scholarly journals Identifying Marketable Attributes of Fresh-market Blackberries through Consumer Sensory Evaluations

HortScience ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-35
Author(s):  
Renee T. Threlfall ◽  
John R. Clark ◽  
Aubrey N. Dunteman ◽  
Margaret L. Worthington

Breeding and release of new fresh-market blackberries (Rubus subgenus Rubus Watson) is vital for competitive markets to address evolving changes and production challenges. Physical, composition, and sensory attributes of six University of Arkansas (UA) System Division of Agriculture blackberry cultivars (Caddo, Natchez, Osage, Ouachita, Ponca, and Prime-Ark® Traveler) were evaluated to identify marketable attributes. The consumer sensory study (n = 81) had two elements: a visual evaluation of displayed blackberries and an appearance, tasting, and firmness evaluation of the six cultivars using a 9-point verbal hedonic liking scale and a 5-point just about right (JAR) scale. Consumers preferred large blackberries when presented with individual berries of varying sizes and clamshells filled with equal weights of small or large blackberries. The largest of the six cultivars, Natchez and Caddo, were scored favorably for size and shape. Consumers also preferred clamshells with little to no red drupelet reversion, a postharvest disorder where black drupelets on the blackberry turn red during or after cold storage. Consumers did not detect differences in the appearance or firmness of the cultivars and rated the firmness of all cultivars favorably on the JAR scale. The physical and composition attributes of the six cultivars were within commercially acceptable ranges (soluble solids = 9% to 10%, pH = 3.1–3.8, titratable acidity = 0.6% to 1.4%, and berry weight = 6–10 g). ‘Ponca’, ‘Osage’, ‘Caddo’, and ‘Natchez’ were all rated highly for sweetness, sourness, overall flavor, and overall impression. ‘Ponca’ was rated high for sweetness, overall flavor, and overall impression and had 10.4% soluble solids, 0.82% titratable acidity, and a 12.8 soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio. The identification of these marketability attributes of fresh-market blackberries will provide information to advance breeding efforts for fruit with commercial potential.

HortScience ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela M. Segantini ◽  
Renee T. Threlfall ◽  
John R. Clark ◽  
Luke R. Howard ◽  
Cindi R. Brownmiller

Fresh-market blackberries (Rubus subgenus Rubus Watson) have a growing global market, with continued release of cultivars to meet demand for consumer-quality fruit. The release of primocane-fruiting blackberry plants that produce crops on both floricanes and primocanes has expanded blackberry production. This study investigated the physiochemical attributes of fresh-market blackberries harvested from two cane types (floricane and primocane) from four primocane genotypes (APF-238, APF-268, ‘Prime-Ark® 45’, and ‘Prime-Ark® Traveler’) grown at the University of Arkansas Fruit Research Station, Clarksville in 2015 and 2016. Year-to-year differences were evident as blackberries harvested in 2016 were smaller (6 g) and less acidic (0.7% titratable acidity) than berries harvested in 2015 (8 g berries with 0.9% titratable acidity); however, soluble solids in each year were similar (≈10.2%). Differences in genotypes were also a factor. ‘Prime-Ark® Traveler’ (2015) and APF-268 (2016) had the highest berry firmness (7.8–8.3 N). In both years, APF-238 had the lowest firmness (5.7–6.0 N), highest isocitric acid (0.8–1.1 g/100 g), and highest total anthocyanins (239–353 mg/100 g). Floricane fruit harvested from ‘Prime-Ark® Traveler’ had the highest berry weights (8.3–10.4 g) in both years. Blackberries harvested from primocanes were wider (21.3–22.9 mm), had higher soluble solids (11.6% to 12.6%), and had lower titratable acidity (0.6%) when compared with floricane fruit in both years. Major year-to-year differences were found for several variables in this study, indicating that environmental effects can be substantial and growers should be aware of this influence on berries harvested from the different cane types. Evaluation of quality properties of floricane and primocane fruit of primocane plants in other locations would be valuable, particularly from areas where commercial blackberry production is established.


HortScience ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (11) ◽  
pp. 1570-1578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly Felts ◽  
Renee T. Threlfall ◽  
John R. Clark ◽  
Margaret L. Worthington

Understanding how consumer perception is related to physiochemical attributes assists in the identification of harvest and marketability parameters for muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia Michx.). Three muscadine cultivars (Ison, Nesbitt, and Summit) and three advanced breeding selections (AM-9, AM-74, and AM-83) were harvested from vines at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Fruit Research Station in Clarksville, AR. The physiochemical (physical and composition) and sensory attributes (descriptive) of the genotypes were evaluated at harvest. Significant differences between genotypes were observed for berry weight (9.25–14.38 g), soluble solids (12.73% to 15.40%), pH (2.88–3.33), titratable acidity (0.54% to 1.01%), soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio (13.12–28.49), skin firmness [0.85–1.48 Newtons/millimeters (N·mm−1)], and flesh firmness (0.89–2.14 N). Total sugars (6.17–9.75 g/100 g) and total organic acid (0.50–0.84 g/100 g) levels were not significantly different for these genotypes. A trained descriptive sensory panel (n = 8) evaluated the fruit attributes for aroma (n = 9), external appearance (n = 7), internal appearance (n = 3), basic tastes (n = 3), aromatics (n = 10), feeling factors (n = 2), and texture (n = 7). The descriptive sensory panel detected differences among genotypes for external appearance, internal appearance, and basic taste attributes, more specifically with desirable attributes rather than unfavorable. However, the panelists found no differences among genotypes for texture attributes. Of the physiochemical attributes, total sugars had the most significant correlations with the descriptive sensory attributes, followed by soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio. Total sugars were correlated to 12 attributes (three aromas, two exterior appearances, two basic tastes, four aromatics, and one feeling factor) and soluble solids/titratable acidity was correlated to five attributes (one aroma, one basic taste, two aromatics, and one feeling factor). A lexicon of terms for descriptive sensory attributes for fresh-market muscadine grapes was established. This lexicon can be used for other research and breeding efforts, as well as establishing the relationship between the physiochemical and descriptive sensory attributes.


HortScience ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (11) ◽  
pp. 1351-1362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renee T. Threlfall ◽  
Olivia S. Hines ◽  
John R. Clark ◽  
Luke R. Howard ◽  
Cindi R. Brownmiller ◽  
...  

Blackberries (Rubus subgenus Rubus Watson) are grown worldwide for commercial fresh markets. Physiochemical and sensory attributes were evaluated on fresh fruit of five blackberry cultivars (Natchez, Osage, Ouachita, Prime-Ark® 45, and Prime-Ark® Traveler) and six advanced breeding selections from the University of Arkansas Fruit Breeding Program. The physiochemical attributes of blackberries were within a commercially acceptable range (soluble solids = 8% to 11%, pH = 3.0–3.6, titratable acidity = 0.7% to 1.4%, berry weight = 6 to 14 g, drupelets/berry = 50 to 150, and pyrenes/berry = 51 to 115). ‘Natchez’ had the highest berry weight, berry length, drupelets/berry, and pyrenes/berry, whereas A-2453 was the lowest for these attributes. The highest nutraceutical levels were found in ‘Osage’ (total flavonols and total anthocyanins), A-2434 (total ellagitannins) and A-2453 (total phenolics). A trained descriptive sensory panel (n = 9) evaluated fresh blackberry attributes for appearance, basic tastes, feeling factors, aromatics, and texture using a 15-point scale (0 = less of the attribute; 15 = more of the attribute in terms of intensity). The descriptive panel identified ‘Natchez’ as having the largest descriptive size of berry with the highest overall aromatics and A-2453 as the smallest, glossiest, and firmest. Although A-2491 had the highest soluble solids, the descriptive panelists could not differentiate sweetness among the genotypes, but found A-2491 the least sour. A consumer sensory panel (n = 74) evaluated appearance, flavor, and texture attributes of blackberries on a 9-point verbal hedonic liking scale (1 = extremely dislike; 9 = like extremely) and 5-point just about right (JAR) scale (1 = not nearly enough; 3 = JAR; 5 = much too much). In terms of overall impression and overall flavor, A-2491 and ‘Prime-Ark® Traveler’ had the highest liking; average attributes for these blackberries were a berry weight of 9.1 g, soluble solids of 10.0%, titratable acidity of 0.95%, and a soluble solids/titratable acid ratio of 11.9. ‘Prime-Ark® Traveler’ also had the highest liking for appearance and berry size. A-2453, the glossiest berry, had the highest liking for berry color. Consumer panelists liked the firmness of the blackberries including those that were very firm, such as A-2453, but did not indicate differences in liking among genotypes. Consumers found the size of ‘Ouachita’, ‘Prime-Ark® Traveler’, and ‘Prime-Ark® 45’ (berry weight ≈8.3 g) JAR, but ‘Natchez’ (14.3 g) too large. Consumers found the sweetness and sourness of A-2491 JAR. Consumer overall impression and flavor of blackberries were positively correlated to consumer liking of berry shape and color and negatively correlated to the descriptive attributes for sourness, bitterness, green/unripe aromatic, and amount of seeds. Consumer liking of appearance was positively correlated with consumer liking of berry size, shape, color, and descriptive uniformity of color and glossiness. To produce a commercially marketed fresh-market blackberry, there are many characteristics that are important, but our data for these genotypes suggest that a desired blackberry should have a berry weight of 8–10 g, soluble solids of 9% to 11%, titratable acidity of 0.9% to 1%, and a soluble solids/titratable acid ratio of 10 to 13. However, optimum sugar and acidity levels require more investigation including other factors in flavor and aromatics. Evaluating the physiochemical and sensory attributes of fresh fruit is an important tool that can be used to determine commercial potential for selections and cultivars.


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramadan A. Hassanein ◽  
Ehab A. Salem ◽  
Ahmed A. Zahran

AbstractThis study was performed to explore the efficacy of combining more than one postharvest treatment in maintaining some quality attributes and reducing fungal pathogenicity in cold-stored guava fruits. The investigated postharvest treatments included the control, CaCl2(4%), lemongrass oil (2 dm3kg−1), gamma (γ) irradiation (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 kGy), 0.4 kGy γ irradiation + CaCl2(4%), and 0.4 kGy γ irradiation + lemongrass oil (2 dm3kg−1). The studied physiochemical attributes included weight loss, decay percentage, fruit firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), and vitamin C content. Different fungal species were also isolated from decayed fruits and were identified asAlternaria alternata,Alternaria solani,Aspergillus niger,Botrytis cinerea,Fusarium solaniandRhizopus stolonifer. The severity of infection for the different fungi was determined, and anin vitroantifungal assay was conducted for lemongrass oil. All the investigated treatments generally reduced decay and water loss percentages, and controlled TSS, TA and vitamin C decrements that occurred during cold storage. On the other hand, higher irradiation doses generally increased fruit softness, and the 0.4 kGy γ dose did not contribute to the overall fruit quality when coupled with CaCl2and lemongrass oil, compared to CaCl2and lemongrass oil treatments alone.


2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 629-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOÃO ALISON ALVES OLIVEIRA ◽  
LUIZ CARLOS CHAMHUM SALOMÃO ◽  
DALMO LOPES DE SIQUEIRA ◽  
PAULO ROBERTO CECON

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to evaluate the tolerance of fruits of different banana cultivars to low temperature storages. Fruits of the cultivars Nanicão (AAA), Prata (AAB), Vitória (AAAB), Maçã (AAB) and Caipira (AAA) were used. Clusters of three fruits were kept in cold storage for 7, 14 and 21 days, with average temperature of 10.53±0.37°C and relative humidity of 85%. Subsequently, the clusters were transferred to temperatures of 22±0.39°C and evaluated for 16 days. The fruits of all cultivars remained green after 21 days of storage at 10.53±0.37°C. Fruits of the cultivar Nanicão did not completely ripened after transferred to the 22°C storage, when stored for 7 days at low temperature. These fruits were firmer, with green peel and low soluble solids and titratable acidity. The fruits of all cultivars complete the ripening when transferred to room temperature after 21 days of cold storage. Chilling injuries increased with cold storage time in all cultivars. The cultivars Nanicão, Caipira and Maçã had more symptoms of chilling injury, while Prata and Vitória were more tolerant to the cold storage (10.53°C) for up to 21 days, showing normal ripening after transferred to the 22±0.39°C storage.


2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 481-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Altisent ◽  
G. Echeverría ◽  
I. Lara ◽  
M.L. López ◽  
J. Graell

The aim of this work was to estimate shelf-life potential and understand quality characteristics of ‘Golden Reinders’ apples during ripening after storage under ultra low oxygen (ULO) atmosphere. Fruits, corresponding to two different maturity stages (147 and 155 dafb), were kept at 1 °C in ULO atmosphere (1 kPa O2: 1 kPa CO2) for seven months and subsequently kept at 1 °C in regular air for up to 28 days. Sub-batches were removed weekly and transferred to 20 °C, so that the shelf-life periods at room temperature were 28, 21, 14, 7, and 0 days. Fruit from both maturity stages showed firmness and soluble solids content (SSC) values above the minimum commercial requirements for this variety throughout the post-storage ripening period. However, only earlier harvested fruit maintained high levels of titratable acidity (TA). Production of aroma volatile compounds was low for shorter ripening periods, though it increased progressively as ripeness advanced. Principal component analysis showed the variables that positively influenced acceptability were: octyl acetate, hexyl octanoate, butyl propanoate, propyl pentanoate, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one as aroma volatile compounds; SSC, TA, firmness, and epidermis colour (Hue) as physicochemical parameters; and sourness and sensory firmness as sensory attributes. From a general overview, the optimum shelf-life period for ‘Golden Reinders’ apples would be between 7 and 14 days for both maturity stages.


Horticulturae ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 245
Author(s):  
Yixin Cai ◽  
Fumiomi Takeda ◽  
Brian Foote ◽  
Lisa Wasko DeVetter

Machine harvesting blueberry (Vaccinium sp.) alleviates labor costs and shortages but can reduce fruit quality. Installation of softer catching surfaces inside modified over-the-row harvesters (modified OTR) and adjusting harvest intervals may improve fruit quality and packout. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of harvest interval on fruit quality of fresh market northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) harvested using a modified OTR. ‘Liberty’ blueberry bushes were harvested by hand or using a modified OTR at 3-, 10-, and 14-day intervals in 2019 and at 7-, 11-, and 14-day intervals in 2020. Hand-harvested ‘Liberty’ had greater packout and firmness than machine-harvested fruit. Machine harvesting at the 3-day interval in 2019, and the 14-day interval in 2020 reduced packout from 70–80% to 60% and 54%, respectively. In 2019, machine harvesting at a 3-day interval overall resulted in fruit with greater firmness, higher titratable acidity (TA), and lower total soluble solids (TSS) and SS/TA, compared to other harvest intervals. In 2020, the 7-day machine-harvest interval had a greater TA and lower TSS/TA, compared to the 11- and 14-day intervals. Overall, modified OTR machine-harvest intervals can be extended to 10–11 days for fresh market northern highbush cultivars such as ‘Liberty’ grown in northwest Washington.


2021 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-114
Author(s):  
IF Bolarinwa ◽  
TE Aruna ◽  
RI Ajetunmobi ◽  
JA Adejuyitan ◽  
OW Alawode

Effects of enriching soymilk with pawpaw puree at different ratios (10 – 40%) were evaluated for physicochemical properties, vitamin A and C, mineral contents, and sensory attributes. The results showed increase in total soluble solids (5.5 – 8.5 oBrix), total titratable acidity (0.53 – 0.87 g/kg) and viscosity (19.9 – 26.7 cp), but decreased in pH (7.4 – 6.8). Vitamin A and C contents of the soy-pawpaw beverage increased from 12.4– 20.4 μg/100 ml and 10.9 – 25.8 mg/100 ml, respectively. All the macromineral contents of the enriched soymilk beverages increased significantly except for sodium.Enrichment of soymilk with pawpaw puree improved the sensory attributes of the drink in terms of flavour, taste, mouthfeel and overall acceptance, especially at high supplementation level (40%). Soymilk with pawpaw puree resulted in products with better vitamin A and C and macro-mineral contents than plain soymilk drink, thus, the soy-pawpaw beverage will complement consumers micro and macro-nutrient intake. Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res.56(2), 105-114, 2021


HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 566c-566
Author(s):  
Fernando Lalaguna

The banning of ethylene dibromide put an end to the exportation of Venezuelan melon to the northamerican market and made it a need testing alternative treatments. Melons were purchased from a grower/exporter and alloted in groups of 24 to the following treatments: control, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 KGy, and dip in water at 53C for 1 min. alone and plus 0.5 KGy, then they were stored at about 23C and 70% RH during 2 to 3 weeks in two experiments in one season. All the treatments resulted in comparable ratings for sensory attributes and figures for soluble solids, titratable acidity and ascorbic/dehydroascorbic acid; the melons dipped in hot water showed the lowest decay. With the possible exception of the 1 KGy melons, the treated melons had attributes and lasted as least like the control ones, which indicates that the Galia cv. of melon grown in Venezuela tolerates irradiation with doses useful in quarantine and technological terms.


HortScience ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 1637-1640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Sigal Escalada ◽  
Douglas D. Archbold

The impact of heat plus aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) treatments alone or in combination on ripening of four apple cultivars has been studied. A solution of AVG was applied to ‘Lodi’, ‘Senshu’, ‘Redchief Delicious’, and ‘Red Fuji’ apple trees ≈4 weeks before normal harvest at 124 g·ha−1 a.i. After harvest, half of each group of control and AVG-treated fruit was heated at 38 °C for 4 days and then stored at 4 °C for 30 days. After cold storage, AVG and heat individually suppressed ethylene production of ‘Senshu’ and ‘Redchief Delicious’ but not of ‘Lodi’ or ‘Red Fuji’. The combination of AVG with heat treatment reduced ethylene production the most consistently in each cultivar except ‘Lodi’, suggesting some additive effect of the treatments. The respiration rate after cold storage was not consistently affected by any treatment. AVG alone and with heat maintained firmness of ‘Lodi’, AVG plus heat maintained it in ‘Senshu’, but neither ‘Redchief Delicious’ nor ‘Red Fuji’ firmness responded to the treatments. AVG-treated ‘Lodi’ and ’Redchief Delicious’ fruit, heated fruit of all cultivars, and AVG plus heat in all had lower titratable acidity than controls after cold storage. Although there were no effects of any treatment on fruit soluble solids concentration, the combined treatment increased the soluble solids:titratable acidity ratio of all cultivars, although heat or AVG alone had no consistent effects. Total ester production by ‘Redchief Delicious’ peel tissue after cold storage was reduced 44% by AVG and 70% or more by heat and AVG plus heat. There were no differences in peel alcohol acyltransferase activity among the treatments, supporting the hypothesis that substrate availability was the limiting factor for ester synthesis in treated fruit. Overall, heat plus AVG treatment did not provide any advantage over each alone for maintaining apple fruit quality during short-term cold storage.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document