex segregation, selecting hermaphroditic plants is vital for orchard establishment due to their greater commercial value. However, selecting hermaphrodite plants through sexing is laborious and costly. Moreover, environmental stressors can exacerbate the issue by potentially inducing abnormal flower development, thus affecting fruit quality. Despite these challenges, the molecular mechanisms governing sex development in papaya remain poorly understood. Thus, this study aimed to identify proteins associated with sex development in female and hermaphrodite flowers of papaya through comparative proteomic analysis. Proteins from flower buds at the early and late developmental stages of three papaya genotypes (UENF-CALIMAN 01, JS12, and Sunrise Solo 72/12) were studied via proteomic analysis via the combination of the shotgun method and nanoESI-HDMSE technology. In buds at an early stage of development, 496 (35.9%) proteins exhibited significantly different abundances between sexes for the SS72/12 genotype, 139 (10%) for the JS12 genotype, and 165 (11.9%) for the UC-01 genotype. At the final stage of development, there were 181 (13.5%) for SS72/12, 113 (8.4%) for JS12, and 125 (9.1%) for UC-01. The large group of differentially accumulated proteins (DAPs) between the sexes was related to metabolism, as shown by the observation of only the proteins that exhibited the same pattern of accumulation in the three genotypes. Specifically, carbohydrate metabolism proteins were up-regulated in hermaphrodite flower buds early in development, while those linked to monosaccharide and amino acid metabolism increased during late development. Enrichment of sporopollenin and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways characterizes hermaphrodite samples across developmental stages, with predicted protein interactions highlighting the crucial role of phenylpropanoids in sporopollenin biosynthesis for pollen wall formation. Most of the DAPs played key roles in pectin, cellulose, and lignin synthesis and were essential for cell wall formation and male flower structure development, notably in the pollen coat. These findings suggest that hermaphrodite flowers require more energy for development, likely due to complex pollen wall formation. Overall, these insights illuminate the molecular mechanisms of papaya floral development, revealing complex regulatory networks and energetic demands in the formation of male reproductive structures.

Novel, compact electrochemical and impedance instrumentation

This paper presents the development of a novel, compact electrochemical and impedance instrumentation utilizing an analog integrated circuit (IC) for biosensing applications. Given the increasing availability of multifunctional integrated circuits (ICs), there is a growing need for devices capable of versatile applications spanning multiple fields. To address this requirement, a design was tailored to accommodate multifunctional techniques for biosensing. By combining multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB) techniques with 3D printing, the module was compact and capable of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. Additionally, a comparison was conducted between the CV functionality of a commercial and the customized module. The results demonstrated that the customized module outperformed the commercial module. The Bode and Nyquist plots obtained from the EIS measurements accurately depicted the impedance values of resistance (R) and capacitance (C) in basic RC circuits. The experimental results show the error of R was below 2% and C was below 4% across the full frequency range from 500 Hz to 10 kHz. Furthermore, the high performance of this system was demonstrated by its successful application in monitoring the ripeness of bananas through EIS measurements. These measurements specified the total impedance and phase to assess the ripening stages accurately. This suggests the potential of the proposed system for utilizing impedance measurements in controlling fruit quality. Based on the achieved results, the proposed system holds promise for various electrochemical research and monitoring applications, particularly for electrochemical sensors and biosensors.