Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 1962. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: no abstract available / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: geen opsomming

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Grapes are lost annually due to spoilage by Botrytis cinerea. Botrytis cinerea is currently controlled using fungicides and SO2 fumigation in storage rooms but with limited success. Although these techniques have been used for decades they have been associated with numerous of disadvantages. Fungicides are restricted from being used during storage due to legislation and toxicity of the fungicides present on the surface of the berries. SO2 fumigation does not kill the dormant infections present inside the grape tissue and if the SO2 concentration is too high the berries are damaged. During this study two different polymer nanofibrous platforms was synthesized in an attempt to prevent the rotting effect of B. cinerea. The first polymer was modified to yield a polymer with a positively charged quaternized nitrogen moiety, which was subsequently reacted with sodium metabisulfite through an ion exchange process. The modified polymer was electrospun into nanofibrous mats for the benefit of the nanofibers’ high available surface area. A further functionalization was done to increase the quantity of sodium metabisulfite on the surface of the polymer nanofibers. Sodium metabisulfite salt released SO2 gas upon reaction with water vapour present in the atmosphere which resulted in the inhibition of conidial germination of B. cinerea. The second polymer was synthesized and then electrospun into polymer nanofibrous mats followed by chemical modification of the electrospun polymer nanofibers. This post-electrospun modification resulted in the covalent attachment of a fungicide-derivative to the surface of the polymer nanofibers. The fungicide-derivative showed excellent inhibition of B. cinerea mycelium growth. Anti-fungal studies were conducted using the two modified polymer nanofibrous mats against B. cinerea to evaluate these nanofibrous surfaces as B. cinerea inhibiting membranes. Results indicated that B. cinerea conidial germination and mycelium growth were successfully inhibited. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Druiwe bederf jaarliks weens die verrottende effek van die fungi Botrytis cinerea. Botrytis cinerea word tans beheer deur gebruik te maak van swamdoders en swaweldioksied (SO2) besproeiings in stoorkamers, maar met beperkte sukses. Alhoewel hierdie tegnieke al vir dekades in gebruik is, word dit geassosieer met verskeie probleme. Die gebruik van swamdoders word in stoorkamers verbied, weens die moontlike skadelike inname daarvan deur die mens aangesien die swamdoders op die druiwe se oppervlakte teenwoordig is. SO2-gasbesproeiings maak nie dormante infeksies binne-in die druiwe self dood nie en indien SO2 -konsentrasies te hoog is kan dit die druiwe beskadig. Tydens hierdie studie is twee verskillende polimeer-nanoveselplatforms gesintetiseer met die doel om die verrottende effek van B. cinerea te voorkom. Die eerste polimeer is aangepas met ’n primêre amienverbinding met die doel dat dit deur ‘n opvolgende modifikasiereaksie verander om sodoende ’n polimeer met ‘n kwatenêre ammoniumgroep te verkry. Die doel van die kwatenêre eienskap is dat ioniese uitruiling plaasvind tussen die anioon van die polimeer en die natruimmetabisulfiet-anioon van die sout. Die voorbereide kopolimeer is geëlektrospin in nanoveselmatte deur middel van die enkelnaald-en-enkelbal-elektrospintegniek om SMI-qC12 nanovesels te lewer wat gefunksionaliseer is. Die nanoveselmatte is na die elektrospinproses verder aangepas om die hoeveelheid natruimmetabisulfiet op die oppervlak van die nanovesels te verhoog. Die natruimmetabisulfiet stel SO2-gas vry sodra dit in aanraking kom met waterdamp in die lug wat ’n beperkende effek op spoorontkieming van B. cinerea tot gevolg het. Die tweede polimeer is voor en na die elektrospinproses gefunksionaliseer met gesintetiseerde organiese verbindings (swamdoder). Die aanpassing van die polimeer met die organiese verbindings het plaasgevind op ‘n kovalente wyse om te verhoed dat die organiese verbinding vrygelaat word tydens gebruik. Die organiese verbindings het effektiewe beperking van miselium-groei getoon. Anti-swamstudies is uitgevoer tussen die twee gefunksionaliseerde polimeer platforms en B. cinerea om die oppervlaktes van die gefunksionaliseerde polimeer/nanovesels te evalueer as B. cinerea beperkende platforms. Resultate het aangetoon dat spoorontkieming en miselium groei van B. cinerea suksesvol beperk is.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Fruit quality is the most important factor that determines prices for the fruit in the international markets. Although different consumers perceive quality differently there are quality variables that are always associated with poor quality by all consumers. In table grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) these variables may include overall appearance, stem condition, SO2 damage, decay, berry browning and shatter. The presence of these quality defects negatively affects prices and most often results in quality claims. Cooling is the most widely used method to reduce the postharvest loss of fruit quality. In South Africa, most deciduous fruits including table grapes are forced air cooled to a statutory pulp temperature of –0.5°C prior to shipping in an effort to preserve quality, thus ensuring good market prices for the fruits. Despite these efforts, there are still quality claims from the markets and this reduces the returns to the growers. The objectives of this research were to: (i) see if cooling time can be reduced by cooling to higher pulp temperatures of 1.5°C and 3°C without causing quality losses, thus improving the throughput of the cold rooms; (ii) see if the problem of berry browning can be alleviated by cooling grapes to higher pulp temperature, and (iii) see whether pallet positioning in the cooling tunnels and reefer container affect quality. The trends showed better quality when ‘Victoria’ and ‘Regal Seedless’ were forced air cooled (FAC) to pulp temperatures of 1.5 °C and 3 °C as opposed to –0.5 °C. There were no economic losses associated with pre-cooling grapes to pulp temperatures of 1.5 °C and 3 °C. There were no significant differences in berry browning related to pre-cooling treatments. However, cooling time was reduced significantly. In most of the cooling tunnels and reefer containers used in this trial, grape quality results showed no significant differences between the positions in the stack and in reefer containers. However, in cases where there were significant differences, the middle and the rear positions showed better grape quality in terms of stem condition (dry and brown stems) than the front position (near fan) in both the pre-cooling stack and reefer containers. The trends showed that the front is cooler than the back of the pre-cooling stack. The pulp temperature differences between the front and rear positions in the reefer container were as high as 1.23 °C. The trends also showed that the bottom layers of the pallets were cooler than the top layers in the reefer container. FAC to 3°C resulted in a constant reduction in percentage electrolyte leakage after 4 weeks of storage at –0.5°C, while FAC to 1.5°C, -0.5°C and static room cooling (control) in some cases showed an initially low electrolyte leakage followed by an increase in leakage after 4 weeks of storage. FAC grapes to higher pulp temperatures of 3°C and 1.5°C could reduce the cooling time, thereby improving the throughput of cold rooms. There was no clear evidence to suggest that browning was due to pre-cooling practices. Both preharvest and postharvest conditions need to be further investigated to better understand the problems of browning in white table grapes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vrugkwaliteit is ʼn kritiese faktor in die bepaling van pryse op die internasionale markte. Alhoewel daar variasie voorkom tussen verbruikers in wat vrugkwaliteit is, bly sekere aspekte altyd onveranderd. Ononderhandelbare kwaliteit aspekte in tafeldruiwe (Vitis vinifera L.) sluit die algemene voorkoms, toestand van die trosstingels, SO2 skade, bederf, korrel verbruining en los-korrels in. Indien enige van die kwaliteit-defekte voorkom het dit ʼn negatiewe impak op die prys en lei gewoonlik tot gehalte eise. Verkoeling word algemeen gebruik om die verlies van na-oes kwaliteit te verminder. Die meeste sagtevrugte geproduseer in Suid Afrika (insluitend tafeldruiwe) ondergaan geforseerde verkoeling tot ʼn statutêre pulptemperatuur van -0.5°C, voor verskeping. Ondanks hierdie maatreëls om hoë pryse te verseker, is daar steeds kwaliteiteise in die mark wat lei tot ‘n laer inkomste vir produsente. Die navorsing het dus ten doel gehad om : (i) te bepaal of die tyd van verkoeling verminder kan word, indien na hoër pulptemperature van 1.5°C en 3°C verkoel kan word, sonder ‘n verlies in kwaliteit en sodoende die deurvloeitempo van die koelkamers verhoog; (ii) om te bepaal of die voorkoms van korrelverbruining verlaag kan word indien tot hoër pulp-temperature verkoel word, en (iii) laastens om te bepaal of posisie van die palet in die verkoelingstonnel en verskepingshouer ʼn invloed het op vrugkwaliteit. Tendense toon dat ‘Victoria’ en ‘Regal Seedless’ kwaliteit beter was indien verkoel tot pulptemperature van 1.5°C en 3°C in vergelyking met -0.5°C. Daar was geen ekonomiese verliese waargeneem indien die hoër verkoelingstemperature gebruik is nie. Alhoewel daar geen betekenisvolle verskille in korrelverbruining voorgekom het tussen temperatuur behandelings nie is die verkoelingsperiode verkort. In die meeste van die verskepingshouers, asook in posisies tydens geforseerde verkoeling is daar geen betekenisvolle verskille waargeneem nie. In die gevalle waar daar egter wel betekenisvolle verskille voorgekom het, het die middel en agter posisies beter vrugkwaliteit gehad as die voorste posisie tydens verkoeling asook houerverskeping. Die palette aan die voorkant (naby die waaier) het as ʼn algemene tendens laer temperature as in die agterkant van die verkoelingstonnel. Verskille in pulptemperature tussen palette in die voor en agterkant van verskepingshouers was so hoog as 1.23°C. Die temperatuurdata het uitgewys dat die onderste laag kartonne neig om by ‘n laer temperatuur te wees as die boonste lae kartonne tydens houerverskeping. Geforseerde verkoeling teen 3°C het gelei tot ‘n afname in persentasie elektrolietlekkasie na 4 weke van verkoeling teen -0.5°C. Terselfdertyd het geforseerde verkoeling tot 1.5°C en -0.5°C asook statiese verkoeling (kontrole) in sekere gevalle gelei tot ‘n laer aanvanklike uitlek van elektrolietlekkasie, gevolg deur ʼn verhoging na 4 weke opberging. Geforseerde verkoeling van tafeldruiwe tot pulptemperature van 1.5°C en 3°C verkort die verkoelingstyd en verhoog dus die deurvloeitempo in die verkoelingskamers. Daar was gedurende die studie geen duidelike bewyse gevind dat korrelverbruining voorkom as gevolg van verkoelingspraktyke nie. Beide voor en na-oes praktyke sal verder ondersoek moet word om die invloed daarvan te bepaal op die verbruining van wit tafeldruiwe.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The table grape industry uses rapid cooling and packaging to protect grapes from desiccation and decay. Numerous packaging methods and combinations are used in the industry with each having their own advantages and disadvantages. Inferior postharvest grape quality can usually be ascribed to either deficient or excessive moisture in the carton. Berry split, decay and S02 damage are all disorders that are either caused or aggravated by wet berries in conjunction with elevated temperature. On the other hand, grapes that are exposed to desiccating conditions will develop brown stems and cause ineffective control by S02 gas generators. Moisture management is governed by perforated or non-perforated liners and/or by placing moisture absorbing materials inside the liners. To find the optimum liner perforation or moisture sheet combination, 'Thompson Seedless' and 'Red Globe' (Vitis vinifera Linnaeus) table grape quality was evaluated in various trials. The investigation of non-perforated liners compared to liners with different degrees of perforation concluded the following: Perforated liners benefit grape quality by decreasing S02 damage and berry split due to less moisture in the carton. These benefits, however, also lead to loss in quality due to increased stem desiccation and a lower S02 concentration in the packaging. The lower moisture content in the carton compensates for the lower S02 concentration, creating an environment less favourable for decay development. S02 damage and berry split decreased with an increase in degree of liner perforation, irrespective of the cultivars sensitivity to the disorder. Optimum level of perforation depends on the specific sensitivity of a cultivar to certain quality disorders and the characteristics of the quality disorders associated with a cultivar. Additionally, packing conditions such as product temperature and humidity should be considered. The specific costs associated with the advantages and disadvantages influenced by the degree of liner perforation will be the deciding factor in liner selection. The investigation of a clay-containing, moisture absorbing sheet emphasized the benefits and risks of absorbing large amounts of water within the packaging. Irrespective of using a perforated or non-perforated liner the influence of the desiccant sheet was evident throughout the trials. It benefited grape quality by lowering the incidence of berry split and S02 damage. However, decay control was impaired by the desiccant sheet, and stem desiccation was aggravated. The comparison of non-perforated liners with liners of various degrees of perforation showed the benefit of faster cooling rates of perforated liners. The various perforated liners showed little variation in airflow and cooling times. Morphological studies of various cultivars could not ascribe differences in stem condition to anatomical dissimilarities between various cultivars. It was found that 'Red Globe' had a much larger berry volume to stem weight ratio contributing to a high rate of water loss and stem dehydration. Stem visibility is high in 'Red Globe' due to the straggly, loose nature of the bunches. This heightens the perception of dry, brown stems and overemphasizes the actual severity of the disorder. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die tafeldruifbedryf gebruik versnelde verkoeling en verpakking om druiwe te beskerm teen uitdroging en bederf. Verskeie verpakkingsmetodes word gebruik in die industrie waarvan elkeen sy eie voor- en nadele het. Ondergeskikte na-oes kwaliteit kan gewoonlik toegeskryf word aan óf te min óf te veel vog in die karton. Korrelbars, S02 skade en bederf is almal kwaliteitsdefekte wat óf veroorsaak word, óf vererger word deur nat korrels, saam met 'n verhoging in temperatuur. In teenstelling hiermee sal druiwe wat blootgestel word aan droë toestande, bruin stingels ontwikkel en S02 beheer salook ondoeltreffend wees. Vog in verpakking word beheer deur geperforeerde of nie-geperforeerde binnesakke en/of deur vogabsorberende materiaal binne die binnesak te plaas. Om die optimum binnesak perforasie of vogabsorberende vel kombinasie te vind is 'Thompson Seedless' en 'Red Globe' (Vitis vinifera Linnaeus) tafeldruif kwaliteit ge-evalueer in verskeie proewe. Die bestudering van nie-geperforeerde binnesakke teenoor binnesakke met verskillende grade van perforasies het die volgende resultate gelewer: Geperforeerde binnesakke bevoordeel druif kwaliteit deur die vermindering van S02 skade en korrelbars weens minder vog in die karton. Hierdie voordele sal egter lei tot verlies in kwaliteit weens die vinniger uitdroging van stingels en die verlaging van S02 konsentrasie in die verpakking. Die laer vog inhoud in die karton vergoed vir die vermindering van S02 konsentrasie, omdat minder gunstige toestande vir die ontwikkeling van bederf geskep word. S02 skade en korrelbars het verminder met 'n vermeerdering van perforasies, ongeag die kultivar se sensitiwiteit vir die defekte. Optimum vlakke van perforasie is afhanklik van die spesifieke sensititiwiteit van 'n kultivar tot sekere kwaliteitsdefekte, en eienskappe van die kwaliteitsdefekte wat geassosieer word met die kultivar. Boonop moet verpakkingsomstandighede soos produktemperatuur en humiditeit ook in gedagte gehou word. Die spesifieke koste verbonde aan die voor- en nadele wat beïnvloed word deur die graad van perforasie sal die bepalende faktor wees wanneer 'n binnesak gekies word. Die bestudering van 'n klei-bevattende, vogabsorberende vel het bewys dat dit voordele en risiko's inhou om groot hoeveelhede vog te absorbeer. Ongeag die gebruik van 'n geperforeerde of nie-geperforeerde binnesak, was die invloed van die desikkante vel duidelik in al die proewe. Dit was voordelig vir druif kwaliteit deurdat dit korrelbars en S02 skade verminder het. Bederfbeheer is egter verswak deur die desikkante vel, en stingel uitdroging IS vererger. Die vergelyking van nie-geperforeerde binnesakke met verskillende grade van geperforeerde binnesakke het die voordeel bewys van vinniger verkoelinstempo's van die geperforeerde binnesak. Verskille in die graad van perforasie het 'n klein invloed gehad op die lugvloei en verkoelingstempo 's. Bestudering van verskeie kultivars kon geen morfologiese verskille uitwys wat variasie in stingelkwaliteit tussen kultivars kan verklaar nie. Dit is bevind dat 'Red Globe' 'n baie groter korrelvolume tot stingelgewig verhouding het. Stingels is meer sigbaar by 'Red Globe' weens die yl, los aard van die trosse. Dit verhoog die persepsie van droë, bruin stingels en dit oorbeklemtoon die voorkoms van die defek.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2002 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Prototypes of a new polymer S02 gas-generating sheet for the control of Botrytis cinerea during the post-harvest storage of table grapes, were developed and manufactured for evaluation using a pilot scale production plant. Attention was paid to the appearance of the sheet, in order to make it technologically efficient as well as aesthetically acceptable to both industry and consumers. The storage quality of semi-commercial export consignments of various cultivars table grapes packed with the monolithic thin-film polymer S02 slow release sheet, was evaluated and compared to results obtained using the locally manufactured Uvasys S02 sheet. The following were investigated: the efficacy of the new polymer sheets in controlling storage decay, the stage at which S02 damage is manifested on table grapes, the level of S02 damage associated with different S02 concentrations, whether S02 damage is manifested more readily at a particular position on the bunch, and the possible effect of an increase in storage temperature, from an initial storage at -O.5°C to 10°C, on the levels of S02 bleaching. Results showed that the new polymer S02 sheet compared favourably with the existing, commercially available Uvasys S02 sheets. The exact S02 concentration required for effective decay control varied for different cultivars, as well as for the different types of grape packages. The S02 concentration incorporated within the sheet was shown to be lower for grapes packed in non-perforated bags, and slightly higher for those in perforated bags. Differences between cultivars occurred with regard to the level of control and the levels of S02 damage. Levels of S02 damage were also significantly affected by the storage period and temperature fluctuations. No significant differences in the levels of decay development and S02 damage were observed in relation to the orientation of the bunches in the carton. The extent of damage incurred to grape tissue by the absorption of S02 gas was determined by low-temperature scanning (LTSEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. LTSEM and TEM micrographs of areas damaged by S02 gas revealed that exposure to S02 gas may lead to plasmolysis and the loss of cellular fluids. Although damage to the cell walls, cell wall structures and cell membranes, caused by S02 gas, was more prominent in the tissue layers nearer to the fruit surface, damage also occurred to a lesser extent in deeper tissue layers. S02 gas release-rate studies of polymer S02 sheets containing various concentrations Na2S205 revealed that levels of S02 gas emitted depended largely on the levels of Na2S205 incorporated into the sheets. Higher levels of S02 gas were released with the polymer sheets of higher concentrations Na2S205. The release curve for the commercial Uvasys S02 sheet was very different to that of the polymer sheets, with much higher levels of S02 gas emitted initially by the Uvasys S02 sheet compared to the polymer sheets, while the polymer sheets emitted low levels of S02 gas for longer periods compared to the Uvasys S02 sheet. The manufacturing process and the pilot scale production plant that was developed and constructed was successfully used to manufacture polymer S02 generating sheets that are technically sound and efficient, and aesthetically acceptable to industry. The efficacy of such sheets, regarding levels of decay control and S02 damage, was similar to that obtained with the presently available, commercially used Uvasys S02 sheet. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Nuwe polimeriese S02-gasvrystellingsvel vir die beheer van Botritis cinerea gedurende die na-oes opberging van tafeldruiwe is ontwikkel en vervaardig. 'n Nuwe loodsaanleg is spesiaal vir hierdie doel ontwerp en gebou. Aandag is geskenk aan die voorkoms van die velle aangesien dit belangrik is dat die nuwe velle beide tegnologies effektief en esteties aanvaarbaar moet wees vir die sagtevrugtebedryf en verbruikers. Die opbergingskwaliteit van semi-kommersiële uitvoerbesendings van verskeie kultivars tafeldruiwe, verpak met die nuwe monolitiese S02- gasvrystellingsvelle, is bepaal. Die volgende is ook bepaal: die effektiwiteit van die nuwe polimeriese velle, die stadium waarby S02-skade op die druiwe duidelik word, die vlak van S02-skade wat met verskillende konsentasies S02-gas geassosieer is, die moontlike invloed wat 'n toename in temperatuur (vanaf -0.5° tot 1DOC) op die verbleiking deur S02 sal hê, en of die S02-skade by voorkeur in 'n sekere posisie op die druiwe sal plaasvind. Die nuwe S02-vel het baie goed vergelyk met die kommersieël beskikbare Uvasys S02-vel. Die S02-konsentrasie benodig vir die effektiewe beheer van Botritis cinerea beskadiging het egter van kultivar tot kultivar verskil. Die keuse van die tipe verpakking, geperforeerd of ongeperforeerd, het ook 'n rol gespeel. Die konsentrasie S02-gas benodig vir effektiewe beheer was laer wanneer die druiwe in die nie-geperforeerde sakke verpak was. Vlakke van S02-skade is ook noemenswaardig beïnvloed deur die opbergingsperiode en variasies in temperatuur. Daar was geen duidelike verskil in die ontwikkeling van bederf en S02-skade ten opsigte van die posisie van die trosse in die karton nie. Die mate van S02-skade aan vrugweefsel is deur middel van laetemperatuurskandeerelektronmikroskopie (LTSEM) en transmissieelektronmikroskopie (TEM) bepaal. Daar is bevind dat die blootstelling aan S02 moontlik tot plasmolise en die uitlek van sellulêre vloeistof kon lei. Alhoewel S02-skade aan die selwande en membrane meer prominent in die weefsel naby die oppervlak van die vrug was, het skade ook in die onderliggende lae plaasgevind. Die vlakke van vrygestelde S02-gas het grootendeels afgehang van die konsentrasie natriummetabisulfiet in die velle. Die S02-vrystellingskurwe van die nuut ontwikkelde polimeriese S02-velle het baie verskil van dié van die Uvasys vel. Laasgenoemde lewer aanvanklik 'n hoë konsentrasie vrygestelde S02-gas vir 'n kort periode, gevolg deur baie lae S02 vlakke daarna, terwyl eersgenoemde 'n laer aanvanklike S02 vrystelling het, gevolg deur vergelykederwys hoër S02 konsentrasies daarna. Die ontwikkelde vervaardigingsproses en die loodsaanleg wat daaruit voortgevloei het is dus suksesvol aangewend om goeie polimeriese S02- vrystellingsvelle te vervaardig. Hierdie velle is tegnies effektief vir die beheer van Bofrifis cinerea gedurende die na-oes verpakking van tafeldruiwe en is esteties aanvaarbaar vir die Suid Afrikaanse sagtevrugtebedryf.