Thesis (MSc. Agriculture (Horticulture)) -- University of Limpopo, 2018 / Newly developed mandarin selection ―M37‖ has the potential to become a future export soft citrus cultivar. However, the selection is highly susceptible to chilling injury, which normally reduces post-storage quality and marketability of citrus fruit. Silicon (Si), applied at post-harvest as potassium silicate (K2SiO3), has potential to mitigate against chilling injury. So far, the effect of Si on ―M37‖ mandarin chilling susceptibility is unknown. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the effect of cold storage temperature and postharvest potassium silicate dips on the chilling susceptibility and physico-chemical properties of new mandarin selection ―M37‖ fruit. The experiment was carried out in a factorial, arranged in a completely randomised design (CRD) with three replicates. Treatment factors were: 2 x cold storage temperature (-0.6±1 and 4.5 ±1°C) and 4 x potassium silicate concentration (0, 50, 100 and 150 mL L-1 K2SiO3). Fruit were dipped in different potassium silicate solutions (0, 50, 100 and 150 mL L-1) for 30 minutes, air dried, waxed; and thereafter, stored for 28 days at -0.6 and 4.5°C with 85-90% relative humidity. After withdrawal from cold storage, fruit were held at ambient temperature (±23°C) for 7 days (shelf-life); during shelf-life fruit were evaluated for chilling injury, physical properties (weight loss and firmness loss) and biochemical properties (electrolyte leakage, total soluble acids (TSS), titratable acids (TA) and TSS: TA ratio). The results showed that fruit were highly susceptible to chilling injury after storage at 0.6°C when compared with 4.5°C. However, treating fruit with postharvest potassium silicate dips improved their chilling susceptibility, especially with 50 and 100 mL L-1 K2SiO3 concentrations. Electrolyte leakage was lower for fruit treated with K2SiO3 compared to the control across all the storage temperatures. Although, ―M37‖ fruit stored at 4.5°C showed higher weight loss, firmness loss, TSS and TSS: TA ratio when compared with -0.6°C storage. Fruit firmness increased with the increase in potassium silicate concentrations during storage at -0.6 and 4.5°C; with the highest firmness loss occurring on fruit treated with 150 mL L-1 than control. Similarly, TSS increased concomitant with K2SiO3 concentration. Although, TA decreased with increasing K2SiO3 concentrations for fruit stored at 4.5°C; resulting in higher TSS: TA ratio. In conclusion, postharvest silicon dips effectively improved the storability of ―M37‖ mandarin fruit, preserved quality and extended the cold storage period. xi Keywords: Biochemical properties; Chilling injury; Firmness loss; Potassium silicate dips; Weight loss / Agricultural Research Council (ARC-LNR) and National Research Fund (NRF)

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-12T19:18:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AntonioPA_TESE.pdf: 918658 bytes, checksum: 9c959da9dd2ca96cdbef761425fa7d1c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-28 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Two experiments were conducted from July to November 2008, and from September 2009 to January 2010 at WG FRUTICULTURA Farm in Barauna, State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The aim was to evaluate yield, quality and microclimatic effects in the processing tomato cultivation with different mulching. The experimental design was complete randomized blocks with four replications. The treatments were arranged in split plots, and they were represented by the type of mulching: non-covered (control), black polyethylene film, silver polyethylene film (double-sided black and silver), white polyethylene film, and black polypropylene (non-woven textile NWT). The subplots were represented by the type of hybrid tomato: SM-16 and Mariana, both with dual purpose, fresh and industrial consumption. The attributes evaluated were: number of marketable fruits per plant (NMF), number of unmarketable fruits per plant (NUF), total number of fruits per plant (TNF), commercial yield (CY), unmarketable fruits yield (UFY), total fruits yield (TFY) and mean weight of marketable fruits (MWMF). The hybrid SM-16 presented higher marketable fruits yield; the black and silver polyethylene provided the lowest marketable fruits yield; the tomato grown with white polyethylene provided greater profitability. The attributes evaluated were soluble solids and total soluble sugars, titratable acidity, vitamin C, pulp firmness and soluble solids/titratable acidity. The types of mulching did not affect the percentage of soluble solids, total soluble sugars and total soluble sugars/titratable acidity; the black polypropylene provided the highest levels of vitamin C and titratable acidity; the non-covered soil and black polyethylene film presented the lowest levels of vitamin C and titratable acidity, respectively; the hybrid SM-16 presented firmer fruits than the hybrid Mariana. To evaluate the effect of microclimate of each type of mulching, four micrometeorological towers were distributed in the useful area on the various treatments from August 28th to November 13th 2008. The attributes evaluated were: global solar radiation, net radiation, soil heat flux at 2.0 cm depth, and soil temperatures at 2.0 cm depth and air ones at 50 cm from the surface (°C). In the second experiment, from September 1st 2009 to January 11th 2010, because of the availability of tools, the air and soil temperatures monitoring was only possible under the same conditions of the first experiment. The white polyethylene and non-woven textile presented the highest and lowest intensity of reflected radiation (6.86 MJ m-2 and 5.93 MJ m-2), respectively; the non-covered soil and NWT presented the largest variations of the soil heat flux; polyethylene films provided the largest daily variation of the soil temperature than NWT and non-covered soil / Dois experimentos foram conduzidos nos períodos de julho a novembro de 2008, e de setembro de 2009 a janeiro de 2010, na Fazenda WG FRUTICULTURA, localizada em Baraúna, RN, com o objetivo de avaliar a Produção, qualidade e efeitos microclimáticos no cultivo de tomate industrial em diferentes coberturas do solo no município de Baraúna, RN. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o de blocos casualizados completos, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram dispostos em parcelas subdivididas, sendo estas representadas pelos tipos de cobertura de solo: sem cobertura (testemunha), e coberturas com filmes de polietileno preto, prateado (dupla face preto e prateado), branco e o polipropileno preto (agrotêxtil preto, TNT), e as sub-parcelas pelos híbridos de tomate: SM-16 e Mariana, ambos com dupla aptidão (consumo in natura e industrial). As características avaliadas foram: número de frutos comerciais por planta (NFC), número de frutos não comerciais por planta (NFNC), número de frutos total por planta (NFT), produtividade comercial (PC), produtividade de frutos não comerciais (PNC), produtividade de frutos total (PTOT) e massa média de frutos comerciais (MMFC). O 'SM-16' apresentou maior produtividade de frutos comercias; os polietilenos preto e prateado proporcionaram as menores produtividades de frutos comerciais; o tomateiro cultivado no polietileno branco proporcionou maior retorno financeiro. As características de qualidade avaliadas foram os conteúdos sólidos solúveis e açúcares solúveis totais, acidez titulável, vitamina C, firmeza da polpa e SS/AT. Os tipos de cobertura não afetaram a percentagem de sólidos solúveis, açúcares solúveis totais e AS/AT; o agrotêxtil preto proporcionou os maiores teores de vitamina C e de acidez titulável, e o solo sem cobertura e o polietileno preto, apresentaram, respectivamente, os menores teores de vitamina C e de acidez titulável nos frutos de tomate; o híbrido SM-16 apresentou frutos mais firmes do que o Mariana. Para avaliar os efeitos no microclima de cada cobertura do solo, foram instaladas quatro torres micrometeorológicas, distribuídas na área útil do experimento nos diferentes tratamentos no período de 10/08/2008 a 13/11/2008.. As características avaliadas foram: radiação solar global, saldo de radiação, fluxo de calor no solo a 2,0 cm de profundidade, além das temperaturas do solo a 2,0 cm de profundidade e do ar a 50cm da superfície (oC). No segundo experimento, 01/09/2009 a 11/01/2010, em função da disponibilidade de instrumentos só foi possível realizar monitoramento da temperatura do ar e do solo nas mesmas condições do primeiro experimento. O tratamento polietileno branco e TNT apresentaram a maior e menor intensidade de radiações refletidas (6,86 MJ m-2 e 5,93 MJ m-2), respectivamente; o solo descoberto e TNT apresentaram maiores oscilações no fluxo de calor do solo; os filmes de polietileno proporcionaram maior variação diária da temperatura do solo que o TNT e solo descoberto

Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Being the harvest time of apples concentrated in a short period, fruit storage is needed for market regulation. New storage technologies are being developed, such as dynamic controlled atmosphere with respiratory quotient (DCA-RQ), that needs to be evaluated under different temperatures and with the application of growth regulators such as aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). This thesis is composed of four papers, which resulted from studies with the following objectives: to evaluate volatile compounds concentration in ‘Galaxy’ and ‘Royal Gala’ apples stored under DCA-RQ, DCA with chlorophyll fluorescence (DCA-CF), controlled atmosphere (CA) with and without 0,625 μL L-1 of 1-MCP application; to evaluate if DCA-RQ and DCA-CF allow employing higher temperatures during apple storage; to evaluate the effect of the application of AVG (0.83 kg ha-1) in combination with NAA (40g ha-1), as well as the effects of 1-MCP in the production of volatile compounds and physical-chemical quality of apples stored under DCA monitored with chlorophyll fluorescence and respiratory quotient; identify if the stress by low O2 partial pressure during RQ measurement has an effect on apple quality conservation. ‘Galaxy’ and ‘Royal Gala’ apples were stored for 9 months plus 7 days at 20 °C. It is worth noting that ‘Galaxy’ apples stored under DCA-RQ1.5 maintained better quality when compared to CA, ultralow oxygen (ULO – 0.4kPa) and DCA-CF, also increasing the production of esters responsible for the aroma. Besides, 1-MCP reduced volatile compounds concentration, even in apples stored under DCA-RQ1.5. Likewise, DCA-CF had a similar effect to ULO with 0.4 kPa of O2. The DCA-RQ1.3 and DCA-CF allowed storing ‘Galaxy’ apples under temperatures higher (2.0 and 2.5 °C) than recommended (1.5 °C). In addition, 1-MCP application did not have additional effects when fruit were stored under DCA and higher temperatures. Higher temperatures (2.0 and 2.5 °C) could be used without reducing the production of important volatile compounds. In DCA-RQ, the stress by low O2 employed during RQ measurement has presented a beneficial effects, with fruit maintaining higher flesh firmness, lower mealiness and decay incidence compared to fruit without RQ calculation. ‘Royal Gala’ apples stored under DCA-RQ1.3 and DCA-CF, submitted to the application of AVG and NAA during prehavest did show an increase in the concentration of volatile compounds. However, the combination of AVG plus NAA and the storage under DCA-RQ1.3 or DCA-CF presents an excellent alternative for storing apples, because maintains higher flesh firmness, reduce physiological disorders and maintain higher percentage of healthy fruit. / Devido à colheita de maçãs ser concentrada em curto período, faz-se necessário o armazenamento de uma grande parte dos frutos para regulação do mercado. Existem tecnologias de armazenamento em desenvolvimento, como a atmosfera controlada dinâmica com quociente respiratório (ACD-QR), a qual precisa ser avaliada em diferentes temperaturas e em frutos com aplicação de fitorreguladores como o 1-metilciclopropeno (1-MCP), a aminoetoxivinilglicina (AVG) e o ácido naftaleno acético (ANA). Esta tese é composta por quatro artigos científicos que resultaram de trabalhos com os seguintes objetivos: Avaliar a produção de compostos voláteis em maçãs ‘Galaxy’ e ‘Royal Gala’ armazenadas em ACD-QR, atmosfera controlada dinâmica com fluorescência de clorofilas (ACD-FC), atmosfera controlada (AC) convencional e com aplicação de 1-MCP; avaliar se a ACD-QR e a ACD-FC permitem utilizar temperaturas mais elevadas para o armazenamento das maçãs; avaliar o efeito da aplicação da AVG (0,83 kg ha-1) em combinação com o ANA (40g ha-1), bem como o efeito do 1-MCP na produção de compostos voláteis e qualidade físico-química dos frutos armazenados em ACD monitorada com fluorescência de clorofilas e com quociente respiratório; identificar se o estresse por baixa pressão parcial de O2 durante o período de cálculo do quociente respiratório possui efeito na conservação da qualidade de maçãs. Foram utilizadas maçãs ‘Galaxy’ e ‘Royal Gala’, armazenadas por nove meses mais sete dias de exposição à temperatura de 20 °C. Pode-se destacar que a maçã ‘Galaxy’ quando armazenada em ACD com QR 1,5 (ACD-QR1,5) manteve melhor qualidade, do que o armazenamento em AC convencional com pressões parciais de O2 ultrabaixas (ULO – 0,4 kPa CO2) e em ACD-FC, além de aumentar a produção de ésteres responsáveis pela formação do aroma. Além disso, a aplicação de 0,625 μL L-1 de 1-MCP reduziu a concentração de compostos voláteis, mesmo em frutos armazenados em ACD-QR1,5. A ACD-FC teve efeito similar ao armazenamento em ULO com 0,4 kPa de O2. A ACD-QR1,3 e a ACD-FC permitiram armazenar a maçã ‘Galaxy’ em temperatura mais elevada (2,0 e 2,5 °C) do que a normalmente recomendada (1,5 °C). Além disso, a aplicação de 1-MCP não teve efeito adicional em maçãs armazenadas com temperatura mais elevada quando em ACD. A alta temperatura (2,0 e 2,5 °C) pôde ser usada em ACD-QR1,3 sem perda na produção de compostos voláteis importantes. No armazenamento em ACD-QR, o estresse causado pelas baixas pressões parciais de O2 a que os frutos são submetidos durante o período de cálculo do QR (13 h), que pode atingir 0,0 kPa, possuiu efeito benéfico, pois manteve firmeza da polpa mais elevada, menor incidência de polpa farinácea e podridões, comparado aos frutos que não sofreram esse estresse por baixo O2. O armazenamento de maçãs ‘Royal Gala’ em ACD-QR1,3 e ACD-FC tratadas em pré-colheita com AVG e ANA não aumentaram a concentração de compostos voláteis. Entretanto, a aplicação associada de AVG e ANA e o armazenamento em ACD-QR1,3 ou ACD-FC foram excelentes alternativas para a conservação dos frutos, pois mantiveram a firmeza da polpa, reduziram os distúrbios fisiológicos, proporcionando maior volume de frutos sadios.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Harvesting the apple at the correct maturity stage for long-term storage is becoming more and more difficult, especially due to the lack of manual labor. Thereby, the development of storage techniques that allows the storage of fruit harvested outside the correct maturity is necessary. Thus, on the present dissertation we aimed to evaluate a new dynamic controlled atmosphere storage technique based on the lower oxygen limit (LOL) monitoring by the respiratory quotient (DCA-RQ) and compare it with controlled atmosphere (CA) and the combination of CA with 1-methylcyclopropene application (CA + 1-MCP) on the physical, chemical quality and volatile profile of Galaxy apple harvested in three maturity stages (unripe, ripe and overripe). Two chapters composed the dissertation: the first is directed to evaluate the metabolism, physical and chemical quality and the second to evaluate the metabolism and volatile profile. Fruit of the three maturity stages stored under DCA-RQ showed lower ACC oxidase enzyme activity, internal ethylene, ethylene production and respiration rate as compared to fruit stored under CA. The storage under DCA-RQ 1.3 resulted in similar quality keeping as compared to CA + 1-MCP. Lower mealiness incidence and flesh breakdown were observed in DCA-RQ and CA + 1-MCP stored fruit. Higher flesh firmness was verified in DCA-RQ 1.3, if fruit were harvested unripe, higher in CA + 1-MCP, DCA-RQ 1.3 and DCA-RQ 1.5 in ripe harvested fruit and higher in CA + 1-MCP overripe harvested apple. The storage under DCA-RQ 1.5 resulted in acetaldehyde, ethanol and ethyl acetate accumulation, but at a concentration that did not increase the electrolyte leakage and physiological disorders related to fermentation, like flesh breakdown. Oxygen lowering down to extremely low partial pressure, by the storage under DCA-RQ 1.5, resulted in fruit with higher volatile compounds concentration that composed the aroma, regardless the maturity stage, as compared to fruit stored under CA. Additionally, the volatile compounds increase was not only observed for ethyl esters, but also in characteristic Galaxy apple esters, like butyl acetate, hexyl acetate and 2-methylbutyl acetate. With the 1-MCP application was observed a reduction in the aroma production as compared to CA and not allowed the increment of esters concentration with the maturity advance, resulting in fruit with similar ester concentration on the three maturity stages. Taken in account the physical, chemical quality and the volatile compounds, the best storage conditions for all maturity stages follow this order: DCA-RQ 1.5 > DCA-RQ 1.3 > CA + 1-MCP > CA. / A colheita de maçãs no estádio de maturação correto para longos períodos de armazenamento é uma tarefa cada vez mais complicada, especialmente em função da falta de mão-de-obra. Em função disso, o desenvolvimento de técnicas de armazenamento que possibilitem o armazenamento de frutas colhidas fora do estádio de maturação adequado é necessário. Nesse sentido, na presente dissertação, buscou-se avaliar uma nova técnica de armazenamento em atmosfera controlada dinâmica baseada no monitoramento do limite mínimo de O2 (LMO) pelo quociente respiratório (ACD-QR) e comparar com a da atmosfera controlada convencional (AC) e a combinação de AC com aplicação de 1-metilciclopropeno (AC + 1-MCP) sobre a qualidade física, química e o perfil volátil de maçãs Galaxy colhidas em três estádios de maturação (verde, madura e sobremadura). A dissertação é composta de dois capítulos (artigos): o primeiro direcionado à avaliação do metabolismo e da qualidade física e química e o segundo ao metabolismo e à composição volátil. Frutos dos três estádios de maturação armazenados ACD-QR apresentaram menor atividade da enzima ACC oxidase, etileno interno, produção de etileno e respiração em comparação aos frutos armazenados em AC. O armazenamento em ACD-QR 1,3 resultou em manutenção da qualidade similar ao armazenamento em AC + 1-MCP, independentemente do estádio de maturação. Menor incidência de polpa farinácea e degenerescência de polpa foi verificada em frutos armazenados em ACD-QR e AC + 1-MCP. A firmeza de polpa foi maior em frutos armazenados em ACD-QR 1,3, quando colhidos verdes, maior em AC + 1-MCP, ACD-QR 1,3 e ACD-QR 1,5 em frutos maduros e maior em AC + 1-MCP em frutos colhidos sobremaduros. O armazenamento em ACD-QR 1,5 resultou em acúmulo de acetaldeído, etanol e acetato de etila, porém numa concentração que não causa aumento no extravasamento de eletrólitos e distúrbios fisiológicos relacionados à fermentação, como a degenerescência de polpa. A redução do O2 a pressões parciais extremamente baixas, pelo armazenamento em ACD-QR 1,5, resultou em frutos com maior concentração de compostos voláteis que compõe o aroma, independentemente do estádio de maturação, em comparação aos frutos armazenados em AC. Adicionalmente, esse incremento na produção de compostos voláteis não ocorreu apenas em forma de acetatos de etila, mas também na forma de ésteres característicos de maçãs Galaxy , como o acetato de butila, acetato de hexila e acetato de 2-metilbutila. Com a aplicação de 1-MCP houve redução na produção de aroma em comparação a AC sem uso do produto, também não houve incremento na produção de ésteres com o avanço da maturação nos frutos tratados com 1-MCP, resultando em frutos com concentração de ésteres similar entre os três estádios de maturação. Levando em consideração a qualidade física, química e a produção de compostos voláteis, as melhores condições de armazenamento para todos os estádios de maturação segue a seguinte ordem: ACD-QR 1,5 > ACD-QR 1,3 > AC + 1-MCP > AC.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The objective of the research was to determine the strawberry fruit yield and quality in three different closed soilless systems with two substrates. The experiment was conducted in a screenhouse in the Department of Fitotecnia at the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, from April to November, 2006. The experimental set up was a 3 x 2 factorial design with four replications. Treatments were the three soilless systems and the two substrates. The soilless systems consist of plastic bags, plastic troughs and growing beds, all of them elevated from the soil. The substrates were an inert substrate (sand) and an organic substrate (Plantmax PXT®). Drip fertigation was used in the plastic bags, while subirrigation was done in the other two systems. A standard complete nutrient solution was utilized and there was not any disposal of it during the experiment. A significant interaction among substrates and systems was observed. In the case of the sand, best results were obtained with plastic troughs reaching a mean fruit yield of 122.09 t ha-1, which was 8.13% e 8.33% higher than the plastic bags and the growing beds, respectively. In the case of the organic substrate, the mean fruit yield in the system of growing beds (143.58 t ha-1) was 10.9% and 29.33% superior to the plastic bags and plastic troughs, respectively. Neither the soilless systems nor the substrates influenced the fruit quality characteristics of firmness, soluble solids and titratable acidity. / O objetivo do trabalho foi determinar a produtividade e qualidade do morangueiro em sistemas fechados de cultivo sem solo com substratos. O experimento foi conduzido dentro de um abrigo telado no Departamento de Fitotecnia da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, entre abril e novembro de 2006. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por três sistemas de cultivo e dois substratos, em esquema fatorial 3x2, no delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições. Os sistemas de cultivo foram sacolas fertirrigadas por tubos gotejadores, calhas e leito de cultivo. Os substratos foram a areia como substrato inerte e o Plantmax PXT® como substrato orgânico, fertirrigados com solução nutritiva completa, sem descartes durante o período do experimento. Houve interação significativa entre os substratos e os sistemas. Na areia, destacou-se o cultivo nas calhas, com uma produtividade média de 122,09 t ha-1, sendo 8,13% e 8,33% superior às sacolas e ao leito de cultivo, respectivamente. No substrato orgânico, a média mais elevada foi equivalente a 143,58 t ha-1, obtida no leito de cultivo, superior às sacolas em 10,9% e às calhas em 29,33%. Não houve influência dos substratos nem dos sistemas sobre a qualidade da fruta, caracterizada através da firmeza, °Brix e acidez titulável.

[EN] The primary handling of food with robots calls for the development of new manipulation devices, especially when products are easily damaged and have a wide range of shapes and textures. These difficulties are even greater in the agricultural industry because the quality of the products is also checked during the manual handling process. This PhD dissertation provides solutions to these issues and helps to further introduce robotics into the handling of food. Several methods for handling food are included and analyzed, and specific solutions are proposed and then validated with prototypes. The research focuses on devices capable of adapting themselves to the shapes of the products without increasing the complexity of the mechanism. After analyzing several different solutions, the method chosen involves the use of under-actuated mechanisms, compliant mechanisms and fingers with pads filled with granular fluids. These fluids can behave as quasi-liquids or quasi-solids due to the jamming transition, which provides a soft initial grasp and can support high stresses during fast movements performed by the robot. The additive manufacturing process provides an opportunity to develop robot grippers that are lighter, simpler, more flexible and cheaper. By using this process elastic mechanisms are manufactured in a single part, which are equivalent to mechanisms with several rigid parts connected by joints. Laser sintering is employed to produce pneumatic actuators, with different types of motions, based on the elastic properties of the materials used in this manufacturing process. As a result, the systems can be simplified to achieve grippers, with several fingers, that are produced as a single part. In order to estimate the freshness and quality of agricultural products while they are being grasped, accelerometers are added to the fingers of several grippers. Accelerometers are economical and act as intrinsic tactile sensors. They can be easily embedded, thereby reducing the risk of getting damaged due to contact with the product, and allow each of the grasping phases to be identified. To achieve good performance of the accelerometers, a specific process is defined for the robot gripper, which touches the products a few times. In addition, several gripper prototypes are manufactured with diverse under-actuated mechanisms, jamming systems, and a new program that processes the signals from the accelerometers using different procedures in order to obtain parameters that can be used to estimate the quality of products. These parameters are correlated with data from destructive tests that are commonly used as a reference. The best performance of the accelerometers is achieved when the finger employs a granular fluid, a correlation coefficient of 0.937 being accomplished for the ripeness of mangoes and 0.872 for the firmness of eggplants. / [ES] La manipulación primaria de alimentos con robots precisa del desarrollo de nuevos sistemas de manipulación especialmente cuando los productos son sensibles al daño y presentan una amplia variabilidad de formas y texturas. En el sector agroalimentario las dificultades son aún mayores ya que la manipulación manual sirve además para inspeccionar los productos durante el proceso. Está tesis aporta soluciones a estos problemas facilitando la incorporación de la robótica. En la tesis se recopilan y analizan diversas soluciones para poder manipular alimentos proponiendo soluciones concretas que luego son validadas con prototipos. La investigación se centra en aquellos sistemas que son capaces de auto adaptarse a las formas de los productos sin incrementar la complejidad del mecanismo. Tras analizar diversas técnicas se propone el uso de mecanismos infra-actuados, mecanismos flexibles y dedos con fluidos granulares que, al estar encerrados dentro de una membrana, se comportan como cuasi-líquidos o cuasi-sólidos gracias a la transición jamming, permitiendo un agarre inicial suave y la posibilidad de transmitir esfuerzos elevados durante los movimientos del robot. En la búsqueda de garras más ligeras, sencillas, flexibles y económicas se aprovecha la oportunidad que brinda la tecnología de fabricación aditiva de material. Gracias a este proceso se fabrican mecanismos flexibles realizados en una única pieza y que equivalen a mecanismos de garras realizados con varias piezas rígidas unidos por articulaciones. Mediante el sinterizado por láser, se fabrican actuadores neumáticos, con diversos tipos de movimiento, basados en la flexibilidad del material empleado en su fabricación. En conjunto se simplifican los sistemas llegando a realizar garras flexibles de varios dedos fabricadas en una única pieza. Para evaluar la calidad y frescura de los productos agroalimentarios durante el agarre se emplean acelerómetros localizados en los dedos de varias garras. Los acelerómetros son económicos y se comportan como sensores táctiles intrínsecos, están fuera del contacto directo con el producto evitando desgastes por contacto y permiten identificar las distintas fases de agarre. Para lograr esto se desarrolla un proceso específico del robot con la garra, que palpa varias veces el producto. Se fabrican diversos tipos de garra con distintas tecnologías de mecanismos infra-actuados y sistemas jamming y se programa un algoritmo original de procesado de señal que con diversas técnicas es capaz de extraer parámetros de los acelerómetros que sirven para evaluar la calidad de los productos. Estos parámetros son correlacionados con los datos de ensayos destructivos que son habitualmente empleados como referencia. Las mejores capacidades se consiguen empleando garras con jamming lográndose coeficientes de correlación de 0.937 en índices de madurez con mangos y 0.872 en firmeza de berenjenas. / [CAT] La manipulació primària d'aliments amb robots precisa del desenvolupament de nous sistemes de manipulació especialment quan els productes són sensibles al dany i presenten una àmplia variabilitat de formes i textures. En el sector agroalimentari les dificultats són encara més grans ja que la manipulació manual serveix a més per a inspeccionar els productes durant el procés. Aquesta tesi aporta solucions a aquests problemes facilitant la incorporació de la robòtica. En la tesi es recopilen i analitzen diverses solucions per a poder manipular aliments proposant solucions concretes que després són validades amb prototips. La investigació es centra en aquells sistemes que són capaços d'auto adaptar-se a la forma dels productes sense incrementar la complexitat del mecanisme. Després d'analitzar diverses tècniques es proposa l'ús de mecanismes infra-actuats, mecanismes flexibles i dits amb fluids granulars que, tancats dins d'una membrana, es comporten com quasi-líquids o quasi-sòlids gràcies a la transició jamming, permetent una prensió inicial suau i la possibilitat de transmetre esforços elevats durant els moviments del robot. En la recerca d'urpes més lleugeres, senzilles, flexibles i econòmiques s'aprofita l'oportunitat que brinda la tecnologia de fabricació additiva de material. Gràcies a aquest procés es fabriquen mecanismes flexibles realitzats en una única peça i que equivalen a mecanismes d'urpes realitzats amb diverses peces rígides unides per articulacions. Mitjançant el sinteritzat per làser, es fabriquen actuadors pneumàtics, amb diversos tipus de moviment, basats en la flexibilitat del material emprat en la seva fabricació. En conjunt es simplifiquen els sistemes arribant a realitzar urpes flexibles de diversos dits fabricades en una única peça. Per a avaluar la qualitat i frescor dels productes agroalimentaris durant la manipulació s'empren acceleròmetres localitzats en els dits de diverses urpes. Els acceleròmetres són econòmics i es comporten com a sensors tàctils intrínsecs, sense estar en contacte directe amb el producte evitant desgastos per aquest motiu, i permeten identificar les diferents fases d'prensió. Per aconseguir això es desenvolupa un procés específic del robot amb l'urpa, que palpa diverses vegades el producte. Es fabriquen diversos tipus d'urpa amb diferents tecnologies de mecanismes infra-actuats i sistemes jamming i es programa un algoritme original de processat de senyal que, amb diverses tècniques, és capaç d'extreure paràmetres dels acceleròmetres que serveixen per a avaluar la qualitat dels productes. Aquests paràmetres són correlacionats amb les dades d'assajos destructius que són habitualment emprats com a referència. Les millors capacitats s'aconsegueixen emprant urpes amb jamming assolint-se coeficients de correlació de 0,937 en índexs de maduresa amb mangos i 0,872 en fermesa d'albergínies. / Blanes Campos, C. (2016). Garras con sensores táctiles intrínsecos para manipular alimentos con robots [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/68481 / TESIS

Thesis (M.Sc. (Horticulture)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Cold storage is commonly used to prolong papaya fruit storability. Furthermore, the optimal recommended storage temperature is below 10℃ for export and distant market. However, chilling injury (CI) occurs at 10℃ or lower during prolonged cold storage. This condition hampered consumer acceptance, resulting in economic losses for producers and exporters. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the potential of postharvest polyamine dips and storage conditions to improve the quality and shelf life of ‘Solo’ papaya fruit. The experiment was conducted as 4 x 2 factorial arranged in a completely randomised design (CRD) with eight replications. The fruits were treated with putrescine (PUT) (0 (control), 1, 2 and 3 mM) before storage for 21 days at 7.5 and 13℃ plus 5 days storage at ambient temperature. Additionally, the PUT effect on quality attributes and shelf-life were studied. The results showed that physiological and pathological disorders increased with progressive storage, irrespective of storage temperature. However, PUT treatment reduced the incidence of chilling injury and anthracnose at both 7.5 and 13℃. Additionally, the interaction of treatment and cold storage temperature significantly affected ‘Solo’ papaya fruit physical and biochemical quality attributes. Furthermore, treatment with 2 and 3 mM PUT concentration reduced changes in colour, mass, firmness, TA, and TSS compared to control. In conclusion, postharvest PUT improved ‘Solo’ papaya fruit quality and prolonged shelf-life. / AgriSETA (Agricultural Sector Training Authority)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / The goal of this research was to investigate changes in the physiological properties including firmness, stiffness, weight, background colour, ethylene production and respiration of ‘Cripps Pink’ apple stored under different temperature and atmosphere conditions,. This research also seeks to establish mathematical models for the prediction of changes in firmness and stiffness of the apple during normal atmosphere (NA) storage. Experiments were conducted to determine the quality changes in ‘Cripps Pink’ apple under three sets of storage conditions. The first set of storage conditions consisted of NA storage at 0oC, 2.5oC, 5oC, 10oC, 20oC and 30oC. In the second set of conditions the apples were placed in NA cold storage at 0oC for 61 days, followed by NA storage at the aforementioned six temperatures. The third set of conditions consisted of controlled atmosphere (CA) (2 kPa O2 : 1 kPa CO2) at 0oC storage for 102 days followed by NA storage at the six temperatures mentioned previously. The firmness, stiffness, weight loss, skin colour, ethylene and carbon dioxide production of the apples were monitored at specific time intervals during storage. Firmness was measured using a HortPlus Quick Measure Penetrometer (HortPlus Ltd, Hawke Bat, New Zealand); stiffness was measured using a commercial acoustic firmness sensor-AFS (AWETA, Nootdorp, The Netherlands). Experimental data analysis was performed using the GraphPad Prism 4.03, 2005 software package. The Least-Squares method and iterative non-linear regression were used to model and simulate changes in firmness and stiffness in GraphPad Prism 4.03, 2005 and DataFit 8.1, 2005 softwares. The experimental results indicated that the firmness and stiffness of ‘Cripps Pink’ apple stored in NA decreased with increases in temperature and time. Under NA, the softening pattern was tri-phasic for apples stored at 0oC, 2.5oC and 5oC for firmness, and at 0oC and 2.5oC for stiffness. However, there were only two softening phases for apples stored at higher temperatures. NA at 0oC, 2.5oC and 5oC improved skin background colour and extended the storage ability of apples compared to higher temperatures. CA during the first stage of storage better maintained the firmness and stiffness of the apples. However, it reduced subsequent ethylene and carbon dioxide (CO2) production after removal from storage. Steep increases in ethylene and CO2 production coincided with rapid softening in the fruit flesh and yellowing of the skin background colour, under NA conditions. The exponential decay model was the best model for predicting changes in the firmness, stiffness and keeping quality of the apples. The exponential decay model satisfied the biochemical theory of softening in the apple, and had the highest fitness to the experimental data collected over the wide range of temperatures. The softening rate increased exponentially with storage temperature complying with the Arrhenius equation. Therefore a combination of the exponential decay model with the Arrhenius equation was found to best characterise the softening process and to predict changes in the firmness and stiffness of apples stored at different temperatures in NA conditions.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / The goal of this research was to investigate changes in the physiological properties including firmness, stiffness, weight, background colour, ethylene production and respiration of ‘Cripps Pink’ apple stored under different temperature and atmosphere conditions,. This research also seeks to establish mathematical models for the prediction of changes in firmness and stiffness of the apple during normal atmosphere (NA) storage. Experiments were conducted to determine the quality changes in ‘Cripps Pink’ apple under three sets of storage conditions. The first set of storage conditions consisted of NA storage at 0oC, 2.5oC, 5oC, 10oC, 20oC and 30oC. In the second set of conditions the apples were placed in NA cold storage at 0oC for 61 days, followed by NA storage at the aforementioned six temperatures. The third set of conditions consisted of controlled atmosphere (CA) (2 kPa O2 : 1 kPa CO2) at 0oC storage for 102 days followed by NA storage at the six temperatures mentioned previously. The firmness, stiffness, weight loss, skin colour, ethylene and carbon dioxide production of the apples were monitored at specific time intervals during storage. Firmness was measured using a HortPlus Quick Measure Penetrometer (HortPlus Ltd, Hawke Bat, New Zealand); stiffness was measured using a commercial acoustic firmness sensor-AFS (AWETA, Nootdorp, The Netherlands). Experimental data analysis was performed using the GraphPad Prism 4.03, 2005 software package. The Least-Squares method and iterative non-linear regression were used to model and simulate changes in firmness and stiffness in GraphPad Prism 4.03, 2005 and DataFit 8.1, 2005 softwares. The experimental results indicated that the firmness and stiffness of ‘Cripps Pink’ apple stored in NA decreased with increases in temperature and time. Under NA, the softening pattern was tri-phasic for apples stored at 0oC, 2.5oC and 5oC for firmness, and at 0oC and 2.5oC for stiffness. However, there were only two softening phases for apples stored at higher temperatures. NA at 0oC, 2.5oC and 5oC improved skin background colour and extended the storage ability of apples compared to higher temperatures. CA during the first stage of storage better maintained the firmness and stiffness of the apples. However, it reduced subsequent ethylene and carbon dioxide (CO2) production after removal from storage. Steep increases in ethylene and CO2 production coincided with rapid softening in the fruit flesh and yellowing of the skin background colour, under NA conditions. The exponential decay model was the best model for predicting changes in the firmness, stiffness and keeping quality of the apples. The exponential decay model satisfied the biochemical theory of softening in the apple, and had the highest fitness to the experimental data collected over the wide range of temperatures. The softening rate increased exponentially with storage temperature complying with the Arrhenius equation. Therefore a combination of the exponential decay model with the Arrhenius equation was found to best characterise the softening process and to predict changes in the firmness and stiffness of apples stored at different temperatures in NA conditions.

ABSTRACT Influence of fenugreek gum on bread and in vitro physiological effects Keisha T. Roberts Advisors: University of Guelph Dr. S.W. Cui Professor T.E. Graham This thesis examined the effect of fenugreek gum, from Canadian grown fenugreek on bread quality, when substituted for wheat flour at 5 % and 10 %, and the in vitro physiological effects of these breads, based on models of acute and long - term feeding. Study I determined bread could be produced with 10 % fenugreek gum, while maintaining quality parameters of volume and texture, comparable to a control. This was accomplished through the development of a novel bread production method, using the lamination procedure for puff pastry production. The behavior of fenugreek gum and starch (wheat flour) was determined by rapid visco analysis (RVA), farinograph and dynamic rheological measurement, while scanning electron microscopy of bread found fenugreek gum could be identified within the bread matrix. Study 2 in vitro starch digestion found fenugreek gum at 5 % and 10 % reduced glucose liberated from bread, with 10 % fenugreek gum causing a reduction of over 30 %. RVA of fenugreek breads highlighted differences in viscosity between breads and wheat flour substituted with the gum. This was substantial as viscosity measurements by RVA are conducted on raw ingredients and not the food as consumed, which reflects the possible reduction in viscosity with food processing. This study also determined extruding fenugreek gum may have caused morphological changes to the gum, which may possibly contribute to attenuation of glucose liberated in vitro. Study 3 evaluated the accumulation of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) from the fermentation of three substrates: Extruded fenugreek gum, bread with 10 % extruded gum and control bread, based on fecal microbiota from three donors. SCFA profiles varied with substrates and donors, with fenugreek gum having the highest accumulation of SCFA after 12 hours. Donors were a caucuasian Canadian, a black Jamaican and a black Trinidadian who was the only donor culturally exposed to fenugreek. This Trinidadian’s SCFA profiles were consistently higher for fenugreek gum than the other donors. These studies collectively showed fenugreek gum, though viscous could be successfully incorporated into bread and have potential as a functional food and nutraceutical.