Effect of pre-harvest calcium silicate on post-harvest quality of tomatoes

The present work evaluated the influence of calcium silicate on the polygalacturonase enzyme activity, respiration, ethylene, and the physicochemical characteristics on the post-harvest quality of two tomato hybrids. The experimental design was of randomized blocks, with four repetitions in protected cultivation environment. The treatments were distributed in a 2 x 5 factorial scheme, corresponding to the hybrids (Ivety and Natalia) and five doses of calcium silicate (0, 150, 300, 450 and 600 kg ha-1), which were applied on the same day as the pots were filled. Evaluations were carried out on the fruits, namely: ethylene production, fruit respiration, firmness, number of loculus, polygalacturonase activity, total carotenoids, lycopene, phenolic compounds, soluble solids content, pH, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid content. The application of calcium silicate provided the reduction of ethylene production and fruit respiration. Natalia hybrid showed low polygalacturonase activity, this difference being due to genetic variabilityThe increase of calcium silicate doses provided the reduction of polygalacturonase enzyme concentration due to its constitution in the cell wall. The concentrations of lycopene, phenolic compounds, soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid in the fruits increased in response to the increasing doses of calcium silicate for 'Ivety'. Hybrids present distinct behaviors on the influence of the fertilization of tomatoes with calcium silicate, which can increase the post-harvest conservation and improve the physical-chemical characteristics of tomato fruits.

Gibberellic Acid Alters Sucrose, Hexoses, and Their Gradients in Peel Tissues During Color Break Delay in ‘Hamlin’ Orange

We investigated the effect of gibberellic acid (GA3) application before color break on peel color, fruit respiration, and soluble sugars in different tissues of ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb.] fruit to test the hypothesis that GA3 influence on peel color might be mediated by sugars. Fruit were sprayed with GA3 (45 g·ha−1 a.i.) in early October of 2 consecutive years. Peel color, whole-fruit respiration, and fructose, glucose, and sucrose levels were quantified in flavedo and albedo tissues when nontreated fruit were still green, at precolor break, color break, and when peels were fully yellow. Fruit treated with GA3 remained more green-colored than nontreated fruit, and differences between them were detectable by 12 or 21 days after treatment (Years 1 and 2, respectively). Fruit respiration rates were similar in both groups regardless of peel color. Effects of GA3 on color transition were evident only after significant differences emerged in flavedo glucose (both years) and fructose (second year) levels. Moreover, there was a linear, inverse relationship between green peel color and flavedo fructose (r 2 = 0.68, first year; 0.72, second year) and glucose levels (r 2 = 0.60, first year; 0.50, second year). In contrast, sucrose levels in the flavedo showed a less consistent relationship with peel color. The GA3 treatment maintained a descending sucrose gradient from the albedo to the flavedo that was typical of young, photosynthetically active fruit. This gradient dissipated during peel color change of nontreated fruit. These data support the hypothesis that soluble sugars could be contributing effectors of the GA3-mediated delay in chloroplast-to-chromoplast conversions by the orange flavedo.

Firmness, Respiration, and Weight Loss of `Bing', `Lapins' and `Sweetheart' Cherries in Relation to Fruit Maturity and Susceptibility to Surface Pitting

A convenient and reliable method that used a specially designed tool to apply a uniform bruising force in situ was developed to assess the relative susceptibility to fruit surface pitting in sweet cherry. Assessment of pitting with a visual scale after 2 weeks of 1 °C storage was found to be in close agreement with measurements of pit diameter. Using this method `Bing' showed the greatest susceptibility to pitting in both years of the study and `Bing', `Lapins', and `Sweetheart' cherries showed a decline in susceptibility as fruit matured. The predictive value of fruit firmness at harvest, fruit respiration at harvest, and weight loss in storage was assessed in relation to the severity of pitting. The model to best describe pitting was found to include all three physiological variables (firmness, respiration, and weight loss). While an acceptable model was obtained when combining all three cultivars, the best models were achieved when each cultivar was considered separately. It was concluded that there are likely unmeasured variables involved in determining susceptibility to pitting. Hence the best approach to predicting pitting susceptibility is the application of the pit-induction method described in this work.

Responses of `Bing' and `Rainier' Sweet Cherries to Ethylene and 1-Methylcyclopropene

`Bing' and `Rainier' sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) fruit treated with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) were stored at 20 °C in air or 35 μL·L-1 ethylene. Ethylene production by both `Bing' and `Rainier' fruit stored in air was transiently stimulated following 1-MCP treatments, however, there were no significant effects of 1-MCP on respiration rate. Exogenous ethylene stimulated respiration regardless of prior treatment with 1-MCP. Although 1-MCP treatment reduced the increase in `Bing' respiration induced by ethylene, the reduction was less than reported previously for climacteric fruit. These results suggest that stimulation of sweet cherry fruit respiration by ethylene occurs via a process that may be independent of receptors to which 1-MCP binds. Postharvest changes in fruit color and development of stem browning were not altered by 1-MCP treatment, and exogenous ethylene accelerated the development of stem browning regardless of prior treatment with 1-MCP.

Candelilla-shellac: An Alternative Formulation for Coating Apples

An experimental candelilla-shellac formulation for coating apples (Malus ×domestica Borkh.) was developed and compared with commercial shellac-based and carnauba-shellac-based coatings on `Gala' and `Delicious' apples by determining effects on quality attributes, respiration, and internal atmospheres. Fruit were stored at 5 °C for 7 days followed by storage at 21 °C for 14 days. Gloss of `Delicious' apples coated with candelilla-shellac formulations containing 7% to 34% shellac increased with increasing shellac concentrations. `Gala' and `Delicious' apples coated with a candelilla formulation containing 34% shellac maintained quality similar to those coated with commercial carnauba-shellac-based coatings, as indicated by gloss, firmness, internal CO2, O2 and ethanol levels, steady-state respiration rate, weight loss, and flavor. By comparison, shellac-coated fruit maintained the highest gloss throughout the experimental period. Shellac-coated apples were also firmer, contained more ethanol, and received higher flavor scores than did apples receiving other coating treatments. Gloss of all coated fruit decreased with time, although shellac-coated fruit lost less gloss over the 21-day storage period. Analysis of gloss, firmness, fruit respiration, ethanol, weight loss, and flavor demonstrate that the candelilla formulation containing 34% shellac is competitive with current commercial carnauba-based apple-coating products.