Postharvest Transportation Research Articles

Economic Analysis of the Impact of Waste on the Production and Consumption of Dates in Saudi Arabia

The goal of this study was to determine how the loss of dates affected food security in Saudi Arabia from 2000 to 2021. The researchers achieved this by using food security indicators, economic equations to quantify agricultural resource losses, and econometric analyses to develop a partial adjustment model. The results show that dates are considered a self-sufficient crop as well as an export crop, as the state resorts to exporting the surplus instead of storing it for local consumption. During the study period, there was an increase in the period of sufficiency in date production for local consumption and the period of coverage of imports for local consumption. In 2000, the volume of dates lost increased by approximately 131.22%. The total loss of land and water resources reached 31,918.4 hectares and 324.759 million cubic meters, respectively. The value of the partial adjustment coefficient (λ) indicates that about 81.1% of the imbalance in the equilibrium between the actual and equilibrium levels is adjusted within one year. Loss is considered one of the most important factors that determine food security for dates, in addition to the total value of loans financed to date factories, the total population, and the level of technological progress in the marketing and storage of dates. It was found that a change of 10% in these variables leads to a change in food security for dates of (−2.37%), 0.07, (−15.33%), and 0.58%, respectively, and the adjusted coefficient of determination was estimated at 0.93. This study recommends the following: (1) expanding the use of modern technologies for date post-harvest transportation and storage, and (2) increasing support and loans allocated to date factories to increase warehouses for cooling and storage to accommodate the increase in production and surplus consumption.

Combining transfer learning and hyperspectral imaging to identify bruises of pears across different bruise types.

Mechanical bruise is one of the most crucial factors affecting the quality of pears, which has a huge influence on postharvest transportation, storage, and sale of pears. To rapidly detect early bruises of pears across different bruise types, hyperspectral imaging technology coupled with transfer learning methods was performed in this study. Two transfer learning methods, that is, transfer component analysis (TCA) and manifold embedded distribution alignment (MEDA), were applied for two tasks (impact bruise→crush bruise, crush bruise→impact bruise). Supporting vector machine (SVM) was set as a baseline to conduct analysis and comparison of the transferability of the models. The result showed that, for task 1 (impact bruise→crush bruise), MEDA and TCA-SVM model achieved a classification accuracy of 93.33% and 91.11% in target domain, individually. For task 2 (crush bruise→impact bruise), MEDA and TCA-SVM model achieved an accuracy of 88.89% and 85.19% in target domain, respectively. Both the two models improved the accuracy compared with SVM models (84.44% for task 1; 77.04% for task 2). Overall, the results indicated that transfer learning approaches could perform pear bruise detection across different bruise types. Hyperspectral imaging in combination with transfer learning methods is a promising possibility for the efficient and cost-saving field detection of fruit bruises among different bruise types. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The production and export of pears are faced with problems of mechanical damage due to vibration, collision, impact, and other factors, which cause chemical changes in color, odor, and taste. Sometimes the bruise was too slight to be ignored which would infect with other fruits in the future. In this study, we used hyperspectral imaging combined with transfer learning method could detect these slight bruises caused by different factors. Distinguishing different types of damage can provide a reference for quick judgment of the process causing damage and take prompt measures to reduce economic losses.

Color and Firmness Quality Changes of Java Apple During Postharvest Transportation and Storage

Transportation vibration adversely affects fresh produce during transportation. In addition, storage temperature affects the quality of fresh commodities. The physical changes in Java apples during transportation and storage were evaluated in this study. Java apples were transported from local farms to wholesale markets (180 km). Java apples were stored at room temperature (28°C) for six days. Physical qualities such as weight loss and firmness of the Java apple samples were evaluated. The RGB image acquisition system was used to assess changes in the color of the Java apple. The vibration showed that more than 70% of the acceleration occurred between 220-290 cm/s2 in the vertical and horizontal directions during transportation. Analysis showed that physical qualities, such as weight loss and firmness, were strongly affected by the packaging used, vibration during transportation, and storage temperature. The weight loss and reduction in firmness was highest in Java apples transported using wholesaler packaging (packaging A). The lightness, yellowness, and hue values decreased significantly because transportation vibration was relatively high, and the Java apples were stored at room temperature. Redness, total color difference, and color index increased significantly in Java apples that were transported using package A and stored at room temperature. The results showed that the use of transportation packaging affected changes in the physical quality of Java apples. Packaging A generally increase in weight loss, hardness, and changes in fruit color than other packaging types.

Research on Flesh Texture and Quality Traits of Kiwifruit (cv. Xuxiang) with Fluctuating Temperatures during Cold Storage.

Kiwifruits are often exposed to various temperature fluctuations (TFs) during postharvest transportation and storage. To evaluate the effect of TFs on the qualities of kiwifruits during storage, kiwifruits were stored at 2 °C, 2 °C or 5 °C (TF2 °C-5 °C, alternating every 12 h), 2 °C or 7 °C (TF2 °C-7 °C, alternating every 12 h) for 3 d before long time storage at 2 °C. Observations revealed that kiwifruits stored at a constant 2 °C showed the lowest loss of weight and vitamin C because of minimized ethylene production and respiratory rate compared with that of TF2 °C-5 °C and TF2 °C-7 °C. Moreover, the results of RT-qPCR verified that the expression levels of genes encoding polygalacturonase, β-galacturonidase, and pectin methylesterase were significantly increased by the treatment of TF. Hence, TF accelerated the degradation of cell walls, softening, translucency, and relative conductivity of the flesh of kiwifruits. In addition, the impact of TF2 °C-7 °C on kiwifruits was more significant relative to TF2 °C-5 °C. The present study provides a theoretical basis for kiwifruit during cold storage.

Effects of different vibration spectrum shapes on mechanical damage of postharvest Huangguan pear during transportation

Mechanical damage of the horticultural produce during postharvest transportation is an important criteria for fruit sorting and grading. The vibration during transportation has a significant effect on the mechanical damage of the fruit. In this study, the effect of different vibration spectrum shapes on mechanical damage of Huangguan pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd, cv. Huangguan) was investigated. Four acceleration spectrums (spectrum Ⅰ, spectrum Ⅱ, spectrum Ⅲ, and spectrum Ⅳ) with same vibration level and different shapes were evaluated. The power spectral density (PSD) amplitude in the resonant region was in the order of spectrum Ⅰ > spectrum Ⅱ> spectrum Ⅲ > spectrum Ⅳ. The change in appearance, physiological properties (respiratory rate and weight loss), and mechanical properties (firmness and elastic modulus) of the pears were evaluated after vibration. Results showed that vibration resulted in quality deterioration of pear. Compared to the control group, respiratory rate and weight loss of the pears increased while the flesh firmness and elastic modulus of the pears decreased after vibration. The mechanical damage became more serious as stacked position increased. The effect of spectrum shape on the mechanical damage of pear was also obvious. Different degree of mechanical damage was observed under spectrum Ⅰ, spectrum Ⅱ, spectrum Ⅲ, and spectrum Ⅳ vibration. The higher the acceleration PSD in resonant region, the more serious the mechanical damage of pear. In comparison with the control group, pear under spectrum Ⅰ effect showed the most mechanical damage and the pear under spectrum Ⅳ effect had the minimum mechanical damage. Furthermore, S−Grms curves (damage area - vibration level) showed a clockwise rotation from spectrum Ⅰ to Ⅲ vibration. This study reveals the mechanical damage mechanism of pears based on acceleration spectrum shape and provides guidance for postharvest loss reduction using simulated test.

A multi-omics view of the preservation effect on Camellia sinensis leaves during low temperature postharvest transportation

Appropriate postharvest conditions protect freshly harvested plant products, preventing substantial economic losses. In this study, the effects of low temperature transportation on postharvest tea leaves were studied with widely targeted secondary metabolomics and transcriptomics. Compared with non-refrigerated tea leaves (30 ± 3 °C), there were 67-up and 41-down differentially regulated metabolites in refrigerated tea leaves (8 ± 2 °C), mainly consisting of flavonoids, amino acids, and purine alkaloids. The change of flavonoids was primarily due to degradation and differential accumulation, while the refrigerated environment effectively maintained galloylated catechins at a relatively high level. Branched-chain amino acids significantly increased in non-refrigerated condition, while purine alkaloids and their precursors showed a trend of accumulation in refrigerated condition. These differences were attributed to genes directly related to the metabolite revealed by RNA-seq analysis, as well as to the hub transcription factors (such as DOF and AP2/ERF) that related to response of environmental fluctuations explored by co-expression network. These important metabolites regulation mechanisms under low-temperature postharvest transportation will provide valuable information for optimizing postharvest transportation parameters and maintaining tea quality.

Pulsed light improved the shelf life of apricot （after simulated long-distance air transportation） by regulating cell wall metabolism

‘Xiao bai’ apricots taste excellent and are mainly produced in Northwest China. Apricots are very popular throughout China, so before sale, air transportation has become necessary. During transportation, mechanical vibration induces various physiological damages to the fruit. This is one of the main causes of the softening of apricots. The prevention and control of post-harvest transportation damage through non-thermal treatment is a promising physical preservation technology. In this study, the changes of cell wall characteristics of apricot stored under intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment was investigated before simulating transport vibrations. The IPL treatment improved the quality of apricots, reduced the content of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide, significantly inhibited the activity of cell wall modifying enzymes, delayed the dissolution of water-soluble pectin and the degradation of cellulose, and inhibited the migration and change of water. Transmission electron microscopy imaging showed that the IPL treatment helped preserve cell wall structure, which was uniform and complete with high electron density. These results showed that IPL treatment inhibited the mechanical damage and adverse physiological changes to apricots subjected to vibration and prolonged their shelf life.

Antifungal activity of the volatile organic compounds produced by Ceratocystis fimbriata strains WSJK-1 and Mby.

Microorganism-produced volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are considered promising environmental-safety fumigants in food preservation. In this study, the VOCs from fungal Ceratocystis fimbriata strains (WSJK-1, Mby) were tested against postharvest fungi Monilinia laxa, Fusarium oxysporum, Monilinia fructicola, Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria solani, and Aspergillus flavus in vitro. The mycelial growth was significantly inhibited, in particular M. fructicola and B. cinerea (76.95, 76.00%), respectively. VOCs were identified by headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS); 40 compounds were identified. The antifungal activity of 21 compounds was tested by the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) value. Benzaldehyde, 2-Phenylethanol, and 1-Octen-3-ol showed strong antifungal activity with the MIC in vitro ranging from 0.094 to 0.284 ml L-1 depending on the pathogen tested. The optical microscope showed serious morphological damage, including cell deformation, curling, collapse, and deficiency in mycelial or conidia cell structures treated with C. fimbriata VOCs and pure compounds. In vivo tests, C. fimbriata VOCs decreased brown rot severity in peaches, and compounds Benzaldehyde and 2-Phenylethanol could reduce peach brown rot in peaches at 60 μl L-1. The VOCs produced by C. fimbriata strain have good antifungal effects; low concentration fumigation could control peach brown rot. Its fragrance is fresh, safe, and harmless, and it is possible to replace chemical fumigants. It could be used as a potential biofumigant to control fruit postharvest transportation, storage, and food preservation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the antifungal activity and biocontrol mechanism of VOCs produced by C. fimbriata.

Novel physical treatments (Pulsed light and cold plasma) improve the quality of postharvest apricots after long-distance simulated transportation

Biological control of postharvest transportation by non-thermal treatment is considered a promising physical preservation technology. This study investigated how apricot quality (before simulation of transport vibrations) increased using intense pulsed light (IPL) and dielectric barrier discharge plasma (DBD) techniques. The results showed that DBD and IPL treatments reduced damage to apricot fruit after vibration and inhibited microbial growth on the surface of apricot fruit. By increasing the content of non-enzymatic antioxidants (total phenols, total flavonoids, ABTS, and DPPH radical scavenging activity) and antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, PPO, POD, and CAT), the antioxidant capacity of apricot fruit was increased, cell structure damage was reduced, and water migration and erosion were inhibited as well. In summary, DBD and IPL treatments inhibited adverse physiological changes in apricot fruit subjected to vibration and mechanical damage, maintained their sensory and nutritional quality, and extended their shelf life.

Cuticular wax removal on reactive oxygen species-related mechanisms and on the quality of Hami melon cultivars

Epicuticular wax is the outermost protective layer of fruit against abiotic stress. It is easily removed or destroyed during the postharvest transportation and handling of fruit. In this study, the effects of wax layer removal on the postharvest quality of Hami melon fruit and its possible mechanism were explored. The results showed that wax removal accelerated fruit softening, water loss, and decay, reduced sensory and nutritional quality, and shortened shelf life. At the end of storage, the antioxidant enzyme activity and non-enzymatic antioxidant content of wax-removed fruit were reduced, while the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation were accelerated. Moreover, the organelle membrane structure and plastids were destroyed. Therefore, epicuticular wax layer plays an important role in maintaining postharvest fruit quality. This study will improve our understanding of the biological function of Hami melon fruit epicuticular wax and helpful for developing effective preservation measures to delay fruit decay.

Quality maintenance of 1‐Methylcyclopropene combined with titanium dioxide photocatalytic reaction on postharvest cherry tomatoes

This study explored the effects of 1-MCP combined with TPC treatment on bioactive compounds, odor, and ultrastructure of cherry tomatoes during postharvest storage. The results showed that the three treatments could all maintain the firmness, soluble solids, and titratable acidity content. It was noteworthy that TPC applied to cherry tomatoes had positive effects on removing off-flavors and reducing accumulation of malondialdehyde, and it can better retain the lycopene content compared with 1-MCP in the later storage period. In addition, the combined treatment was more effective than the control check, single 1-MCP and single TPC, which can inhibit the respiration and ethylene production of cherry tomatoes, maintain the ascorbic acid content, and sustain the integrity of peel and pulp cell structure during postharvest storage. Our study concluded that 1-MCP + TPC was a feasible technology that can enhance the effect of single 1-MCP treatment and make up for the limitations of single treatment. Practical applications The moisture content of cherry tomatoes is higher than 90% so that cherry tomatoes are prone to softening, rot, and quality deterioration after harvest. They are typical climacteric fruits with obvious respiratory peaks. In the process of postharvest transportation and storage, intricate physiological and biochemical reactions occur in cells. A growing number of studies had shown that 1-Methylcyclopropene had certain limitations. We used combined treatment, in order to enhance the effect of single 1-Methylcyclopropene treatment and better guarantee the edible value and commodity value of postharvest cherry tomatoes. Our research showed that 1-Methylcyclopropene combined with titanium dioxide photocatalytic treatment may become an advanced preservation technology, and can provide a new idea for improving the storage quality of postharvest cherry tomatoes.

Mechanical damage of ‘Huangguan’ pear using different packaging under random vibration

The mechanical damage of fresh fruit under random vibration during postharvest transportation is a major problem in agricultural industry. This paper investigated the mechanical damage of ‘Huangguan’ pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd. ‘Huangguan’) under random vibration excitation considering package type, vibration level, and vibration duration. Limited white noise with the frequency 3 Hz – 80 Hz was used as the excitation spectrum. Results showed: vibration results in the obvious decline of pear firmness. Firmness of pears with five package types after vibration decreased 9 % to 26 %. Package type had a great effect on the mechanical damage of pears. The package type of expanded polystyrene (EPS) tray + expandable polyethylene (EPE) net cover can provide the best cushioning effect for pears. The response vibrations of pears are related to positions. The resonant frequencies of stacked pears were concentrated in the range of 23 Hz–56 Hz. Response vibrations of pears in the corner were more severe compared with the pears in the center. In addition, the damage rules of pears with the package type of corrugated paperboard division + paper wrapping under different vibration levels and durations were revealed. The relationships of damage area and vibration level, firmness and vibration level, damage area and vibration duration conformed to linear correlation. Exponential function can be used to describe the relationships of damage volume and acceleration level, damage volume and vibration duration, firmness and vibration duration. This study provides references for vibration resistant packaging design of fruit, and thus to minimize the mechanical damage of fruit in supply chain.

Research on Biomechanical Properties of Laver (Porphyra yezoensis Ueda) for Mechanical Harvesting and Postharvest Transportation

This paper investigates the effect of origin, harvest times and loading rates on the biomechanical properties of laver, aiming to develop laver harvesting and postharvest transportation equipment. The values and changing regular of biomechanical properties were obtained via a combination of morphological and mechanical tests as well as numerical statistics. The correlation between biological and mechanical properties was detected simultaneously. The results show that the biological properties are affected dramatically by origin and harvest times. The values of length, width, thickness and mass of laver from Dalian exceeded those found in Qingdao and Lianyungang. The width, thickness and mass increased, whereas the length-to-width ratio decreased with the increasing harvest time. Meanwhile, the mechanical properties are also influenced significantly by loading rates, origin and harvest times. Tensile and shear strength displayed an overall decreasing trend, whereas adhesive force and adhesiveness in general increased with the increasing loading rate. The tensile and shear strengths were greatest for laver from Qingdao, while the adhesive force and adhesiveness were greatest for laver from Dalian. Tensile strength, adhesive force and adhesiveness increased, and shear strength decreased with the delay of harvest time. In addition, the tensile strength and thickness of the laver at different harvest times were positively correlated. The maximum tensile strength, shear strength, adhesive force and adhesiveness were 3.56 MPa, 4.79 MPa, 0.32 N and 1.01 N·mm, respectively. These results are believed to be able to provide a reference for the design and optimization of machineries such as harvest, postharvest transportation and laver processing.

Chemical and nutritional quality changes of tomato during postharvest transportation and storage

Transportation over longer distances could accelerate the chemical changes of fresh produce. Moreover, fresh produce quality is also influenced by temperature conditions during storage. The present study aims to explore the postharvest quality chemical and nutritional changes in tomatoes as affected by transportation distance and storage conditions. Tomato fruit was transported from a local farm to three distances (100, 154, and 205 km) and delivered to the laboratory to undergo chemical and nutritional quality analysis. Tomatoes were stored at two storage temperature conditions at10°C (95 ± 1% relative humidity) and 22 °C (65 ± 5% relative humidity) for 12 days. To record all vibration data signals, a 3-Axis USB vibration/acceleration data logger was used during transportation. The changes in chemical properties of tomato including total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), sugar:acid ratio (TSS:TA), and pH were measured. Furthermore, nutritional changes (i.e., total lycopene and carotenoids) were determined. Vibration data results recorded 41% of acceleration occurrence in the range interval of 0.0099 -0.0116 m/s 2 in the longest distance of road travel. Chemical quality indicators like total soluble solids and sugar/acid ratio were mostly affected (p < 0.05) by storage condition and duration but not (p > 0.05) by transportation distance. However, TA was significantly affected by all investigated factors and was lower (0.25%) in tomatoes transported from the farthest distance compared to medium and shortest distances (0.26%) stored at 22 °C. Lycopene and carotenoids were highly affected by all studied factors. The highest amount of lycopene and carotenoids was observed in tomato transported from a long distance and stored at 22 °C on day12 with 1.21 and 1.55 mg.100 g −1 FW, respectively. The temperature during storage and long-distance transportation is critical in reducing postharvest chemical and nutritional quality losses of tomatoes.

Optimising the transportation of avocados from farm to packhouse using Bayesian networks

Unnecessary losses occur due to the postharvest transportation of avocados from farm to packhouse. Damage done to avocados may only become visible during later stages of the fruit's ripening, making it difficult to detect damage during the early stages of the supply chain. This study looks at where improvements can be made, specifically identifying the hazards occurring between harvest and the packhouse, by means of a Bayesian network. The network was populated using data collected from the farm using civiltronics, investigating hazards by consulting literature and using expert elicitation to better understand the identified hazards and their effect. The study concluded that the most probable cause of damage results from the overall tree condition, the delay in transportation, picking techniques and unloading procedures at the packhouse. The Bayesian network is a powerful tool which can be updated with evidence from the farmers once improvements are made to reassess the network.

Progress on biodegradable films for antibacterial food packaging

The applications of common-used antibacterial agents and biodegradable polymer materials in food packaging were reviewed. The research progress on biobased antibacterial agents (such as chitosan, plant essential oils, plant extracts, bacteriocins) in food packaging films synthesized from biodegradable polymer materials (such as starch and its derivatives, chitosan, cellulose, protein) was summarized. Most of the biodegradable antibacterial films are applied in the packaging of postharvest transportation and storage of fruits and vegetables. This work provides guidance to develop new intelligent food packaging materials featured by degradability, bacteriostasis and environmental protection.

Compositional shifts in the fungal diversity of garlic scapes during postharvest transportation and cold storage

The aim of this study was to elucidate the dynamics, diversity and succession of fungal communities on garlic scapes during postharvest short-term transportation and long-term cold storage using the high-throughput sequencing of ITS1 regions. During short-term transportation, samples transported at 0 °C harbored 75 operational taxonomic units, which was more than in either of the higher temperature groups. The beta-diversity analysis revealed significant fungal compositional differences between the sample transported at 0 °C and those transported at the higher temperatures. These differences indicated that higher temperatures can result in significant changes in the fungal community composition by causing short-term competition among fungi. So, lower transportation temperature is beneficial to inhibit the growth-related metabolism of fungi and maintenance microflora on garlic scapes. During long-term cold storage, Botrytis gradually became the main fungus on garlic scapes. Thus, long-term cold-stored garlic scapes have a greater risk of undergoing postharvest deterioration caused by Botrytis. Additionally, purified Botrytis was inoculated into garlic scapes. The deterioration in the storage quality of garlic scapes was accelerated by the growth of Botrytis. Therefore, control measures should focus on gray mold diseases caused by Botrytis during long-term cold-stored garlic scapes after low temperature transportation.

Preparation of PAN@TiO₂ Nanofibers for Fruit Packaging Materials with Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Ethylene.

Ethylene causes faster deterioration of perishable crops during postharvest transportation and storage. The present study aimed to develop TiO2-coated nanofibers with efficient photocatalytic activities to enhance the degradation of fruit-emitted ethylene. The consecutive electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and TiO2 deposition was successfully performed to produce PAN@TiO2 nanofibers. The scanning electron microscopy results indicate the uniform distribution of TiO2 nanoparticles on the surface of the PAN nanofiber. The PAN@TiO2 composite nanofibers exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity for ethylene degradation under low-intensity UV light irradiation. Furthermore, a tomato fruit-ripening test confirmed the effectiveness of the PAN@TiO2 nanofibers. The PAN@TiO2 nanofibers exhibited effective ethylene degradation and slowed the color shift and softening of the tomatoes during storage. The results suggest great potential for use of the PAN@TiO2 composite nanofibers as ethylene scavenging packaging material for fresh fruits and vegetables.

Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on Indian fruits and vegetables export, postharvest management supply chain and future strategies

India is the fruit and vegetable basket of the world. It grows a variety of fruits and vegetables and has huge production of both fruits and vegetables. Country is the second largest producer of both fruits and vegetables in the world after China. India is the largest producer of ginger and okra amongst vegetables and ranks second in production of potato, onion, cauliflower, brinjal, cabbage etc. Amongst fruits, the country ranks first in production of banana (25.7%), papaya (43.6%) and mango (40.4%). Grapes, pomegranate, mango, banana and orange account for larger portion of fruits exported from the country while onion, mixed vegetables, potato, tomato and green chillies contribute largely to the vegetable export basket. The major destinations for Indian fruits and vegetables are Bangladesh, UAE, Netherlands, Middle East countries, Nepal, Malaysia, UK and Sri Lanka. After the arrival and attack of Covid-19 pandemic in India from first week of March 2020 it has lot of negative impact in the postharvest supply chain, transportation, retail marketing and trade of fruits and vegetables. But in long term point of view we can take the lessons and strengthen our production, management as well as postharvest management practices for benefits of the fruit and vegetable growers of India.

The effects of transportation temperature on the decay rate and quality of postharvest Ponkan (Citrus reticulata Blanco) fruit in different storage periods

Ponkan (Citrus reticulata Blanco cv. Ponkan) is one of the widely grown and economically important citrus fruit species in China. Present study investigated the dynamic changes of Ponkan fruit’ storability in different storage period and under alternating temperature during the postharvest transportation and shelf life, aiming to find out an efficient and energy-saving transportation scheme for Ponkan fruit at different storage stage. The results showed that, the elongation of storage time and the higher transport temperature led to the increase of decay rate. The juice yield continued to decrease, without affecting by the transportation temperatures. The rind color turn yellow rapidly (with the citrus color index (CCI) increased from 3.61 to 9.25) during the first two months, and remained stable during the following period. The higher transportation temperature accelerated the rind color development. The total soluble solids (TSS) increased during the first month (from 11.21% to 13.25%), remained stable in the second and third months, and then decreased slightly in the fourth month, which was not evidently influenced by the transportation temperature. The titratable acidity (TA) showed a continuous decline which was accelerated by the high transportation temperature. The ethanol and aldehyde contents continue to increase and were not significantly affected by the transportation temperature. The total flavonoids content decreased during the transportation and shelf life of the newly harvested Ponkan fruit, while remained stable and was not significantly affected by the transportation temperature in the four months of storage. The alternating temperature of transportation affected the storability of Ponkan fruit at different storage periods. These finding provided a theoretical basis for the selection of transportation temperature from economic perspective.