Postharvest Application Research Articles

Effects of three essential oil fumigation treatments on the postharvest control of Botrytis cinerea and their efficacy as preservatives of cherry tomatoes.

Cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are becoming increasingly popular due to their nutrition and delicious flavor. However, cherry tomatoes are highly perishable and susceptible to various pathogenic microorganisms after harvest, such as Botrytis cinerea. In the pretest experiment, we screened out 3 kinds of plant essential oils (Torreya grandis oil, Eriobotrya japonica oil, and Citrus medica oil) that have strong fungicidal activity on B. cinerea from cherry tomatoes. To further evaluate the postharvest preservation application prospect of these three oils for cherry tomatoes, these three oils were extracted from different parts of three plants by hydrodistillation, and their chemical constituents were analyzed by Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The main representative components of T. grandis oil, E. japonica oil, and C. medica oil were δ-cadinene (11.76%), trans-nerolidol (9.70%), and 5,7-dimethoxycoumarin (23.22%), respectively. These three EOs effectively inhibited the mycelial growth of B. cinerea in vitro, with EC50 values of 81.672, 144.046, and 221.500 μL/L, respectively. Compared with the blank control and other oil treatments, T. grandis oil (at a concentration of 200 µL/L) fumigation treatment was more effective at inhibiting the growth rate of the pathogen. In addition, the phenolic content and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), β-1,3-glucanase, chitinase, and peroxidase (POD) activities of tomatoes significantly increased on the 7th day due to T. grandis oil treatment. The present study shows that these three oils with high extraction rates have preservation potential for cherry tomatoes. Among these three essential oils (EOs), T. grandis oil can be used to further develop preservative products as a fumigant.

The role of different natural organic acids in postharvest fruit quality management and its mechanism

AbstractFresh fruits have good flavor and high nutritional value, but in the postharvest stage they will age and decay rapidly, so we need to find green postharvest fruit preservatives. And natural organic acids are promising natural fruit preservatives due to their safety and effectiveness. The present work reviews recent applications of natural organic acids in postharvest fruit quality management and discussed its potential biochemical mechanisms. This work indicates that numerous natural organic acids are effective postharvest fruit preservatives, such as oxalic acid, salicylic acid, citric acid, ascorbic acid, phenolic acid and terpenic acid. Natural organic acid treatments can improve postharvest fruit quality, as reflected by delaying senescence, alleviating chilling injury, controlling disease, and inhibiting browning. And natural organic acid can have multiple benefits on postharvest fruit. Natural organic acids also play a variety of roles in postharvest fruit disease control. In addition, chemical modification and cotreatment of natural organic acids can be performed to improve the efficiency of postharvest fruit preservation applications. The work provides an important reference for postharvest fruit quality management and the development of natural OAs fruit preservatives.

Assessment of antagonistic attributes exopolysaccharide producing halophiles against phytopathogen and post-harvest application

The presented investigation aimed to screen for exopolysaccharide (EPS) producing halophilic microbes having antagonistic effect against Xanthomonas citri causing canker disease in citrus plants. The produced exopolysaccharide was applied as edible coating on lemon fruits to deduce its effect on onset of citrus canker upon treatment of Xanthomonas citri. The sea water and soil samples of Dummas, Ubhrat and Hajira beaches of Surat districts of Gujarat state of India were screened for the isolation of halophiles revealing antagonistic effects against the preisolated Xanthomonas citri. The obtained result showed that from 7 exopolysaccharide producing halophiles, DUIS04 revealed growth inhibition of Xanthomonas when cocultured. The antagonistic attributes of DUIS04 were qualitatively assessed by standard procedures in which hydrolytic enzyme production viz. cellulase, amylase and chitinase, HCN production, biofilm and EPS production were positive. The produced EPS was recovered in crude form from culture broth by alcohol precipitation, dialyzed, lyophilized and stored at 42 oC for further use. The coating formulation was prepared by taking 2% (w/v) EPS as polymer matrix and mixing it with 0.1% of Tween 80 (w/w) and 1% sorbitol additives and sprayed on fresh lemons taken from botanical garden of Institution. The treated lemons were retreated with Xanthomonas suspension and incubated for 15 to 17 days. The control group of lemons were not treated with EPS and when sprayed with the Xanthomonas citri culture suspension, visible cankers were developed upon 13 to 15 days of incubation. However, the EPS treated group of fruits didn’t reveal canker development during same incubation. Consequently, the halophilic EPS was deduced to possess antagonistic effect on colonization of gram negative Xanthomonas citri bacteria and can inhibit the cancer disease in citric fruits which prolog the post-harvest shelf life.

Changes in quality and microbiome composition of strawberry fruits following postharvest application of Debaryomyces hansenii, a yeast biocontrol agent

Microbial antagonists provide a new perspective on biological control by altering microbial diversity to control postharvest diseases of fruit. In this study, the biological control effect of Debaryomyces hansenii on postharvest diseases of strawberry and the influence on strawberry quality were determined. At the same time, the effect of D. hansenii on the composition of surface microbiome of strawberry fruit was analyzed by high-throughput sequencing technology. The results showed that D. hansenii treatment can inhibit the natural decay rate of strawberries, and the treatment group maintained a higher ascorbic acid content than the control group. However, there was no difference between the control and treatment groups in firmness, weight loss rate, soluble solids, titratable acidity, and other quality indicators. On the surface of strawberries treated with D. hansenii, the diversity of fungal community was changed, the composition and structure of the community were also altered (except the abundance of Debaryomyces spp.). Strawberries treated with D. hansenii could alter bacterial and fungal populations, inhibit plant pathogens, and lower the frequency of postharvest diseases in strawberries. This study helps to understand the microbial community structure on the surface of strawberries and guides the synthesis of strawberry postharvest disease complex biocontrol strains to achieve stable and sustainable postharvest disease control strategies of the fruits.

Post-harvest Application of Hot Water and Aloe Vera Gel Improves the Physico-chemical Properties and Shelf-Life of Table Grapes

Post-harvest Application of Hot Water and Aloe Vera Gel Improves the Physico-chemical Properties and Shelf-Life of Table Grapes

Management of postharvest blue mold of apple caused by Penicillium fuscoglaucum using a gel formulation containing Monarda citriodora essential oil and linalool.

This study aimed to develop essential oil-containing biopolymer-based vapor gel formulations for the postharvest management of blue mold of apples. Apples are one of the widely cultivated fruits. They are susceptible to a wide range of fungus leading to high losses in overall production. Many research articles have highlighted the applications of essential oil-biopolymer coatings in the postharvest storage of fruits. However, no studies have yet tried to explore the potential of a vapour gel formulation for postharvest applications. Contaminated apples were collected from the local market. The causative fungus was isolated and identified. Minimum fungicidal concentrations of Monarda citriodora essential oil (MEO) and hexanal/linalool in the vapour phase were determined in vitro. In vitro and in vivo, checkerboard assays were used to demonstrate the synergistic activity between MEO and hexanal/linalool vapours against the isolated pathogen. MEO and linalool (M+L) combinatorial treatment indicated synergy in vivo and in vitro. In vivo treatment of M+L on apples by direct fumigation showed phytotoxicity. Gel formulations (carrageenan-guar gum, carbopol gel, and soft gel) were developed and evaluated to address phytotoxicity. M+L combination synergistically remediated the phytotoxicity in both carbopol (FICI=0.625) and soft gels (FICI=0.5625). The physicochemical parameters (pH, weight loss, TSS, and ascorbic acid (AsAC) of the treated apples were analysed. Reduction in weight loss and increase in AsAC were observed for treated fruits when compared to control, and no change in pH and TSS was observed. Biopolymer vapor gel formulations containing M+L vapours effectively protect apples from the postharvest blue mold for extended storage.

Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of date palm fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in response to postharvest application with natural elicitors

Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of date palm fruit (<i>Phoenix dactylifera</i> L.) in response to postharvest application with natural elicitors

Comparative Effect of Melatonin and 1-Methylcyclopropene Postharvest Applications for Extending ‘Hayward’ Kiwifruit Storage Life

Kiwifruit, like many other fruits, is susceptible to dehydration, leading to texture changes and a loss of flavour during storage. Exposing kiwifruit to suboptimal temperatures can control these changes but can cause internal browning. Postharvest treatments with substances such as 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) are some of the most successful commercial technologies in the conservation of fruits and vegetables. In recent years, there has been a growing interest among researchers in alternative technologies based in postharvest treatments with plant growth regulators. In this sense, melatonin (MT) has been shown to improve fruit quality, extending shelf life. The aim of this study was to compare these two different technologies applied at postharvest to evaluate the impact on kiwifruit quality. Optimal 1-MCP fumigations and MT solutions were assayed on ‘Hayward’ kiwifruit under similar conditions. Quality parameters were evaluated at 14-day intervals during 84 days of cold storage plus 5 days at 20 °C. The results showed that both treatments were similarly effective in maintaining quality parameters such as weight loss, respiration, firmness, and acidity. Although 1-MCP treatments delayed the evolution of kiwifruit colour and chlorophyll degradation as compared to MT, MT treatments controlled chilling injury better than 1-MCP. This effect was not related to a greater cell membrane integrity since fruit batches treated with 1-MCP were the ones that showed the lowest electrolyte leakage level. In conclusion, both treatments maintained fruit quality and delayed ripening in a similar way. In this sense, the results suggest that MT immersion treatments could act as efficient delaying senescence as fumigations with 1-MCP maintaining kiwifruit quality during refrigerated storage.

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

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.

Impact of Postharvest Putrescine Treatments on Phenolic Compounds, Antioxidant Capacity, Organic Acid Contents and Some Quality Characteristics of Fresh Fig Fruits during Cold Storage

The storage and shelf life of the fig, which has a sensitive fruit structure, is short, and this results in excessive economic losses. In a study carried out to contribute to the solution of this problem, the effect of postharvest putrescine application at different doses (0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 mM) on fruit quality characteristics and biochemical content during cold storage in figs was determined. At the end of the cold storage, the decay rate and weight loss in the fruit were in the ranges of 1.0-1.6% and 1.0-5.0 %, respectively. The decay rate and weight loss were lower in putrescine-applied fruit during cold storage. Putrescine application had a positive effect on the changes in fruit flesh firmness values. The SSC rate of fruit varied between 14 and 20%, while significant differences in the SSC rate occurred depending on storage time and putrescine application dose. With putrescine application, the decrease in the acidity rate of the fig fruit during cold storage was smaller. At the end of the cold storage, the acidity rate was between 1.5-2.5% and 1.0-5.0. Putrescine treatments affected total antioxidant activity values and changes occurred in total antioxidant activity depending on the application dose. In the study, it was observed that the amount of phenolic acid in fig fruit decreased during storage and putrescine doses prevented this decrease. Putrescine treatment affected the changes in the quantity of organic acids during cold storage, and this effect varied depending on the type of organic acid and the length of the cold storage period. As a result, it was revealed that putrescine treatments can be used as an effective method to maintain postharvest fruit quality in figs.

Improving storability and quality of peach fruit with post-harvest application of calcium chloride and potassium permanganate

Improving storability and quality of peach fruit with post-harvest application of calcium chloride and potassium permanganate

Impact of exogenous pre and postharvest salicylic acid applications on MD2 pineapple quality

Salicylic acid (SA) is a natural plant compound that has been proven to enhance the quality of fruits; therefore, its impact on pineapple should be further studied, especially in the most marketable hybrids. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of SA treatments on MD2 pineapple quality. The experiment consisted of two parts with applications pre and postharvest following the next treatments, control: No use of SA, and 5, 7 and 9 mM of SA. The total soluble solids, total acidity, ascorbic acid content, respiration rate, together with the severity and incidence of internal browning and flesh translucency were determined, after 40 days of cold storage. The treatment using 9 mM of SA in pre and postharvest delivered the best results, having the most elevated ascorbic acid (526.75 mg kg-1) and total acidity (0.8%), the lowest severity and incidence outcomes of internal browning and flesh translucency (0% in both cases), with the most reduced respiration rate values during postharvest. In conclusion, SA treatments with concentrations of 9 mM applied in pre and postharvest on MD2 pineapple can improve its quality after 40 days of cold storage.

Postharvest application of natural compounds and biocontrol agents to manage brown rot of stone fruits

Postharvest application of natural compounds and biocontrol agents to manage brown rot of stone fruits

Application of Cytokinin under Modified Atmosphere (MA) Delays Yellowing and Prolongs the Vase Life of Davallia solida (G. Forst.) Sw. Leaves

Cut leaves of Davallia solida are widely used in bouquet greenery. However, the leaves wilt and yellow after seven days. Postharvest applications of exogenous cytokinins (CKs), a plant growth regulator (PGR), preventing senescence in many green leafy plants, were studied by pulsing cut D. solida leaves with 6-benzylamiopurine (BA) at a concentration of 100 ppm, or thidiazuron (TDZ) at a concentration of 10 μM for 24 h, compared with distilled water as a control, and then placing the ferns in a controlled room (21 + 2 °C, 70–80% relative humidity (RH), under cool-white fluorescent lights for 12 h/d). Pulsing with BA and TDZ delayed leaf yellowing while preserving chlorophyll (Chl) content. This was due to reduced Chl-degrading enzyme activities on day 8 of the vase life of the leaves, resulting in longer display life of 11.1 and 11.5 days, respectively. TDZ delayed Chl breakdown on day 8 of the vase life of leaves more than was the case for BA. Subsequently, leaves were pulsed in 10 μM TDZ, or distilled water for 24 h, and then 10 leaves from each treatment were packaged in a 25 × 30 cm, 25-μm thickness BOPP bag. All the packages were stored at 10 °C in 10 h/d light for one, two and three weeks, then unpacked and placed in distilled water. Pulsing with TDZ before one-week storage delayed leaf yellowing, maintained Chl content and extended their vase life to 9.6 days compared with one-, two-, and three-week control leaves, which had a vase life of 6.2, 5.8, and 3.6 days, respectively. After one week, the relative fresh weight of the leaves and water uptake did not alter between the control and TDZ groups. The activities of Chl degradation enzymes in the leaves of D. solida pulsed with TDZ prior to storage were significantly suppressed, related to higher Chl content and a lower percentage of leaf yellowing than the control, resulting in a longer vase life of 9.0 days, while the control lasted 7.0 days. A 10 µM TDZ pulsing treatment significantly prevented the yellowing of D. solida fronds during the vase period or storage period, and one-week storage under MA with light conditions is recommended for retaining postharvest quality after storage.

Pineapple responses to postharvest applications of ABA, chitosan, and decrowning on the severity of internal browning and other fruit qualities

The shelf life of pineapple is significantly influenced by storage temperature and can be prolonged by maintaining an optimal temperature range of 5-12°C. However, there is still the problem of internal browning (IB) in the long-term storing of fresh harvest at cold temperatures. Postharvest application of 380 µM ABA (Abscisic Acid) to the crown, which is a source of ABA endogenous was found to suppress IB, while the concentration of 95 µM was not effective. Therefore, this research aimed to determine the response of GP3 and MD2 clones to postharvest treatment with the application of 50 mg/L ABA, chitosan and decrowning on the IB severity and other fruit qualities. The experimental design used a Completely Randomized Design with 3 factors of clone (GP3 and MD2), decrowning (crown and crownless), and fruit coating [chitosan 1%, ABA 50 mg/L, ABA + chitosan mix, and control (H2O)]. The fruits were kept at 7oC and observed at 0, 3, 6, 9, 16, 23, 30, and 37 days. The results showed that MD2 was significantly lower IB than GP3 and IB severity negatively correlated with ascorbic acid (AsA) content. MD2 had lower fruit weight loss (FWL) and skin dehydration (SD), higher AsA, soluble solid content (SSC), and SSC/titratable acidity (STA) ratios compared to GP3. The crown + ABA treatment decreased the IB severity of GP3, with a level of 0.75% after 37 days which was lower than crown + H2O by 9.17% and crownless + H2O by 8.42%. ABA treatment also showed higher SD and FWL, while AsA, SSC, TA, and STA were not different from the control.

Postharvest light and temperature elicitors improve chemical composition and level of essential oils in basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) through boosting antioxidant machinery

Improving essential oils (EO) quality together with increasing EO quantity has practical significance in aromatic plant industry. In the present study, the effect of postharvest application of light and temperature elicitors including different light intensities [(0, 75, 150, and 300 µmol m−2 s−1) for 24 and 48 h during cold storage (LC), and (0, 250, 500, and 1000 µmol m−2 s−1) during storage at 24 °C for 10 h (L)], UV-C irradiation [3, 6, and 9 h (U)] and 35 °C [3 and 6 h (H)], were evaluated on the photosynthetic performance, physiological and phytochemical characteristics of basil. In general, light elicitors decreased photosynthetic functionality of basil leaves, this negative impact was more detectable when light intensities applied under cold conditions Although soluble carbohydrates increased by different light intensities at 4 °C conditions, co-exposure to light intensities and 4 °C for 24 and 48 h caused a decrease in protein content. Light and temperature elicitors imposed oxidative stress, while boosted antioxidant system in basil leaves. Catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX) activity was increased by 300 µmol m−2 s−1 for 24 and 48 h at 4 °C. Light and temperature elicitor applications increased the total phenolic content (TPC) of basil leaves. Concentration of flavonoids increased by elicitors except in the case of 35 °C for 3 h. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) increased by UV-C irradiation for 3 and 6 h. Abiotic elicitors increased the percentage of EOs content and caused alteration in the chemical composition of EO. Maximum percentage of EO was detected in plants exposed to UV-C (6 h) and 75 µmol m−2 s−1 for 48 h at 4 °C. A significant positive correlation was found between CAT with POX also TPC with TAC in harvested plants under abiotic elicitors. In conclusion, the content of EO and antioxidant activity of basil were affected by the dose and duration of postharvest elicitors. Abiotic elicitors induced oxidative stress and in response, basil boosted the antioxidant machinery, which resulted in enhancement of EO content at postharvest period. Postharvest application of elicitors presents a simple and an effective method, for improving the production of basil EO.

Postharvest Application of Potato Starch Edible Coatings with Sodium Benzoate to Reduce Sour Rot and Preserve Mandarin Fruit Quality

Starch is a biodegradable polymeric carbohydrate that can easily form films and coatings and can readily be obtained from some food industry by-products and wastes, which may contribute to the circular bioeconomy. In this work, we studied the potential of two edible coating emulsions based on pregelatinized potato starch (PPS) and glyceryl monostearate (GMS) alone (F6 and F10) or formulated with the food additive sodium benzoate (SB, 2%) (F6/SB and F10/SB) to control sour rot, an important citrus postharvest disease caused by the fungus Geotrichum citri-aurantii, and maintain postharvest quality of cold-stored ‘Orri’ mandarins. The PPS-GMS coating application was compared to dipping in water (uncoated controls) and dipping in a 2% SB (w/v) aqueous solution. The results showed that the coating F10/SB was the most promising treatment to control sour rot on mandarins, with reductions in disease incidence with respect to the uncoated control samples of 94, 69, and 55% after 2, 4, and 6 weeks of storage at 5 °C, respectively. Coatings formulated without SB were ineffective. Regarding fruit quality, the coating F10 was the most effective to reduce weight loss, maintain firmness, and provide gloss on mandarins stored at 5 °C for up to 6 weeks followed by a shelf-life period of 1 week at 20 °C. The addition of SB to the PPS-GMS coatings adversely affected these coating properties, but the coating F10/SB still reduced weight loss compared to uncoated controls without negatively affecting the fruit physicochemical (juice titratable acidity, soluble solids content, and volatiles content) and sensory quality (overall flavor, off-flavors, external aspect). Overall, the coating F10/SB showed the greatest potential for commercial use as an efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional fungicides and waxes for sour rot control and quality preservation of cold-stored mandarins.

Comparative Analyses of Ripening, Texture Properties and Cell Wall Composition in Three Tropical Fruits Treated with 1-Methylcyclopropene during Cold Storage

Regulation of fruit ripening is one of the most important topics in postharvest storage. Effects of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) greatly depend on the responsiveness of fruit cultivar to this molecule. Although 1-MCP has been used in postharvest preservation of many fruit species, its effects on ripening process, including ethylene production, and softening of banana, mango, and papaya are still not very clear. In the present study, we comparatively investigated the effects of 1-MCP fumigation treatment (1 μL L−1 for 20 h) on ripening behavior and texture qualities of the three fruits during storage at 15 °C. Results showed that 1-MCP treatment not only suppressed the production but also delayed the peak points of ethylene in banana and mango. However, it only significantly delayed the emergence of peak, but didn’t suppress the production of ethylene in papaya. Meanwhile, 1-MCP treated papayas showed the lowest malondialdehyde (MDA) content, cell membrane permeability (CMP) and activities of polygalacturonase (PG) and cellulose (CX), accompanied by the highest firmness and protopectin content. Furthermore, 1-MCP treatment slowed down the changes of pulp cell structure in three kinds of fruit. Thus, the findings suggest that postharvest application of 1-MCP has potential in banana and mango fruits due to both prolonging storage-life and ensuring the texture quality, whereas it is not suitable for papaya fruit because of the abnormal softening and the poor texture.

An improved solar air heater for post harvest applications

An improved solar air heater for post harvest applications

Effect of edible beeswax coating on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) postharvest quality

Beeswax, known for its beneficial composition, has found wide application in various industries, including pharmacy, and medicine. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of beeswax as a covering for preserving tomato postharvest quality. Beeswax was applied to tomato fruits in three different dosages (5, 15, and 25 g) and stored for 30 days at 10 °C. The results revealed that uncoated fruits exhibited a higher percentage of weight loss and firmness compared to coated fruits during storage. Coating treatments demonstrated the ability to delay the decline in weight loss, firmness, TSS and the preservation of bioactive compounds such as lycopene. Notably, the fruits coated with 25 g beeswax displayed significantly lower weight loss percentages than the other treatments. These findings suggest that the postharvest application of beeswax has the potential to extend the storage life of tomato fruits by maintaining fruit quality.