Harvest Storage Research Articles

The influence of the fungal pathogen Mycocentrospora acerina on the proteome and polyacetylenes and 6-methoxymellein in organic and conventionally cultivated carrots (Daucus carota) during post harvest storage

Many carrots are discarded during post harvest cold storage due to development of fungal infections, caused by, e.g., Mycocentrospora acerina (liquorice rot). We compared the susceptibility of carrots grown under conventional and organic agricultural practices. In one year, organically cultivated carrots showed 3× to 7× more symptoms than conventionally cultivated, when studying naturally occurring disease at 4 and 6 months, respectively. On the other hand, we have developed a bioassay for infection studies of M. acerina on carrots and observed that organic roots were more susceptible after one month of storage than conventional ones, but no differences were apparent after four or six months storage. Levels of polyacetylenes (falcarinol, falcarindiol and falcarindiol-3-acetate) did not change, whereas the isocoumarin phytoalexin (6-methoxymellein) accumulated in infected tissue as well as in healthy tissue opposite the infection. The proteomes of carrot and M. acerina were characterized, the intensity of 33 plant protein spots was significantly changed in infected roots including up regulation of defence and stress response proteins but also a decrease of proteins involved in energy metabolism. This combined metabolic and proteomic study indicates that roots respond to fungal infection through altered metabolism: simultaneous induction of 6-methoxymellein and synthesis of defence related proteins.

Effects of postharvest applications of calcium nitrate and acetate on quality and shelf-life improvement of "Jonagold" apple fruit

The effects of postharvest application of calcium were investigated on shelf-life and quality of apple fruits (Malus domestica cv. ‘Jonagold’) after harvest or cold storage up to 150 days. The fruits were immersed in deionised water or in different calcium sources (calcium acetate at two calcium concentrations 0.35 and 0.7%w/v and calcium nitrate at two calcium concentrations 0.5 and 1%w/v. The experiment was carried out in 2010 to 2011 and fruit weight losses, fruit firmness, total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids /titratable acidity ratio, thiault index, perlim index, ethylene production, peroxidase and catalase enzyme activities were measured at 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, and 150 days after harvest life. Results showed that all immersing conditions leaded to the best results of fruit quality assessments when compared with control. The calcium treatments increase fruit firmness, titratable acidity and catalase enzyme activity, while decreasing total soluble solids, weight losses percentages, ethylene production, TSS/TA ratio and Peroxidase enzyme activity during cold storage at 0-2°C for 150 days. Key words: Shelf-life, “Jonagold“ apple, calcium nitrate, calcium acetate.

Food Security: Agriculture and Gender Relations in Post Harvest Storage

Provision of food has always been a challenge facing mankind. A majorcornerstone in this challenge is the competition from insect pests. While some pest-associated losses occur when the crops are standing in the farms or greenhouses, others are caused during storage in bins and granaries. Improvements in agricultural productivity are necessary to increase rural household incomes and access to available food but are insufficient to ensure food security. Achieving food security in its totality continues to be a challenge not only for the developing nations, but also for the developed world. Food security not only requires an adequate supply of food which also entails availability, access, and utilization of the food but also take into consideration post-harvest storage to prevent losses. In many African countries, subsistence farmers, regional scientists, and extension specialists rely on local plants for many medicinal needs and are amenable to using traditional plant materials for insect pest management. This paper discusses the rate of post harvest losses and sustainability of the agricultural policies and the role of the female gender in this issue.

THINNING EFFECTS ON 'SCIFRESH' APPLE FRUIT QUALITY AT HARVEST AND AFTER STORAGE

THINNING EFFECTS ON 'SCIFRESH' APPLE FRUIT QUALITY AT HARVEST AND AFTER STORAGE

Recubrimientos comestibles en la conservación del mango y aguacate, y perspectiva, al uso del propóleo en su formulacion

El presente trabajo propone y aborda un estudio sobre recubrimientos comestibles, su efecto en la conservación de las frutas del mango y aguacate y tendencias al uso del propóleo como alternativa natural en su formulación. Estudios recientes muestran que los recubrimientos han surgido como una tecnología postcosecha emergente para la conservación, extensión de la vida comercial de las frutas y mejora de su calidad. Su uso radica en generar una atmósfera modificada con el fin de reducir la capacidad de transferencia de masa de los gases causantes de la pérdida de peso, color, textura y firmeza de las frutas después de su recolección que repercuten en el aumento de las pérdidas postcosecha.

Comparison of Control Laws for Vibration Suppression Based on Energy Consumption

The research study presented here examines four conventional vibration suppression control laws and four hybrid modifications of these laws using a switching method. The motivation is to determine which of these eight controllers results in the least amount of power flow to the actuator to have the same settling time under free vibrations. The reason to look at reduced energy controllers is the idea that in some applications, very little energy is available for control, yet passive and semi-active methods cannot meet performance demands. In particular, the eventual goal is to reduce transient vibrations of smart structures using energy obtained from harvesting and/or low-power storage devices (batteries or super capacitors), as often desirable in aerospace systems. The four conventional active control systems compared in this study are Positive Position Feedback (PPF) control, Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) control, non-linear control, and Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) controls. A hybrid version of each controller is obtained by implementing a bang-bang control law (on-off control). The bang-bang control algorithm switches the control voltage between an external voltage supply and the feedback signal provided by the PPF, PID, non-linear, or LQR controllers. The purpose of combining the bang-bang control law with the aforementioned controllers is to reduce the power requirement for vibration suppression by providing an active controller with limited voltage input. Free vibrations of a thin cantilevered beam with a piezoceramic transducer are controlled by these eight controllers with a focus on the fundamental transverse vibration mode. Experimental results exhibit that the system with hybrid bang-bang-non-linear controller requires 67.3% less power than its conventional version. The hybrid versions require significantly less power flow compared to their conventional counterparts for the PPF, PID, and LQR controllers as well. Experiments also reveal the presence of substantial piezoelectric non-linearities in the transducer. The voltage-dependent behavior of the electromechanical coupling coefficient is identified empirically and represented by a curve-fit expression. A real-time adaptive control algorithm is developed to account for the voltage-dependent behavior of the coupling coefficient, enabling good agreement between the simulation and experimental results.

Fuel quality of Norway spruce stumps – influence of harvesting technique and storage method

The interest in using stump biomass as a biofuel has recently increased in Sweden. The uneven consumption of wood fuel during the year creates a need for storage. This study examined the properties of stump biomass and how they vary at two sites in Sweden depending on harvesting technique, storage method and storage period. Norway spruce stumps, extracted using three different stump harvesting heads (Pallari, Rotary Cutter and Aalto), were stored in windrows or heaps. After 3 months, stumps stored in heaps were gathered into windrows. The fuel quality parameters moisture content (MC), ash content (AC) and calorific value (CV) were evaluated on five occasions in the period May 2008–September 2009. After 16 months of storage, the MC in all treatments had decreased to <25% (wet basis). Average AC decreased from 3.8% to around 1% (dry basis), whereas CV marginally increased. Stumps split during harvesting dried better than those harvested in one piece. The influence of storage method was minimal, although initial storage in heaps allowed better drying in the stumps harvested in one piece. In general, fuel quality improved in all treatments after storage.

Effect of a sodium caseinate edible coating on berry cactus fruit (Myrtillocactus geometrizans) phytochemicals

Berry cactus fruit (Myrtillocactus geometrizans) is an endemic cactus fruit from Mexico and is a rich source of phytochemicals, primarily betacyanins, betalains and polyphenols. However, only a few studies have been performed to evaluate the changes in the levels of these compounds in berry cactus fruits during post harvest storage. Berry cactus fruits were treated with a sodium caseinate (Na-Cas) based edible coating plasticized with sorbitol (S) and glycerol (G), and their phytochemical contents were evaluated. Control (C), Na-Cas(S) and Na-Cas(G) fruits were packed in clam shell boxes and stored at 5±1°C for 15days. Betacyanins, betaxanthins, total polyphenols, their in vitro antioxidant activity, as well as α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities were estimated during storage at 0, 7 and 15days. Polyphenol levels declined from an initial 3500mg/100g of dry fruit by over 50% after 7days of storage. By contrast, total betalain levels remained steady during the 15days of storage. Antioxidant capacity, as measured by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl) radical scavenging, was maintained in berry cactus fruit extracts during storage. Edible coatings did not have any effects on the antioxidant capacity. Berry cactus polyphenols were also strong inhibitors of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities. Portulacaxanthin II and III, indicaxanthin, vulgaxanthin I and III, 3-methoxytyramine-betaxanthin, arginine-betaxanthin, betanidin, dopa-betaxanthin, betanin, phyllocactin, and three other unknown compounds were identified as betalains. As well, a catechin derivative, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, kaempferol, myricitrin, quercetin 3-O-β-glucoside, isorhamnetin 3-glucoside and a kampferol diglycoside were identified as polyphenols.

QUALITY AND STORABILITY OF FIVE PLUM CULTIVARS (PRUNUS DOMESTICA L.) RELATED TO HARVEST DATE AND ULTRA LOW OXYGEN ATMOSPHERE STORAGE

ISHS X International Controlled and Modified Atmosphere Research Conference QUALITY AND STORABILITY OF FIVE PLUM CULTIVARS (PRUNUS DOMESTICA L.) RELATED TO HARVEST DATE AND ULTRA LOW OXYGEN ATMOSPHERE STORAGE

Influence of harvest time and storage duration on “Cripps Pink” apple cultivar (Malus × domestica Borkh) quality parametersInfluencia del tiempo de cosecha y duración en almacenamiento en los parámetros de calidad de la variedad de manzana Cripps Pink (Malus × domestica Borkh)

The aim of this research was to determinate the influence of harvest time and storage duration on several chemical and physical quality parameters of “Cripps Pink” apple cultivar. Fruits were harvested 199 (1Ht), 207 (2Ht), and 214 (3Ht) days after full bloom, and analyzed after 0 (1St), 14 (2Sd), and 30 (3Sd) weeks of storage in a controlled atmosphere (2 °C, 95% relative air moisture, 2% CO2, and 1% O2). Fruit firmness, content of starch, total soluble solids, dry matter, as well as vitamin C, and total acids content were decreased after 14 weeks of storage in each harvest time. The same results were obtained after 30 weeks of storage, except that the pH was increased. Total phenol content and non-flavonoid phenolic fraction decreased during storage, unlike fruit color which did not markedly increased or decreased during storage in every harvest time. Results shown influence of harvest time on storage life and quality of apple fruit, which resulted in progressive content decreasing of some compounds in apple fruit.

INCREASED MATURITY ENHANCES 1-MCP EFFICACY IN MAINTAINING QUALITY OF SUMMER APPLES 'SUNRISE' AND 'SILKEN' STORED AT 0°C

'Sunrise' and 'Silken' are summer apples with excellent crispiness, juiciness and sweet-acid balance but unfortunately have inherently poor storage potential and a very narrow picking window. Apples for this test were picked up to 5 times at weekly intervals spanning across different stages of the fruit ripening period. To correspond with the common commercial handling at low temperature, fruit were treated with 250 nl L -1 of 1-MCP for 16 hours at 0°C and were subsequently held for three weeks ('Sunrise') or four weeks ('Silken') in air at 0°C and then were held an additional seven days at 22°C to simulate shelf handling. 1-MCP treated apples with an increased maturity (starch index >3 on a 0-9 scale) maintained significantly better firmness than those left untreated. Fruit which was harvested two weeks after commercial harvest maturity and treated with 1-MCP were 32.6 N and 21.6 N firmer than controls harvested at commercial maturity in 'Sunrise' and 'Silken' apples, respectively. In regards to maturity, there was no significant effect of 1-MCP on early picked apples (at the commercial harvest maturity or 1 week before commercial maturity). Internal ethylene concentration (IEC) dramatically increased after removal from low temperature storage regardless of 1-MCP treatment. A one week delay of harvest (in relation to current commercial recommendations) and short term storage for these two cultivars was feasible at low temperature storage.

조사료의 곰팡이 발생과 곰팡이독소 오염

In order to ensure good animal health and performance, it is essential to produce forages with high feeding value and good hygienic quality. However, huge amounts of forages consumed by ruminants are contaminated with mold prior to harvest or during storage as hay, straw or silage. These mold can grow in forages only when nutrients are available, correct temperature exist, oxygen is present, and unbound water is available. Fungal 'species can be divided into two groups: field fungi and storage fungi. Field fungi invade the forages while the crop is still in the field, require high moisture conditions, and are such as species of Fusarium, Alternaria, Clodosporium, Diplodia, Gibberrella and Helminthosporium. Storage fungi invade forages during storage and need less moisture than field fungi. These such as species of Aspergillus and Penicillium usually do not occur any problem before harvest. Mold growth can spoil the nutritional aspects of the forages and also results in secondary metabolites that are highly toxic to animal, humans and plants. Moldy feeds are less palatable and may reduce dry matter intake. This, in turn, leads to a reduction of nutrition intake, reducing weight gains or milk production. Performance losses of 5 to 10 percent are typical with moldy feeds. Mycotoxins are toxic substances produced by fungi (molds) growing on crops in the field or storages. While greater than 400 mycotoxins have been chemically identified, the biological or veterinary medical impact of only several mycotoxins is known. Mycotoxins have attracted considerable attention as potential causes for poor performance and health disorders in domestic livestock. They can be carcinogenic, hepatotoxic, hematotoxic, immunosuppressive, estrogenic, or mutagenic. So, feeding moldy forages has adverse effects on animal health and milk consumers. Also, this author reported that rice straw hay was contaminated mycotoxigenic fungi such as Penicillium roqueforti and Fusarium culmorum in Korea. Therefore, it is an urgent need to develop an improved post harvest storage method to reduce nutrient loss and mycotoxin contamination of forages, which will have a positive impact on human health.

Influence of Harvest Dates on Quality, Storage Capacity and Sensory Attributes of European Plum cv. Green Gage

The aim of this work was to determine storage capacity and changes in quality and consumer acceptance in plum harvested at different dates as well as to determine which instrumental parameters show good correlation with consumer acceptance and sensory properties. Both harvest date and storage time played a significant role in quality and sensory characteristics. Incidence of internal breakdown (IB) was significantly higher in fruit harvested last and increased significantly until the end of storage. Market life of ‘Green Gage’ plum varies from 20 days in fruit harvested on the last harvest date to 40 days in fruit harvested on earlier dates. When storage is needed, firmness, the best harvest index, should be higher than 42 N in order to extend market life and prevent IB damages in ‘Green Gage’ plums. However, fruit from early harvest dates has a lower consumer acceptance than fruit from late harvest dates (low TSS:TA). Thus, a minimum quality threshold based on TSS:TA (18.9) has been established over which consumer liking for European plums cv. Green Gage improves significantly. High linear regression between a* and TSS:TA would allow to use the a* color parameter as a nondestructive measurement to estimate consumer acceptance.

Textural and Compositional Changes of Stored Iceberg Lettuce in Relation to Harvest Season and Storage Condition

The quality and storability of iceberg lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is dependent on growing and storage conditions, which are not completely known. Lettuce was planted at approximately monthly intervals from Sept. 2006 to Feb. 2007. Crops were harvested at approximately monthly intervals from Nov. 2006 to May 2007 and held in storage at 3 and 13°C. Effects of harvest month and storage condition on storage quality—i.e., changes in textural quality, sugar and organic acid contents—as well as shelf-life in iceberg lettuce were examined. Higher values for puncture force and breaking energy and increased sugar content were found in the cooler than in the warmer months. Lower leaf crispness was recorded after one week of storage with a greater degree at 13°C. Total soluble sugar content declined by about 56% and 32% after one week of storage at 13°C in the outer and inner leaves, respectively. Organic acid content did not show any consistent trend. At the end of the harvest season, shelf-life declined by 40% and 30% during storage at 3 and 13°C, respectively. Results indicate that low temperature during growth and storage could ensure a longer shelf-life along with a higher quality of iceberg lettuce.

Post-harvest deterioration of sugarcane with special reference to quality loss

Six sugarcane varieties were grown and assessed for juice quality maintenance. Post harvest deterioration from 0–120 h and effect of treatments to maintain quality of harvested cane were also studied. The results revealed that when harvested at different maturity (12th to 14th month) cane varieties showed an increase in sucrose upto 13th month and a dip thereafter. Once harvested, there was a steady increase in moisture loss in canes from 24 h to 120 h. During post harvest storage, inversion of sucrose occurs and pol % decreased. Covering the canes with trash and sprinkling of water when stored in sun or sprinkling of water when stored in shade maintains the quality for a longer period.

Dissipation rates of iprodione and thiacloprid during tomato production in greenhouse

The behaviour of the insecticide thiacloprid and the fungicide iprodione was investigated in greenhouse tomato fruits, when both pesticides were applied in two different rates (normal dose-ND, and double dose-DD). Thiacloprid residues were below the already established EU MRLs (0.5 mg/kg) 2 and 7 days after ND and DD application, respectively. Iprodione residues were always below EU MRLs (5 mg/kg) in both application rates. The impact of storage on pesticide residues in tomatoes was also assessed. Significantly higher iprodione residue levels were observed during post harvest storage compared with those determined in fresh harvested tomatoes. Mean residue levels determined in fresh harvested tomatoes 12 days after iprodione application were 0.69 mg/kg whereas, in post harvest tomatoes stored for the same period was 0.86 mg/kg. On the contrary, no differences were noticed in thiacloprid residues between post harvest stored and fresh harvested tomatoes. Model equations that best describe the dissipation curves obtained from the experimental data of iprodione and thiacloprid in tomatoes showing different behaviour of the two pesticides. Half-life period of iprodione in ND treatment, calculated by the best fitted experimental data, (2nd order model) was 6.8 days, whilst for thiacloprid the best fitted to experimental data, model equation (R.F. 1st order model) gave a half-life of 1.9 days.

Infield logistics planning for crop-harvesting operations

Crop-harvesting operations are typically carried out with combine harvesters. The harvested product is transferred to one or more tractors every time the combine harvester's storage capacity is reached. The efficiency of the process can be significantly improved by computing optimal routes and interactions for the harvest vehicles in the field. Furthermore, an automated method for generating itineraries for the harvest vehicles facilitates the planning for autonomous agricultural vehicles. The infield logistics problem is formulated as an integer linear programming vehicle routing problem with additional turn penalty constraints, but, because of the high number of decision variables, it is not possible to solve cases of realistic field size. The solution time of the infield logistics problem is considerably reduced by reformulating it as a modified minimum-cost network flow problem. This specific structure allows the exact solution of intermediate-size planning problems in a much shorter time period. The result of solving the infield logistics problem with the proposed modelling approaches is a set of itineraries (‘tours’), covering the entire field. Each ‘tour’ is characterized by the combine harvester's start and end points and the positions where the combine harvester needs to be unloaded. The planning models minimize non-productivity (i.e. the time when a combine harvester travels in a field without harvesting). The results indicate that coordination between combine harvesters and tractors is also improved.

Insect Pests Of Dried Cassava (‘Kokonte\') in Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions of Ghana

Insects are among the most important agents of postharvest losses of dried stored produce including cassava. In a study to identify the most important insects and assess the damage, dried cassava samples from marketing centers in 8 districts each in Ashanti (Mampong, Nkawie, Konongo, Tepa, Nkenkasu, Kumasi, Ejura and Bekwai), and Brong Ahafo (Berekum, Dormaa Ahenkro, Techiman, Sene, Acherensua, Sunyani, Kintampo and Bechem) were incubated in the laboratory. For each sample, a questionnaire was administered to collect information on the cassava varieties processed, method of preparation, drying and storage. Ninety-nine percent of ‘kokonte' samples collected from the Brong Ahafo region were sun dried compared with 59% from Ashanti. Samples from Ashanti had been predominantly stored in open baskets (46%) while in the Brong Ahafo the principal method had been in empty fertilizer sacks (42%). Much of the kokonte ready for the market in both regions were stored for a maximum period of one week. The red skin variety of cassava is preferred to the white skin accounting for 67% and 85% of kokonte from Ashanti and Brong Ahafo, respectively. Eleven insect species, all beetles from six families were identified from the two regions. The coffee bean weevil, Araecerus fasciculatus (Degeer) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), was the most predominant species. Other important species were Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Cryptolestes sp. (Coleoptera: Cucujidae), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), Dinoderus minutus (Fabricius) and Cathartus quadricollis Guerin (Coleoptera: Silvanidae). They were important because of their numbers and the potential to cause damage. Of significance was the occurrence in small numbers in both regions of the larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), in samples. The potential of this insect to cause damage and implications for post harvest storage of dried produce are discussed. Journal of the Ghana Science Association Vol. 9 (2) 2007: pp. 9-17

Prediction of the energy content of tallgrass prairie hay1

Two experiments were conducted to describe the DE content of tallgrass prairie hay (TPH). In trial 1, steers (n = 13; 277 +/- 15 kg of BW) were used in a 13 x 4 Latin square experiment to measure the DE of 13 samples of TPH fed at 1.5% of BW daily (average feeding level = 0.7 x the maintenance energy requirement). Hays were harvested from a variety of locations in east-central Kansas and represented an array of harvest dates and storage methods. In trial 2, steers (n = 16; 261 + 17 kg of BW) were used in a randomized complete block experiment to assess the effects of TPH intake level on DE. Hay was fed at 1.3, 1.7, 2.1, or 2.5% of BW daily, which corresponded to 0.9, 1.4, 1.6, and 1.9 x the maintenance energy requirement. Steers in both trials were fed soybean meal in amounts calculated to provide ruminally degradable protein (RDP) equal to 11% of digestible OM intake. Hay samples were analyzed for ash, N, NDF, ADF, ADIN, NDIN, acid detergent-insoluble ash, lignin, monosaccharides, and alkali-labile phenolic acids. Chemical components related to DE (P < 0.2) were subjected to iterative regression analysis to predict the DE concentration of the diet. Iterations were ceased when the error mean square of the regression was optimized. At 0.7 x maintenance, the dietary DE concentration (Mcal/kg) was described by: DE = 0.13(CP) - 0.16(ADL) + 2.11 (R(2) = 0.73; S(y*x) = 0.13). Forage OM digestion decreased linearly (P < 0.01) as forage intake increased. Apparent dietary DE concentration decreased by 7.4% when intake was increased from 1 to 2 x maintenance. When RDP was adequate, chemical composition values were useful indicators of forage DE content in our study. Moreover, increased forage intake depressed GE digestion by steers, but ultimately increased total DE intake. Energy digestion varied with forage intake in a predictable manner between 1 and 2 x the maintenance feeding level.

Effect of combined application of organic P and inorganic N fertilizers on post harvest quality of carrot

A study was undertaken to assess the effect of combined application of organic-P and inorganic-N fertilizers on post harvest quality of carrot (Daucus carota l.) stored at 1°C and ambient conditions (8.6 - 24.8°C). For the fertilizer treatments, 309 kg orga ha-1 (for P) in combination with each of six rates of urea (0, 68.5, 267.2, 274, 342.5 and 411 kg urea ha-1) was used. Carrot shelf life assessment was carried out in a factorial experiment with pre-harvest fertilizer treatments as one-factor and storage conditions as another factor. Pre-harvest fertilizer and post harvest storage treatments significantly affected the post harvest quality of carrot. The weight loss, contents of ascorbic acid, reducing sugar, total sugar, as well as titrable acidity and percentage marketability of carrot were significantly (p significant (P had 51.4% less weight loss, 17.1% more ascorbic acid, 15.0% lower total soluble solids, 20.7% more total sugar and 30.1% more marketable compared to carrots stored under ambient conditions. This indicated that shelf life of carrots stored at 1°C exceeded that of samples stored under ambient conditions. Significant interaction was also observed between pre-harvest fertilizer treatments and post-harvest storage conditions in most of the quality parameters of carrot. The pre-harvest combined application of orga with urea at 309 kg ha-1 and 274 kg ha-1, respectively, and post harvest storage at 1°C is recommended for better postharvest quality maintenance of carrot.