scholarly journals Physical, physiological, physicochemical and nutritional characterization of pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) in postharvest stage cultivated in Antioquia-Colombia

2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 9735-9744
Author(s):  
Carlos Julio Márquez Cardozo ◽  
Daniela Molina Hernández ◽  
Birina Luz Caballero ◽  
Hector Jose Ciro Velásquez ◽  
Diego Alonso Restrepo Molina ◽  
...  

Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima), also called squash is a mass consumption fruit used in agroindustrial transformations to obtain new food products. This study aimed to evaluate the physical, physiological and physicochemical properties during a storage period of 42 days and the nutritional compounds of the freshly harvested fruit fractions. According to the CIEL*a*b* space, both the pulp and peel did not present significant changes in L* and a* values during the evaluated storage time; however, in the peel, a change in the b* values was evidenced. In addition, there was a decrease in the firmness of 10.8% in the fruit with peel and in the pulp, it was of 19.8% was observed, with a whole fruit weight loss of 2.33% and an average respiration rate of 6.9 mg CO2 kg-1h-1. According to physicochemical characteristics evaluated in the pulp, the values of pH, percentage of humidity, acidity, water activity and total soluble solids had no statistically significant changes occurred during the storage time. At the nutritional level, pumpkin is a good source of minerals, with a high concentration of potassium in all its fractions, and also has in total carotenoids (4.11±1.6 mg of β-carotene g-1 oven dry (o.d) in pulp and 6.24±2.7 mg of β-carotene g-1 (o.d) in peel). It was possible to conclude that the pumpkin has a low respiration rate, maintaining its physicochemical characteristics suitable for consumption throughout the evaluation period, presenting suitable conditions.

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 489-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
LORENA DE OLIVEIRA MOURA ◽  
LANAMAR DE ALMEIDA CARLOS ◽  
KÊNIA GRASIELLE DE OLIVEIRA ◽  
LUMA MOREIRA MARTINS ◽  
ERNANI CLARETE DA SILVA

ABSTRACT: Lettuce is one of the most produced and consumed leafy vegetables in Brazil. It is harvested when the plant reaches full vegetative growth and the leaves are still tender and there are no signs of bolting. The plant is unsuitable for commercialization after this period, thus, a food that is rich in vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds such as carotenoid is lost. Therefore, the objective of this work was to assess the purple lettuce quality based on physical-chemical characteristics, in three different ages. The experiment was conducted in an urban community garden in Sete Lagoas MG, Brazil. A completely randomized experimental design was used with three replications. The treatments consisted of three development stages (20, 30 and 40 days after transplanting - DAT). The treatment with 40 DAT presented total carotenoids concentration and soluble solids content significantly higher, lower pH, and darker lettuce, with lower values of the parameter b* (increase in yellow color), and higher values of the parameter a* (increase in red color), compared to the first two treatments. The titratable acidity was statistically equal for the three evaluation periods. Considering the high concentration of carotenoids found at 40 DAT, the harvest can take place at this age.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 551-557
Author(s):  
Gurjot Singh Pelia ◽  
◽  
A K Baswal ◽  

Prevalence of heavy soil is a major problem for fruit cultivation under Punjab conditions consequently leading to deficiency of several micro-nutrients including zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn) which adversely affects the growth and productivity. In this view, a study was planned to investigate the effect of foliar applications of zinc sulphate (ZnSO4), iron sulphate (FeSO4), and manganese sulphate (MnSO4) on vegetative growth, reproductive growth and fruit quality of papaya cv. Red lady. Plants sprayed with ZnSO4 (0.4 %) exhibited significantly highest plant height, plant girth, number of leaves, petiole length; initiated an earliest flowering and fruiting; and improved fruit quality viz., fruit weight, fruit length, titratable acidity, soluble solids concentrations, ascorbic acid content, total phenols content, and total carotenoids content as compared with the control and all other treatments. In conclusion, foliar application ZnSO4 (0.4 %) significantly improved plant growth and fruit quality in papaya cv. Red lady.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 1619-1623 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. S. Gurjar ◽  
A.K. Verma ◽  
Abhay Dikshit ◽  
D. K. Shukla

An experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of post harvest spray of different concentrations (100, 200, 400, 600 and 800 ppm) of ethrel (2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid) on ripening and colour development in ‘Dashehari’ mango fruits harvested in second week of June, 2015. The treated fruits were assessed for physico-chemical parameters such as physiological loss in weight (%), firmness (Kg/cm2), TSS (°Brix), titrable acidity (%), total carotenoids (mg/100g) and peel chlorophyll (mg/100g) and observations were recorded at 2 days interval during 8 days storage at ambient temperature. Changes in total soluble solids (8.5 to 23.23° Brix), total carotenoids (0.807 to 7.12 mg/100g) and PLW (14.58%) showed increasing trends up to 8 days during storage whereas fruit firmness (8.5 to 0.68 Kg/cm2), titrable acidity (1.26 to 0.08%) and total peel chlorophyll (5.2 to 0.14 mg/100g) showed decreasing trends. At the end of the storage period for 8 days, Ethrel spray at 600 ppm induced uniform ripening with attractive yellow colour within 4 days while untreated control fruits failed to ripen uniformly and remain light green even after 8 days of storage. Ripening advances by 4 days in fruits sprayed with 600 ppm ethrel com-pared to unsprayed control fruits.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-304
Author(s):  
Lucimeire Pilon ◽  
Jaqueline S Guedes ◽  
Bruna S Bitencourt ◽  
Raphael Augusto de C Melo ◽  
Larissa PC Vendrame ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) is a root crop grown in many countries. This tuberous root is a source of energy, nutrients, and phytochemicals. In this study, bioactive compounds and physical and physicochemical qualities of sweetpotato genotypes were evaluated. Eight new genotypes of sweetpotato produced by Embrapa Hortaliças (orange-fleshed: MD09026-OF and MD09024-OF; cream-fleshed: MD09011-CF, MD09004-CF, MD10039-CF, and MD10004-CF; yellow-fleshed: MD09017-YF and MD12002-YF) and two cultivars used as controls (Beauregard and Brazlândia Roxa) were evaluated for color, soluble solids, dry matter, phenolic compounds, total carotenoids and β-carotene. Hue angles differed even between those sweetpotatoes with the same flesh color. The orange-fleshed genotypes MD09024-OF, MD09026-OF, and Beauregard, had the lowest L*, showing to be darker than the others. These sweetpotatoes also had the brightest flesh colors with higher C*. The orange-fleshed genotypes MD09026-OF and MD09024-OF were sweeter (10.55oBrix and 9.23oBrix) than Beauregard (5.12oBrix). Brazlândia Roxa had the highest dry matter content (38.05%), followed by the genotypes MD10004-CF, MD09017-YF, MD09026-OF MD10039-CF, and MD09011-CF, which showed similarity, ranging from 32.33% to 29.12%. The highest contents of total carotenoids were found for the orange-fleshed genotypes MD09026-OF (80.06 mg g-1) and MD09024-OF (70.56 mg g-1) and Beauregard (73.12 mg g-1). These same genotypes showed the highest total phenolic compounds (0.815 mg g-1 and 0.686 mg g-1, respectively). MD09026-OF showed the highest content of β-carotene (46.47 mg g-1). MD09026-OF was the most prominent genotype among those evaluated, as it showed the highest total carotenoid, β-carotene, phenolic compounds, and soluble solids content, in addition to a high dry matter content.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 1934578X2092098 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hafiz Muhammad Khalid Abbas ◽  
He-Xun Huang ◽  
Wen-Jie Huang ◽  
Shu-Dan Xue ◽  
Shi-Juan Yan ◽  
...  

Cucurbita species ( Cucurbita moschata and Cucurbita maxima) are rich sources of nutrients, especially carotenoids and carbohydrates. Metabolites in pulps of C. moschata and C. maxima lines were examined by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Our results revealed that glucose and sucrose were the dominant sugars in C. maxima and C. moschata, respectively. A correlation was found between Brix percentage and sucrose levels as compared with glucose and fructose. A greater amount of myo-inositol had accumulated in C. moschata lines compared with C. maxima. Conversely, total carotenoids and antioxidant activity were found to be higher in C. maxima lines than in C. moschata. A strong correlation of glucose, fructose, and sucrose with β-carotene and violaxanthin revealed that it will be difficult to develop pumpkin cultivars with both high inositol and carotenoid levels. In conclusion, the composition of carbohydrates and carotenoids was more diverse in C. moschata lines than in C. maxima lines. Our results will contribute to a better understanding of metabolite changes in the fruits of these as well as other pumpkin species.


2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 659-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celso Luiz Moretti ◽  
Alessandra L. Araújo ◽  
Waldir Aparecido Marouelli ◽  
Washington Luiz C. Silva

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) fruits, cv. Santa Clara, were harvested at the breaker stage from commercial fields in Brazlândia, Brazil, to investigate the ability of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) to retard tomato fruit ripening. Fruit without external blemishes were graded for size (diameter = 80±5 mm) and mass (m = 130±10 g), placed inside hermetically sealed boxes, and 1-MCP was applied for 12 hours (T = 22±1°C; RH = 80-85%) at four different concentrations: 0 (control), 250, 500 and 1000 mL.L-1. Fruits were held at ambient conditions (T = 23±2°C; RH 80-85%) for 2 days and then stored inside a cold room (T = 20±1°C; RH = 85-95%). Every 3 days, during a 15-day period, fruits were analyzed for firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, external color, and total carotenoids. Firmness of fruit treated with 1000 mL.L-1 was about 88% higher than control fruits after 17 days. The a*/b* ratio, an indicator of skin color, for fruit treated with 1000 mL.L-1 of 1-MCP was 38% lower than control fruits at the end of the storage period. Treatments with higher concentrations of 1-MCP delayed total carotenoids synthesis and color development. Control fruits stored for 17 days had about 190% more total carotenoids than fruits treated with 1000 mL.L-1 of 1-MCP. Postharvest application of 1-MCP was an efficient method to delay tomato fruit ripening. As 1-MCP concentration increased, ripening was further delayed. Tomatoes treated with 250, 500, and 1000 mL.L-1 of 1-MCP were delayed by 8 to 11, 11 to 13 and 15 to 17 days, respectively.


2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giselda Alves ◽  
Jhulia Gelain ◽  
Gloria Soriano Vidal ◽  
Cristiano Nunes Nesi ◽  
Louise Larissa May De Mio ◽  
...  

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the flowering period and the physicochemical characteristics of peaches, aiming to find those most promising for the diversification of the peach crop in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba, Paraná State. We evaluated 8 selections and three cultivars in Porto Amazonas and 10 cultivars in Araucaria for flowering period, fruit set, diameter and height of fruit, average fruit weight, the skin color, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), ratio SS/ TA, hydrogen potential (pH). The flowering period occurred between late June and late September ranging from 16 to 25 days. The fruit set rate was greater than 50% for ‘Cascata 1513’, ‘Cascata 1429’, ‘Cascata 1577’, ‘Cascata 1743’ and for all cultivars in Araucaria. There were significant differences for the other variables assessed. It was concluded that in Araucária, ‘Charme’ and ‘Chimarrita’ are good planting options, have the same duration of the cycle (111 days), being ‘Charme’ a little later. Besides these, ‘Douradão’ and ‘Rubimel’ have good fruit size, moderate acidity and best SS/TA ratio, being earlier than the previous ones. ‘PS 25399’ is the earliest and showed reddish epidermis and great consumer interest. In Porto Amazonas, selections and cultivars tested produced little fruit of small size, being required more studies to be recommended in these area.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 234 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. C. O. Santos Jr ◽  
Vanessa Simão ◽  
Júlia Dos Santos Opuski de Almeida ◽  
Ana Carolina Moura de Sena Aquino ◽  
Eduardo Carasek ◽  
...  

Pumpkins have richness of nutrients and in puree form may contribute to their greater appreciation in the vegetable processing industry. However, studies are necessary for its processing, since it is part of the group of risk of microbial contamination (pH > 4.5). Thus, this work aimed to study the pumpkin puree processing by heat treatment in autoclave wherein the product was subjected to sterilization by autoclaving at 121 °C to check their microbial load and physicochemical characteristics and to identify the volatile compounds of headspace in stand up pouch packaging. The heat treatment in autoclave for 10, 20 and 30 minutes was effective in eliminating microbial load of the sample (< 1.0 × 101) and also induced the decrease of pH and increase of titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS) and total carotenoids. The compounds identified in the headspace after autoclaving were alcohols, aldehydes, alkenes, ketones, esters, ethers and terpenes, many of them aromatic compounds that characterize pumpkin and carotenoid degradation products and acids that justify physicochemical changes after processing.


2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-18
Author(s):  
Ishfaq Ahmed ◽  
Mati Ullah Khan ◽  
Ihsan Mabood Qazi ◽  
Shermat Ullah Ullah ◽  
Arsalan Khan ◽  
...  

The effect of various blends of banana (B) and mushroom (M) as well as storage time on theoverall quality characteristics of jam at ambient temperature were studied for three months of storageperiod. All the treatments were analysed for physicochemical properties (total soluble solids (°Brix), pH,reducing sugars (%), non-reducing sugars (%), ascorbic acid (mg/100 g) and percent acidity) and sensoryproperties (taste, colour, texture and overall acceptability). Significant (P < 0.05) increase were examinedin total soluble solids (67.94-69.78 °brix), percent acidity (0.71-0.87%) and reducing sugars (18.17-29.33%)during the storage period. While, significant (P < 0.05) reduction in pH (3.45 to 3.26), non reducing sugars(44.90-30.83%), ascorbic acid (7.81 to 5.52 mg/100 g), colour (7.34 to 4.84), taste (7.27 to 4.51), texture(7.06 to 4.60) and overall acceptability (7.17 to 4.69) were observed. Physicochemical and sensory analysesshowed that jam prepared from BM6 (400 g banana + 600 g mushroom + 1kg sugar + 2 g citric acid) wasof good quality attributes among the treatments.


Author(s):  
Malaka A. Saleh ◽  
Nagwa S. Zaied ◽  
M. A. Maksoud ◽  
Omaima M. Hafez

The present study was conducted during 2015 and 2016 seasons on Le Conte pear fruits harvested at mature stage, to investigate the application of (10% w/v) Arabic Gum (AG), Jojoba oil (JO) and Moringa oil (MO) at the rate (100 %) alone on physical and chemical properties. Fruits stored at 0 ± 1°C and 85-90 % relative humidity (RH) for 105 days. A fruit sample of each treatment was taken out at the end of cold storage period and left at room temperature (23 ± 2°C) and 47% (RH) up to 7 days was examined for quality Assessments. Fruit physical properties (weight loss, decay percentages and fruit firmness "Lb/inch2") and fruit chemical properties (total soluble solids percentage and total acidity percentage were evaluated. The results obtained that, all treatments including control succeeded in preventing fruit decay percentage up to 30 days in the two seasons. It is worth mentioning that, Le Conte pear fruits were coated with MO with stands free from deterioration up to 75 days of cold storage period. Beside, fruits coated MO progress in reducing the percentages of weight loss and decay throw cold storage periods for 105 day. The rate of softening increased in fruits with increasing the storage time in both fruits coated and uncoated, but it was significantly declined in uncoated treatments. Moreover, JO coating was more effective in firmness retention compared to the other treatments. Followed by pear fruits was coating with MO and AG in this respect. Furthermore, all coated fruits enhancement fruit quality during storage periods. Finally, it can be concluded that coating Le Conte fruits by Moringa oil recorded successfully reduction in fruit weight loss, decay percentages, improving fruit quality and extended storage fruit life as well as stimulate marketing period (shelf life), also safe on environmental and human health.


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