No description available.

Thesis (MScFoodSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Postharvest fruit loss is a major challenge in addressing food security, sustainable management of resources and profitability of agribusiness. The incidence of postharvest loss and changes in physico-chemical properties of three types of fruit (peaches, pears and oranges) were evaluated at retail and during post-purchase storage. The amount of physical loss at the three retail outlets studied ranged from 3.61% to 18.09% among the fruit types, with the highest incidence occurring in peaches. The estimated annual national physical loss at retail was 418 tons for pears, 1000 tons for oranges, and 7 240 tons for peaches. Based on the WHO recommended 146 kg per capita per year consumption of fruit, the total loss of the three types of fruit was sufficient to meet the dietary fruit requirements of 50 000 people per annum. Similarly, based on the recommended daily allowance of 50 mg of ascorbic acid, these losses could meet the annual vitamin C needs of 82 000 people. The estimated monetary value of the losses at retail ranged from R2.2 million to R96.87 million per annum depending on fruit type and retail outlet. The land wasted to produce lost fruits was 1965 ha while energy wasted was 32.77 x 106 MJ. Greenhouse gas emission of the losses was 2870 tons CO2eq and total water footprint 68 0000 m3. Losses were mainly due to the presence of severe physical damage, rots and physiological disorders. There were significant variations in physico-chemical properties of fruit of the same type from different retail outlet. Although ambient temperature storage improved fruit colour and some chemical constituents responsible for palatability, it was associated with high physical and nutritional (vitamin C) losses. Results from this study show that appropriate harvesting maturity, packaging and maximum care in fruit handling is essential in reducing postharvest losses. Efficient cold chain management and fruit inspection for rots and damages could help to reduce subsequent spoilage at retail and during post-purchase storage. Given that the incidence of postharvest fruit loss observed at retail is the result of cumulative effects along the supply chain, further studies are warranted to map fruit history and magnitude of losses along the value chain. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Naoesvrugteverlies is ‟n groot uitdaging in die strewe na voedselsekerheid, volhoubare hulpbronbestuur en winsgewende landbousake. Die voorkoms van naoesverlies sowel as fisiko-chemiese naoesveranderinge by drie vrugtesoorte (perskes, pere en lemoene) is gevolglik by kleinhandelsafsetpunte én gedurende berging ná aankoop beoordeel. Die graad van fisiese verlies by die drie betrokke kleinhandelspunte het gewissel van 3,61% tot 18,09% tussen die vrugtesoorte, met die hoogste verlies by perskes. Die geraamde jaarlikse nasionale fisiese verlies by die kleinhandelspunte was 418 ton pere, 1 000 ton lemoene en 7 240 ton perskes. Op grond van die Wêreldgesondheidsorganisasie se aanbevole jaarlikse vrugte-inname van 146 kg per persoon, was die totale verlies van die drie vrugtesoorte genoeg om aan die vrugtedieetvereistes van 50 000 mense per jaar te voldoen. Op grond van die aanbevole daaglikse inname van 50 mg askorbiensuur, kan hierdie verlies eweneens in die jaarlikse vitamien C-behoeftes van 82 000 mense voorsien. Die geraamde geldwaarde van die verlies by die kleinhandelspunte strek van R2,2 miljoen tot R96,87 miljoen per jaar, na gelang van die vrugtesoort en bepaalde kleinhandelspunt. Die vermorste grond om die verlore vrugte te produseer, was 1 965 ha, terwyl energievermorsing op 32,77 x 106 MJ te staan gekom het. Kweekhuisgasvrystellings met betrekking tot die verlies was 2 870 ton CO2e, en die totale watervoetspoor 68 0000 m3. Vrugteverlies kon hoofsaaklik aan ernstige fisiese skade, verrotting en fisiologiese afwykings toegeskryf word. Daar was beduidende variasies in die fisiko-chemiese eienskappe van dieselfde vrugtesoort by verskillende kleinhandelaars. Hoewel berging by omgewingstemperatuur vrugtekleur en bepaalde chemiese komponente vir smaaklikheid verbeter, word dit ook met groot fisiese en voedingstof- (vitamien C-) verliese verbind. Die resultate van hierdie studie toon dat toepaslike oesrypheid, die regte verpakking en maksimum sorg in vrugtehantering noodsaaklik is om naoesverlies te verminder. Doeltreffende koelkettingbestuur en vrugte-inspeksie vir verrotting en skade kan latere bederf by kleinhandelsafsetpunte sowel as gedurende berging ná aankoop help beperk. Aangesien die naoesvrugteverlies wat by die kleinhandelspunte waargeneem is uit kumulatiewe faktore in die verskaffingsketting spruit, is verdere studies nodig om vrugtegeskiedenis na te spoor en die omvang van die verlies in die algehele waardeketting te bepaal.

Thesis (MTech (Mechanical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / Agriculture has emerged as a major economic activity in the African continent. Therefore, fruits and vegetables are considered as essential source of vitamins, minerals and proteins. However, fruits and vegetables are perishing rapidly. Thus, the adequate handling starts from the field, by applying appropriate method of storage and preservation in order to reduce post-harvest losses and extend its shelf life. Preservation by removing heat from the products is the most common method of preservation. In rural areas, the access to the grid is expensive or in some cases impossible. Therefore, researchers have been paying more attention to find alternative sources of power to run the cooling units. This study provides proof of a concept for the use of solar energy to cool down harvested fruits and vegetables at the farm level to an adequate farm storage temperature. The target storage temperature range is between 5 and 15 oC. A model refrigerator was designed and constructed in the mechanical engineering workshop of Cape Peninsula University of Technology. It was installed and tested in outdoor conditions to get the effect of different weather conditions. The model consists of a typical vapour compression system powered by a 12 V solar PV system. A DC compressor was used, and therefore, there is no inverter. The model was first tested without a product and then with 20 kg batches of different fruits for a period of two weeks in April 2016. Wind speed, ambient temperature and solar radiation intensity data were monitored and collected from a Campbell Scientific weather station mounted on the roof adjacent to the model. By monitoring the temperatures and compressor current hourly, the refrigeration effect, power consumption and coefficient of performance were determined. The overall COP based on input solar energy was 2.8. It was thus proved that a suitably sized PV system could be designed and implemented at farm level to cool harvested fruits from ambient to storage temperature without the use of an inverter. This could go some way to helping retard deterioration of fruits and vegetables before delivery to a marketplace or to storage.

FundaÃÃo Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnolÃgico / O fruto da cultivar âValÃnciaâ à uma laranja doce de excelente qualidade, tanto para produÃÃo de suco, como para o consumo in natura. O trabalho objetivou avaliar a qualidade e conservaÃÃo, o efeito da utilizaÃÃo de cera à base de carnaÃba (ARUà TROPICALÂ) e/ou desverdecimento nos frutos da laranjeira âValÃncia Deltaâ produzida em Ãrea de clima semi-Ãrido sob diferentes condiÃÃes de armazenamento. Foi avaliada a influÃncia do recobrimento sobre os frutos e seus efeitos nas propriedades fÃsicas e fÃsico-quÃmicas. As laranjas da cultivar âValÃncia Deltaâ, produzidas no pÃlo do Baixo Jaguaribe, estado do CearÃ, foram recobertas com cera à base de carnaÃba e armazenadas sob condiÃÃo ambiente e refrigerada, por um perÃodo de 28 dias. Em um segundo experimento, os frutos foram desverdecidos com etileno exÃgeno e, apÃs o desverdecimento, recobertos com cera à base de carnaÃba. Foram realizados, simultaneamente, dois experimentos. No primeiro, os frutos foram armazenados sob condiÃÃo refrigerada por 35 dias e foram submetidos Ãs anÃlises fÃsicas e fÃsico-quÃmicas. No segundo experimento, dentre os frutos refrigerados foram retiradas amostras para o armazenamento ambiente (3 dias a 24 ÂC; 40 % UR). Os frutos com recobrimento apresentaram a menor perda de massa ao final do experimento, alto rendimento de suco e teor de sÃlidos solÃveis, alta relaÃÃo SS/AT e os compostos bioativos apresentaram aumento durante o perÃodo de armazenamento. Os frutos desverdecidos decresceram em compostos bioativos durante o perÃodo de armazenamento e apresentaram baixo teor de sÃlidos solÃveis. A aplicaÃÃo do desverdecimento promoveu mudanÃa na cor da casca, tornando-os frutos amarelos, e a utilizaÃÃo de recobrimento em laranjas âValÃncia Deltaâ mostrou-se eficiente, pois reduziu a perda de massa, intensificou o brilho do flavedo, e manteve a qualidade visual dos frutos durante o perÃodo de armazenamento. O armazenamento refrigerado associado à utilizaÃÃo de recobrimento mostrou-se eficiente para as caracterÃsticas externas dos frutos e preservou os parÃmetros indicadores da qualidade interna. / The fruit of the cultivar 'Valencia' is a sweet orange of excellent quality, both for production of juice and for consumption in natura. The study aimed to evaluate the quality and conservation, the effect of the use of carnauba based wax (ARUà TROPICALÂ) and/or degreening in the fruits of orange 'Valencia Delta' produced in the area of semi-arid climate under different storage conditions. The influence of coating on the fruit and its effects was appraised on physical and physical-chemical properties. The oranges of the cultivar 'Valencia Delta', produced at the pole Baixo Jaguaribe, state of CearÃ, were coated with carnauba based wax and stored at room temperature and refrigerated, for a period of 28 days. In a second experiment, the fruits were degreened with exogenous ethylene and, after degreening, coated with carnauba based wax. Simultaneously, two experiments were conducted: in first, the fruits were stored under refrigerated conditions by 35 days and submitted to physical and physical -chemical analysis. For the second experiment, among the refrigerated fruits were removed samples for the ambient storage (3 days at 24 C and 40 % RH). The coated fruits showed the lowest mass loss at the end of the experiment, high yield of juice and soluble solids level, high ratio SS/TA and the bioactive compounds showed increase during the storage period. The degreened fruits decreased in bioactive compounds during storage and showed low level of soluble solids. The application of degreening promoted change in the color of the peel, making them yellow fruit, and the use of coating on oranges 'Valencia Delta' was effective because it reduced the loss of weight, enhanced the brightness of the flavedo and maintained the visual quality of the fruits during the storage period. The refrigerated storage associated with the use of coating was affective for the external characteristics of fruits and preserved the indicator parameters of the internal quality.

No description available.

Increased consumer demand for fresh fruit throughout the year has created a need for long term storage. Long term storage of fruit uses more energy than fresh market products, thus increasing production cost. Pacific Northwest energy costs and more competition for markets has made energy conservation an important factor to be considered by the fruit industry. A BASICA computer program, RLSIM, was developed to predict the transient refrigeration load throughout the storage season in apple and pear cold storage warehouses. RLSIM accurately predicted the seasonal and component refrigeration system energy demand curves during the 1985-1986 cold storage season. The results also indicated that the largest single energy use component is the continuous operation of evaporator fans. Simulation of a six hours on and six hours off fan cycling technique indicated a reduction of 23.75 percent could be achieved in overall refrigeration system energy use in the cold storage warehouse. Cold storage warehouse management can be improved by using the results of RLSIM. Fan cycling schemes could be properly employed without risk of increasing fruit temperature. Recommendations were made to update research in areas of cooling and respiration rates of various fruits in both controlled atmosphere and common storage. / Graduation date: 1988

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Green mould is a major citrus postharvest disease caused by a wound pathogen called Penicillium digitatum. Imazalil (IMZ) is the most important postharvest fungicide that is currently registered against green mould and blue mould, given its good protective and curative control and sporulation inhibition. Imazalil can be applied in drench, dip, spray and wax coating applications. Wax coatings improve the quality of the fruit during shelf life by limiting moisture loss and providing a shiny appearance. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the application of imazalil in wax coatings in citrus packhouses to control green mould and preserve fruit quality. The first aim of this study was to evaluate the protective and curative control and sporulation inhibition of IMZ sensitive and resistant isolates of P. digitatum following single IMZ application in wax coating and IMZ application in aqueous dip as well as wax coating. For single application, Valencia orange fruit was curatively or protectively treated with a carnauba-based coating into which IMZ at 3000 μg.mL-1 was mixed. For curative treatments, fruit was treated after 24 hour's incubation. Coating was applied at 0.6, 1.2 and 1.8 L.ton-1 of fruit on a commercial coating applicator. Untreated control and fruit treated with coating only showed up to 80% infection for both sensitive and resistant isolates. Imazalil in coating proved to have better protective than curative action against the sensitive isolate, while control of the resistant isolate was poor. Imazalil residue levels increased with increasing coating load (0.85 to 1.75 μg.g-1). For double application, clementine, satsuma, navel and Valencia orange fruit were used. Curative and protective control following dip only treatment (IMZ sulphate at 500 μg.mL-1 for 45 s and 90 s) was compared with coating only treatment (IMZ at 3000 μg.mL-1 at 1.8 L.ton-1), and double application comprising dip (45 s in IMZ sulphate at 500 μg.mL-1) followed by 2000 μg.mL-1 IMZ in coating at 0.6, 1.2 and 1.8 L.ton-1. Double application resulted in improved residue loading (0.85 to 2.06 μg.g-1) compared to dip only treatments (≈ 0.49 μg.g-1). Coating only resulted in the highest residue levels (1.82 to 7.09 μg.g-1), often exceeding the maximum residue limit of 5 μg.g-1. In all treatments, poor curative and protective control of the resistant isolate (<46% and <55%, respectively) and generally no sporulation inhibition was observed. For the sensitive isolate, dip only treatments resulted in better curative control (≈ 77%) than protective control (≈ 38%). Double application showed increased protective control with increasing wax load (≈ 69%) as well as good curative control (≈ 83%). Wax coating only treatment resulted in poor curative control (≈ 26%), but good protective control (≈ 80%). Sporulation inhibition of the sensitive isolate was generally improved in treatments that included IMZ application in the wax coating. This study successfully showed the additive benefits of double application of IMZ in the wax coating following an aqueous dip application. However, despite improved control of the sensitive isolate, the resistant isolate could not be controlled. The second objective of the study was to evaluate green mould control and quality preservation following IMZ application using different coating and brush types. The inoculation and treatment procedure was similar to the single application of wax coating described above but only the sensitive isolate of P. digitatum was used. Carnauba- or polyethylene-based wax coatings, including IMZ at 3000 μg.mL-1, was applied at a dosage of 0.6, 1.2 and 1.8 L.ton-1 using commercial horsehair or synthetic brushes. Fruit was either incubated for 4 days prior to wound infection ratings or stored at -0.5oC for 26 days and 7 days shelf life. Imazalil residues on fruit increased with increasing coating loads on navel oranges (1.31 to 3.32 μg.g-1) and Valencia oranges (3.22 to 6.00 μg.g-1). Better protective (≈ 58%) than curative control (≈ 14%) was observed, with horsehair brushes resulting in lower sporulation levels (≈ 59%) than synthetic brushes (≈ 64%). Fruit weight loss and firmness loss ratios relative to uncoated control fruit were significantly higher in fruit treated with polyethylene coating compared with carnauba coating treated fruit. However, polyethylene coating resulted in shinier fruit before and after storage, whereas carnauba coating resulted in lower shine ratios. Gaseous (CO2) exchange ratios remained similar for both coatings, but higher polyethylene coating loads (1.8 L.ton-1) resulted in off-tastes similar to the uncoated control fruit and higher than the ratings for carnauba. Scanning electron micrographs revealed an amorphous crystallised natural wax layer with uncovered stomatal pores on the surface of uncoated fruit. The thickness of the applied coating layer increased with increasing coating load. Coating layers following application with synthetic brushes at 1.2 L.ton-1 appeared to be thicker than when applied using horsehair brushes. This study indicated the effects of brush type on the distribution and polishing of the wax coating on the surface of the fruit and also the importance of cautious application of coating as under or over application may lead to poor results in terms of bio-efficacy, residue loading and fruit quality. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Groenskimmel is 'n belangrike sitrus na-oessiekte, veroorsaak deur 'n wondpatogeen, genaamd Penicillium digitatum. Imazalil (IMZ) is die belangrikste na-oesfungisied wat tans teen groenskimmel geregistreer is, gegewe sy goeie beskermende en genesende beheer en sporulasie-inhibisie. Imazalil kan in bad-, doop-, spuit- en wakslaagbehandelings toegedien word. Wakslae behou die kwaliteit van die vrugte gedurende raklewe deur vogverlies te beperk en 'n glansvoorkoms te verskaf. Die primêre doel van hierdie studie was om die toediening van imazalil in wakslaagbehandelings in sitruspakhuise vir groenskimmel en vrugkwaliteit beheer te ondersoek. Die eerste doelwit van hierdie studie was om die beskermende en genesende beheer en sporulasie-inhibisie van IMZ sensitiewe en weerstandbiedende isolate van P. digitatum, gevolg deur enkel IMZ toediening in 'n wakslaagbehandeling, en IMZ toediening in 'n doop-, asook wakslaagbehandeling, te evalueer. Vir enkelltoediening is Valencia lemoenvrugte genesend of beskermend met 'n carnauba-gebaseerde wakslaag behandel, waarin IMZ teen 3000 μg.mL-1 gemeng is. Vir genesende behandelings is vrugte ná 24 uur inkubasie behandel. Wakslaagbehandeling is teen 0.6, 1.2 en 1.8 L.ton-1 vrugte op 'n semi-kommersiële paklyn toegedien. Onbehandelde kontrole en vrugte met waks behandel, het slegs tot 80% infeksie vir beide sensitiewe en weerstandbiedende isolate getoon. Imazalil in waks het beter beskermende as genesende aksie teen die sensitiewe isolaat getoon, terwyl beheer van die weerstandbiedende isolaat swak was. Imazalil residuvlakke het met toename in wakslading toegeneem (0.85 tot 1.75 μg.g-1). Vir dubbeltoediening is clementine, satsuma, navel en Valencia lemoenvrugte gebruik. Genesende en beskermende beheer van IMZ na enkel doopbehandeling (IMZ sulfaat teen 500 μg.mL-1 vir 45 s en 90 s), is met enkel waksbehandeling (IMZ teen 3000 μg.mL-1 teen 1.8 L.ton-1) vergelyk, asook dubbeltoediening bestaande uit doop (45 s in IMZ sulfaat teen 500 μg.mL-1), gevolg deur 2000 μg.mL-1 IMZ in waksbehandeling teen 0.6, 1.2 en 1.8 L.ton-1. Dubbeltoediening het verbeterde residulading (0.85 tot 2.06 μg.g-1) tot gevolg gehad, in vergelyking met enkel doopbehandelings (≈ 0.49 μg.g-1). Enkel waksbehandeling het die hoogste residuvlakke (1.82 tot 7.09 μg.g-1) tot gevolg gehad, wat dikwels die maksimum residu-limiet van 5 μg.g-1 oorskry het. In alle behandelings is swak genesende en beskermende beheer van die weerstandbiedende isolaat (<46% en <55%, onderskeidelik), en oor die algemeen, geen sporulasie-inhibisie, waargeneem. Vir die sensitiewe isolaat, het die enkel doopbehandelings beter genesende beheer (≈ 77%) in vergelyking met die beskermende beheer (≈ 38%) tot gevolg gehad. Dubbeltoediening het verhoogde beskermende beheer met toenemende wakslading (≈ 69%) getoon, asook goeie genesende beheer (≈ 83%). Enkel wakslaagbehandeling het swak genesende beheer (≈ 26%) tot gevolg gehad, maar goeie beskermende beheer (≈ 80%). Sporulasie-inhibisie van die sensitiewe isolaat was oor die algemeen beter in behandelings wat IMZ toediening in die wakslaag ingesluit het. Hierdie studie het suksesvol die toegevoegde voordele van dubbeltoediening van IMZ in doopbehandeling en wakslaag getoon. Ten spyte van die verbeterde beheer van die sensitiewe isolaat, kon die weerstandbiedende isolaat egter nie beheer word nie. Die tweede doelwit was om groenskimmelbeheer en behoud van kwaliteit te evalueer, volgende op IMZ toediening deur gebruik van verskillende waks- en borseltipes. Inokulasie- en behandelingsprosedure was soortgelyk aan die enkeltoediening van wakslaagbehandeling soos bo beskryf, maar slegs die sensitiewe isolaat van P. digitatum is gebruik. Carnauba- of poli-etileen-gebaseerde wakslae, insluitende IMZ teen 3000 μg.mL-1, is teen 'n dosis van 0.6, 1.2 en 1.8 L.ton-1 toegedien, deur die gebruik van kommersiële perdehaar of sintetiese borsels. Vrugte is óf vir 4 dae vóór wond-infeksie evaluering geïnkubeer, óf teen -0.5oC vir 26 dae en 7 dae raklewe gestoor. Imazalil residuvlakke op vrugte het met toenemende waksladings op navellemoene (1.31 tot 3.32 μg.g-1) en Valencia lemoene (3.22 tot 6.00 μg.g-1) toegeneem. Beter beskermende (≈ 58%) as genesende beheer (≈ 14%) is waargeneem, met perdehaar borsels wat laer sporulasievlakke (≈ 59%) tot gevolg gehad het, in vergelyking met sintetiese borsels (≈ 64%). Vruggewig- en fermheidsverlies verhoudings, relatief tot onbedekte kontrole vrugte, was betekenisvol hoër in vrugte wat met 'n poli-etileenwaks behandel is, in vergelyking met carnauba-waks behandelde vrugte. Poli-etileen waksbehandeling het egter blinker vrugte vóór en ná opberging tot gevolg gehad, terwyl canauba waksbehandeling laer blink verhoudings tot gevolg gehad het. Gas (CO2) uitruilverhoudings het dieselfde vir beide waksbehandelings gebly, maar hoër poli-etileen waksladings (1.8 L.ton-1) het tot afsmake soortgelyk aan die onbedekte kontrole vrugte gelei, en hoër as die evaluerings vir carnauba. Skandeer-elektronmikrograwe het 'n amorfe gekristalliseerde natuurlike wakslaag met onbedekte stomata op die oppervlak van onbedekte vrugte getoon. Die dikte van die toegediende waks het met toename in wakslading toegeneem. Wakslae na toediening met sintetiese borsels teen 1.2 L.ton-1 het dikker vertoon in vergelyking met perdehaar borsels. Hierdie studie het die effekte van borseltipe op die verspreiding en polering van die wakslaag op die oppervlak van vrugte getoon, en versigtige toediening van wakslae onderskryf, aangesien ónder- of óórtoediening swak resultate, in terme van bio-effektiwiteit, residu-lading en vrugkwaliteit, tot gevolg kan hê. / National Research Foundation, THRIP, Citrus Academy & Citrus Research International for bursary and research funding.

Limes (Citrus latifolia Tanaka) are an attractive fruit crop but generally suffer a loss in value as their colour changes from green to yellow. Various approaches were taken to slow degreening including low temperature storage, use of controlled atmosphere (CA) environments, and treatment of fruit with physiologically active agents such as gibberellic acid (GA3). However, the cold storage life of lime fruit can also be restricted by a number of factors including chilling injury (CI) and rots. Various pretreatments such as the use of fungicide (thiabendazole, TBZ) and hot water dipping (HWD) and several postharvest regimes based on temperature conditioning (step down technique) and intermittent warming (IW) regimes were further investigated to protect the fruit against rots and CI during cold storage. The objective of this study was to determine what storage conditions and pretreatments would permit long term storage of NZ limes with minimal loss of quality. CA storage (10% O2 with 0 or 3% CO2) was compared to regular air storage (RA) and IW (varying durations) treatments across a range of temperatures. Although some CA storage regimes could assist in delaying degreening, none of the treatments provided protection against CI. CA storage at 3% CO2 delayed yellowing and gave better fruit quality than the low CO2 treatment. High CO2 CA treatments at 5 or 7°C decreased the rate of colour change compared to other constant temperature treatments but did not protect against CI. CI limited storage of fruit under all conditions at constant low temperatures. Including fungicide (TBZ) in the dip water reduced the incidence of rots and had a secondary effect on protection against CI of lime fruit. However, fungicide use may sometimes exacerbate stresses such as heat injury on lime peel. Hot water dipping has been shown previously to hold potential as a storage pretreatment, but this technique may give risk of damage on produce if it is dipped at too high a temperature. Some HWD treatments did delay degreening, but there was no major effect on CI. HWD at > 47°C for = 4 min caused heat injury to NZ limes. All HWD treatments showed severe CI (>15%) after 10 weeks of cold storage; and HWD fruit stored under RA at 13°C did not show any CI but showed some pitting (= 10%) and degreened rapidly. Overall no suitable HWD treatment for limes was identified in this trial. This project identified the critical periods and temperature conditions for successful IW of limes. The IW conditions successfully delayed losses in quality of lime fruit provided the first warming period was applied within the first 20 days of storage. At least 2-cycle IW was required to maintain lime quality during long term storage. Some benefits were found after just one cycle of IW treatment but there were not enough to extend storage life. IW storage benefited fruit quality and provided the highest overall fruit quality of all postharvest treatments tested. The degreening of lime during cold storage at 5°C could be delayed by IW treatments in which the fruit were stored at 5°C for 12, 16 or 20 days then moved to 15°C for 2 days. Both 2- and 6-cycle IW treatments proved satisfactory for maintaining colour on the green and yellow side of lime for 12 weeks of storage. IW treatments in which fruit were warmed within 20 day of cold storage did not show significant CI symptoms after 12 weeks of storage, and the 2-cycle IW treatment showed only a low percentage of CI fruit at this time. A 2-cycle IW treatment was almost as effective as 6 cycles, and a step down treatment also showed some promising results, indicating that it may be possible to further optimize the time and duration of variable temperature storage regimes to meet both quality requirements and the constraints of temperature management in commercial coolstores. The application of these regimes to other citrus species may also be beneficial. There are a number of physiological explanations that may account for the effectiveness of IW including positive effects on heat shock protein (HSP) and cell membranes. Nutritional factors such as vitamin C and flavonoid compositions were also investigated and fruit that did not show visible CI were found to retain at-harvest levels of these factors. Practical ways of implementing IW are discussed. In order to understand the effectiveness of IW on degreening, I used a logistic model to describe degreening of lime peel. This modelling approach demonstrated that IW did not change the mechanism of lime degreening based on the similarity between the hue values predicted by the model and the actual hue values measured during lime storage. The activation energy (Ea) for degreening based on either hue angle (H°) or colour score (CS) during air storage was estimated to be ~53 and ~86 KJ.mol-1, respectively. Relationship between colour (H° and CS) and chlorophyll content, relationship between reflectance spectra (%), chlorophyll content and H° of lime fruit stored under different conditions are presented and discussed. This data allowed deduction to be made about the changes in individual pigments that are driving colour change during “good” and “bad” storage.

PEREIRA, Gerlândia da Silva. Recobrimento e desverdecimento em frutos de laranjeira “valência delta” armazenados sob diferentes temperaturas. 2012. 89 f. : Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Ceará, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Departamento de Tecnologia de Alimentos, Fortaleza-CE, 2012 / Submitted by Nádja Goes (nmoraissoares@gmail.com) on 2016-06-08T12:01:11Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2012_dis_gspereira.pdf: 1200811 bytes, checksum: 5ad59988caa75747abe66d54a6c4d5f5 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Nádja Goes (nmoraissoares@gmail.com) on 2016-06-08T12:01:22Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2012_dis_gspereira.pdf: 1200811 bytes, checksum: 5ad59988caa75747abe66d54a6c4d5f5 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-08T12:01:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2012_dis_gspereira.pdf: 1200811 bytes, checksum: 5ad59988caa75747abe66d54a6c4d5f5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / The fruit of the cultivar 'Valencia' is a sweet orange of excellent quality, both for production of juice and for consumption in natura. The study aimed to evaluate the quality and conservation, the effect of the use of carnauba based wax (ARUÁ TROPICAL®) and/or degreening in the fruits of orange 'Valencia Delta' produced in the area of semi-arid climate under different storage conditions. The influence of coating on the fruit and its effects was appraised on physical and physical-chemical properties. The oranges of the cultivar 'Valencia Delta', produced at the pole Baixo Jaguaribe, state of Ceará, were coated with carnauba based wax and stored at room temperature and refrigerated, for a period of 28 days. In a second experiment, the fruits were degreened with exogenous ethylene and, after degreening, coated with carnauba based wax. Simultaneously, two experiments were conducted: in first, the fruits were stored under refrigerated conditions by 35 days and submitted to physical and physical -chemical analysis. For the second experiment, among the refrigerated fruits were removed samples for the ambient storage (3 days at 24° C and 40 % RH). The coated fruits showed the lowest mass loss at the end of the experiment, high yield of juice and soluble solids level, high ratio SS/TA and the bioactive compounds showed increase during the storage period. The degreened fruits decreased in bioactive compounds during storage and showed low level of soluble solids. The application of degreening promoted change in the color of the peel, making them yellow fruit, and the use of coating on oranges 'Valencia Delta' was effective because it reduced the loss of weight, enhanced the brightness of the flavedo and maintained the visual quality of the fruits during the storage period. The refrigerated storage associated with the use of coating was affective for the external characteristics of fruits and preserved the indicator parameters of the internal quality. / O fruto da cultivar ‘Valência’ é uma laranja doce de excelente qualidade, tanto para produção de suco, como para o consumo in natura. O trabalho objetivou avaliar a qualidade e conservação, o efeito da utilização de cera à base de carnaúba (ARUÁ TROPICAL®) e/ou desverdecimento nos frutos da laranjeira ‘Valência Delta’ produzida em área de clima semi-árido sob diferentes condições de armazenamento. Foi avaliada a influência do recobrimento sobre os frutos e seus efeitos nas propriedades físicas e físico-químicas. As laranjas da cultivar ‘Valência Delta’, produzidas no pólo do Baixo Jaguaribe, estado do Ceará, foram recobertas com cera à base de carnaúba e armazenadas sob condição ambiente e refrigerada, por um período de 28 dias. Em um segundo experimento, os frutos foram desverdecidos com etileno exógeno e, após o desverdecimento, recobertos com cera à base de carnaúba. Foram realizados, simultaneamente, dois experimentos. No primeiro, os frutos foram armazenados sob condição refrigerada por 35 dias e foram submetidos às análises físicas e físico-químicas. No segundo experimento, dentre os frutos refrigerados foram retiradas amostras para o armazenamento ambiente (3 dias a 24 °C; 40 % UR). Os frutos com recobrimento apresentaram a menor perda de massa ao final do experimento, alto rendimento de suco e teor de sólidos solúveis, alta relação SS/AT e os compostos bioativos apresentaram aumento durante o período de armazenamento. Os frutos desverdecidos decresceram em compostos bioativos durante o período de armazenamento e apresentaram baixo teor de sólidos solúveis. A aplicação do desverdecimento promoveu mudança na cor da casca, tornando-os frutos amarelos, e a utilização de recobrimento em laranjas ‘Valência Delta’ mostrou-se eficiente, pois reduziu a perda de massa, intensificou o brilho do flavedo, e manteve a qualidade visual dos frutos durante o período de armazenamento. O armazenamento refrigerado associado à utilização de recobrimento mostrou-se eficiente para as características externas dos frutos e preservou os parâmetros indicadores da qualidade interna.

Atmosferas com altas concentrações de O2, bem como atmosferas enriquecidas com N2O têm sido sugeridas como alternativas para as atmosferas com baixo O2 e alto CO2. O armazenamento de frutos em atmosferas com alto CO2 por um longo período pode ocasionar desordens fisiológicas. Além disso, existe pouca informação na literatura sobre os efeitos de altas concentrações de O2 no metabolismo oxidativo em frutos. O N2O é um gás de ocorrência natural, não tóxico descrito como um potente antagonista à produção e à ação do etileno. Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a influência da atmosfera controlada com altas concentrações de O2 associadas ou não a CO2 e N2O sobre a fisiologia, o metabolismo oxidativo e o comportamento pós-colheita de bananas e goiabas. Bananas Nanicão e goiabas Kumagai foram submetidas aos tratamentos com atmosfera controlada em sistema de fluxo contínuo. Os frutos foram dispostos em câmaras sob o fluxo de 200 mL min-1. Todos os tratamentos foram mantidos em câmara com temperatura controlada de 22°C. A umidade em torno dos frutos foi mantida em 95%UR. Os frutos foram avaliados quanto à qualidade, produção de CO2, etileno e atividade enzimática. O alto O2 acelerou o início da senescência em ambos os frutos. Porém, foram observadas diferenças entre a banana e a goiaba, sendo que na banana o pico climatérico e o processo de amadurecimento foram antecipados. Na goiaba, o efeito marcante foi a perda da cor verde da casca. Provavelmente, as respostas observadas estão diretamente relacionadas à influência do oxigênio no metabolismo do etileno e as capacidades antioxidantes da banana e goiaba. Quando o alto O2 foi associado ao CO2 e ao N2O também foi verificada antecipação do início da senescência, porém foram verificadas diferenças entre os tratamentos com CO2 e aqueles com N2O. O alto O2 associado ao CO2 evitou a ocorrência de processos fermentativos mesmo nas concentrações mais elevadas de CO2. Com relação ao N2O, a associação deste gás ao alto O2 não reteve o amadurecimento. Por outro lado, sua associação ao baixo O2 permitiu aumento na vida pós-colheita de ambos os frutos, sem a ocorrência de processos fermentativos. Em relação ao metabolismo oxidativo a banana com alto O2 desencadeou acúmulo de oxigênio reativo com conseqüente alteração na atividade das enzimas oxidativas, diferindo da goiaba na qual os teores de oxigênio reativo se mantiveram baixos durante todo armazenamento. Isso ocorre, provavelmente devido às diferenças na capacidade antioxidante entre estas frutas a qual é consideravelmente maior na goiaba. / Atmospheres with high O2 levels and N2O enriched atmospheres have been suggested as an alternative to the atmospheres of low O2 and high CO2. Fruit storage under atmospheres with high CO2 for a long period may develop physiological disorders. In addition, there is not enough information about the effects of high O2 concentrations on fruits oxidative metabolism. N2O is a gas present on nature, non-toxic described as a powerful antagonist to production and action of ethylene. This work aimed to study the influence of controlled atmosphere with high O2 concentrations, associated or not to CO2 and N2O on the physiology, oxidative metabolism and post-harvest behavior of bananas and guavas. Bananas Nanicão and guava Kumagai were treated under continuous flow system. The fruits were placed into chambers under flow of 200 mL min-1. All treatments were maintained in a chamber with controlled temperature of 22°C. The humidity around the fruits was kept at 95% UR. It was quality evaluated CO2 and ethylene production and enzyme activity. The high O2 accelerated the onset of senescence in both fruits. However, differences were observed between the banana and guava, banana anticipated the occurrence of the climacteric peak by changing all the variables related to maturity. The main effect observed over guavas was the loss of peel green color. Probably, the observed responses are related to oxygen effect on ethylene and antioxidant capacity of banana and guava. When the O2 was associated with high CO2 and N2O was also observed an anticipation of the beginning of senescence, but differences were observed between CO2 and N2O treatments. The high O2 associated with CO2 prevented the occurrence of fermentative processes even at the highest concentrations of CO2. The N2O associations with high O2 do not increase postharvest life too. On the other hand, the N2O associations with low O2 allow delay ripening process. In relation to oxidative metabolism at high O2 banana triggered accumulation of reactive oxygen and consequent change in the activity of enzymes involved, differing from guava in which the levels remained low throughout storage. This is probably due to differences in the antioxidant activity of these fruits and which is considerably higher in guava. Keywords: High oxygen; Nitrous oxide;