No Brasil, existem diversas espécies frutíferas nativas com potencial de exploração comercial, especialmente na região da Amazônia, local de origem do abiu (Pouteria caimito), bacupari (Rheedia gardneriana) e camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia). Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a fisiologia e a conservação pós-colheita destes frutos, bem como o comportamento dos mesmos quando submetidos à técnicas de conservação. O projeto foi dividido em três etapas. A primeira etapa visou determinar a influência do estádio de maturação na qualidade e fisiologia pós-colheita dos frutos estudados. Na segunda etapa foram determinados os efeitos do 1-Metilciclopropeno (1-MCP) e do etileno (C2H4) na fisiologia e na conservação pós-colheita dos mesmos. A terceira etapa teve o objetivo de verificar a influência da temperatura de armazenamento na sua qualidade. Os frutos foram analisados quanto à incidência de podridões, atividade respiratória, produção de etileno e características físicas e químicas. Além de terem sido determinados os teores de clorofila, carotenóides totais e antocianinas totais. Verificou-se que os abius enquadram-se na classificação de frutos climatéricos, sendo que os mesmos devem ser colhidos no estádio de maturação 2, caracterizado pela cor da casca verde-amarela. Já nos bacuparis foi constatado padrão não-climatérico, sendo necessário colhê-los quando maduros, ou seja, com a casca na coloração laranja (estádio 3). Os camu-camus foram considerados frutos climatéricos e devem ser colhidos quando os frutos alcançarem o estádio de maturação 3, ou seja, com a casca na coloração vermelho-esverdeada. Em relação à aplicação do 1-MCP, este regulador influenciou a qualidade e fisiologia dos abius e camu-camus, aumentando a vida de prateleira dos frutos, como consequência da capacidade do 1-MCP em inibir a ação do etileno nos tecidos e retardar o amadurecimento. Já nos bacuparis, o 1-MCP apenas reduziu a incidência de podridões nos frutos. A temperatura de armazenamento influenciou a conservação de todos os frutos, sendo que, para os abius e bacuparis, recomenda-se o armazenamento a 10°C, enquanto que, para os camu-camus, a temperatura ideal é a de 5°C. / In Brazil, there are several native fruits with commercial potential, especially in the Amazon region, place of origin of abiu (Pouteria caimito), bacupari (Rheedia gardneriana) and camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia). Thus, the objective of this work was to study the physiology and postharvest conservation of fruits, as well as their behavior when subjected to conservation techniques. The project was divided into three steps. The first step was to determine the influence of maturation stage on quality and postharvest physiology of those fruits. The second step determined the effects of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and ethylene (C2H4) on physiology and postharvest conservation of these fruits. The third step was to verify the influence of storage temperature on its quality. Fruits were analyzed for incidence of decay, respiration rate, ethylene production and physical and chemical characteristics. Was determinated levels of total chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocyanins. It was verified that classification abius are climacteric fruits and they must be harvested at maturation stage 2, characterized by skin color green-yellow. Bacuparis are nonclimacteric, and should be harvested mature, as a orange skin color (stage 3). The camu-camus are climacteric fruits and should be harvested when the fruits reach the maturation stage 3 with skin color red-green. The application of 1-MCP influences the quality and physiology of abius and camu-camus, increasing the shelf life of these fruits, as a result of 1-MCP\'s ability to inhibit ethylene action in tissues and retarding ripening. In the bacupari, 1-MCP only reduced the incidence of decay in fruits. The storage temperature affect the conservation of all fruits, and for the abius and bacuparis are recommended storage at 10°C, while for camu-camus, the ideal temperature is 5 °C.

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar os efeitos isolados de distintas concentrações de dióxido de carbono (CO2), de oxigênio (O2) e de óxido nitroso (N2O); e também as combinações dos melhores resultados para a conservação de morangos \'Oso Grande\'. Os frutos foram selecionados, resfriados e armazenados a 10 °C em câmaras herméticas, com fluxo contínuo de 150 mL min-1. Os frutos foram avaliados a cada dois dias até se tornarem impróprios para o consumo. Quanto maior as concentrações de CO2 (0,03 %; 10 %; 20 %, 40 % e 80 %) associadas a 20 % de O2 em atmosfera de armazenamento menor foi a incidência de doenças. Os morangos armazenados com 80 % de CO2 foram considerados inadequados para o consumo, por apresentarem teores elevados de acetaldeído (4,9 mg 100g-1) e de etanol (105,3 mg 100g-1). Já as concentrações de 20 % e de 40 % CO2 conservaram os frutos por até oito dias, com manutenção da cor e das características comerciais. As concentrações de O2 (1 %; 3 %; 20 %; 60 %; e 90 %) demonstraram que a atividade respiratória dos morangos foi menor nas atmosferas com 1 % e 3 % de O2. O tratamento com 90 % O2 proporcionou menor incidência de podridões (2,8 %). Os morangos armazenados com 60 e 90 % de O2 mantiveram suas características comerciais por 10 dias. No ensaio com diferentes concentrações de N2O (0 %; 10 %; 30 %; 60 %; e 80 %) associadas a 20 % de O2, observou-se que os frutos com esse gás obtiveram as melhores avaliações de aparência, e reduziu em 36,3 % a respiração dos mesmos após 24 horas de armazenamento, e manteve-se estável até o fim do período. As concentrações de 60 % e de 80 % N2O se mostraram adequadas para a conservação dos morangos, por apresentarem menor ocorrência de doenças e de taxa respiratória, e, portanto, mantendo as características comerciais. Neste experimento foram avaliadas novamente as atmosferas com 0,03 % CO2 + 20 % O2; 80 % N2O + 20 % O2 e 90 % O2; além de avaliar as combinações de 60 % O2 + 40 % CO2 e de 20 % O2 + 20 % CO2 + 60 % N2O. As menores incidências de podridões e as melhores notas de aparência foram nos frutos armazenados com 80 % N2O + 20 % O2 e 20 % O2 + 20 % CO2 + 60 % N2O. Os morangos sob 60 % O2 + 40 % CO2 foram considerados inadequados para o consumo, por apresentarem teores elevados de acetaldeído (54,8 mg 100g-1) e de etanol (42,4 mg 100g-1). Os morangos \'Oso Grande\' a 10 ºC, sob atmosfera controlada com 80 % N2O + 20 % O2; 90 % O2 ou 20 % O2 + 20 % CO2 + 60 % N2O, conservam sua coloração, reduziram a ocorrência de doenças e mantiveram a qualidade comercial por 14 dias. / The aim of this work were to evaluate the isolates effects of different concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2) and nitrous oxide (N2O); and also the combinations of the best results for the conservation of strawberries \'Oso Grande\'. The fruit have been selected, cooled and stored to 10 °C in air tight chambers with continuous flow of 150 ml min-1. The fruits were evaluated every two days to become unfit for consumption. The higher concentrations of CO2 (0,03 %; 10 %; 20 %, 40 % and 80 %) associated with 20 % O2 in the atmosphere of storage, it smaller was the incidence of diseases. The strawberries stored with 80 % of CO2 were considered unsuitable for the consumption on the present high levels of acetaldehyde (4,9 mg 100 g-1) and the ethanol (105,3 mg 100 g-1). Already concentrations of 20 % and 40% of CO2 were conserved the fruit for up to 8 days, with maintenance of the color and the commercial characteristics. The concentrations of O2 (1 %; 3 %; 20 %; 60 %; and 90 %) showed that strawberry respiratory activity was lower in atmospheres with 1 % and 3 % of O2. The treatment with 90 % O2 provided the lower incidence of rotting (2,8 %). The strawberries stored with 60 and 90 % O2 maintained their commercial characteristics for 10 days. In the test with different concentrations of N2O (0 %; 10 %; 30 %; 60 %; and 80 %) associated with 20 % O2, observed that the fruit with this gas obtained the best results of appearance, and the respiratory rate of the fruit reduced in 36,3 % after 24 hours of storage, and maintained stable until the end of the period. The concentrations of 60 % and 80 % of N2O showed appropriate for the conservation of strawberries for presented a lesser occurrence of diseases and of respiratory rate, and therefore maintaining the commercial characteristics. In this experiment were evaluated again the atmospheres with 0,03 % CO2 + 20 % O2; 80 % N2O + 20 % O2 and 90 % O2; in addition to evaluating the combinations of 60 % O2 + 40 % CO2 and 20 % O2 + 20 % CO2 + 60 % N2O. The smallest incidences rotting and best notes of appearance were in the fruit stored with 80 % N2O + 20 % O2 and 20 % O2 + 20 % CO2 + 60 % N2O. The strawberries under atmosphere with 60 % O2 + 40 % CO2 were considered unsuitable for consumption to the showed high levels of acetaldehyde (54,8 mg 100 g-1) and of ethanol (42,4 mg 100 g-1). The strawberries \'Oso Grande\' at 10 ºC, under controlled atmosphere with 80 % N2O + 20 % O2; 90% O2 or 20 % O2 + 20 % CO2 + 60 % N2O maintained their color, reduced the occurrence of diseases and maintained the commercial quality for 14 days.

There is increasing interest in special heptose carbohydrates, their multifunctional roles from a plant physiological view point in fruit growth and development as well as in the whole plant in general due to their potential in mitigating photo-oxidative injury to the whole plant system and the image of avocado as ‘health fruit’. Studies have been carried out to investigate the role of avocado heptoses, rare carbohydrates predominantly produced in avocado. Several authors have documented various research findings and speculated on multifunctional roles of avocado special sugars. However, few reports have made an attempt to elucidate the multifunctional roles of avocado heptose carbohydrates as: ‘sources of energy’, storage and phloem-mobile transport sugars, and precursors for formation of antioxidants. Assessing the avocado carbohydrates over the plant growth and development during ontogeny may, therefore, offer clues to better understand whole plant behaviour. Plant sampling was carried out over different developmental stages. Using plants grown in the light versus etiolated seedlings; sugar determinations were also done to determine what sugar is produced from which storage organs. The sugars were extracted and analysed by isocratic HPLC/RID. The embryo had 47.11 % hexose and 52.96 % heptose sugars. The seed, however, also released significant amounts of D-mannoheptulose (7.09 ± 1.44 mg g-1 d. wt) and perseitol (5.36 ± 0.61 mg g-1 d. wt). Similarly fruit and leaf tissues had significant amounts of heptoses relative to hexoses at specific phenological stages. In postharvest ‘readyto-eat’ fruit the following carbohydrate concentrations were as follows:exocarp heptoses 13 ± 0.8; hexoses 4.37 ± 1.6 mg g-1 d. wt, mesocarp heptoses 8 ± 0.2; hexoses 3.55 ± 0.12 mg g-1 d. wt), seed heptoses (only perseitol) 13 ± 1.1; hexoses 5.79 ± 0.53 mg g-1 d. wt. The results of this experiment was the first to demonstrate that the heptoses D-mannoheptulose, and its polyol form, perseitol, are found in all tissues/organs at various phenological stages of avocado growth and development. Secondly, heptoses, as well as starch are carbohydrate reserves that are found in avocado. The heptoses, beyond being abundantly produced in the avocado plant, are also found in phloem and xylem saps as mobile sugars. The study also presents data on the interconversion of the C7 sugars Dmannoheptulose and perseitol. It is deduced that D-mannoheptulose can be reduced to perseitol, and perseitol can also be oxidized to D-mannoheptulose by enzymes present in a protein extract of the mesocarp. The potential catalyzing enzyme is proposed to be an aldolase, as electrophoretic determinations prove the presence of such an enzyme during various stages of development in various plant organs. Avocado heptoses play an important role in plant growth and development and in fruit in particular. Moreover, they are reported as sources of anti-oxidants, and contribute significantly to fruit physiology if they function in coordination with other anti-oxidants in fruit tissues. To evaluate the presence of anti-oxidant systems throughout avocado fruit development, various tissues were analysed for their total and specific anti-oxidant compositions. Total anti-oxidant levels were found to be higher in the exocarp and in seed tissue than in the mesocarp. While seed tissues contained predominantly ascorbic acid (AsA) and total phenolics (TP), the anti-oxidant composition of the mesocarp was characterised by the C7 sugar, D-mannoheptulose. Among the anti-oxidant enzymes assayed, peroxidase (POX) and catalase (CAT) were present in higher concentrations than superoxide dismutase (SOD) in mesocarp tissue. Different anti-oxidant systems seem to be dominant within the various fruit tissues. Carbohydrates are the universal source of carbon for cell metabolism and provide the precursors for the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, for example via the shikimic acid pathway for phenols. The preharvest free and membrane-bound phenols, catechin and epicatechin, are distributed differently in the various fruit tissues. Membrane-bound and free phenols also play a role as anti-oxidants, with free ones being more important. KSil (potassium silicate) application to fruit as postharvest treatment was used to facilitate the release of conjugates to free phenols via lysis. This treatment improved fruit shelf life. Western blotting also revealed that postharvest Si treatment affects the expression of enzymatic anti-oxidant-catalase (CAT). Overall the thesis results revealed that C7 sugars have anti-oxidant properties and that D-mannoheptulose is the important anti-oxidant in the edible portion of the avocado fruit. Dmannoheptulose is furthermore of paramount importance as a transport sugar. Perseitol on the other hand acts as the storage product of D-mannoheptulose, which can be easily converted into D-mannoheptulose. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

‘Fuerte’ makes up 25% of the avocados exported from South Africa to European markets and requires shipping periods of up to 28 days and a correctly managed cold chain. A temperature of 5.5°C and expensive CA and 1-MCP treatments are currently used to delay ripening over this lengthy cold chain; however, fruit still appear on the European market showing signs of softening and physiological disorders. Increased competition on the global market and the disadvantage of a particularly long distance to the European market has challenged the South African export industry. These challenges have necessitated improved road and sea transport logistics, co-ordination with producing countries which supply fruit to European markets over similar periods as South Africa, and research into ultra-low temperature storage to possibly enable future access to new lucrative markets in the USA, China and Japan. It is also known that there are various ‘weak links’ in this cold chain and that cold chain breaks are detrimental to fruit quality, but further research into the negative effects of these cold chain breaks at ultra-low temperatures was needed. Thus, the objective of the study was to determine the potential for shipping ‘Fuerte’ avocados at temperatures of 2°C as well as determining the effects of cold chain breaks on fruit quality, throughout the growing season and possibly for an extended period of 56 days. ‘Fuerte’ avocados were harvested at three different maturity stages reflecting early-, mid- and late-season fruit, with moisture contents of 74%, 68% and 63%, respectively. Fruit were stored at 2°C or 5.5°C, treated with 1-MCP and waxed. Additionally cold chain breaks (24 hour delay and break at 14 days) were implemented. Fruit softening, mass loss, days-to-ripening, external and internal quality as well as antioxidant levels and total sugar levels were determined. The first aim was to determine whether a lower than currently used storage temperature could be a successful alternative to 1-MCP use. A storage temperature of 2°C provided good internal quality as well as reduced mass loss and fruit softening, which is related to the slightly reduced use of C7 sugars at 2°C compared with 5.5°C. Although the overall occurrence of external chilling injury was relatively low, 2°C storage caused a notably higher occurrence of external chilling injury than 5.5°C storage, particularly early in the season, but extended the days-to-ripening. Unfortunately, no correlation between the anti-oxidants in the exocarp and external damage was found. Waxing significantly reduced the external damage on fruit stored at 2°C, so much so, that the treatment combinations of ‘2°C, no 1-MCP, waxed’ showed no external chilling injury throughout the season. Further, waxing fruit at 2°C could eliminate the need for 1-MCP, delivering a product of the required shelf-life and quality. Best results were achieved for mid-season fruit stored at 2°C. Late-season fruit would potentially be the most profitable to store at this low temperature, however, body rots (anthracnose and stem-end rot) were more common in the late-season. Storage at 2°C can therefore maintain the internal quality over a storage period of 28 days and be a potential alternative to 1-MCP use as the season progresses. The effect of cold chain breaks on fruit quality was then investigated and showed that both a delay and a break in the cold chain increased mass loss and fruit softening, reduced days-to-ripening and increased external chilling injury, especially early in the season. Water loss was the main contributor to the decreased fruit quality which resulted from the delay in cooling, increasing external damage significantly, particularly early in the season. The break at 14 days had a marked effect on physiological activity of fruit during storage, seen mainly in the increased metabolic activity, resulting in increased fruit softening and water loss during storage and a decrease in C7 sugars and thus shelf-life, particularly for fruit stored at 5.5°C. Importantly, 1-MCP use and storage at 2°C reduced the effects of cold chain breaks with respect to fruit softening, however, lowering the storage temperature had a greater negating effect than 1-MCP and could be a successful alternative to the use of 1-MCP. The internal quality throughout the experiment was very good, with few internal disorders and no significant treatment effects on internal quality and C7 sugar concentrations. Overall, a break in the cold chain, before and during cold storage, resulted in a marked reduction in fruit quality. The storage temperature of 5.5°C should not be used for a 56 day storage period as it resulted in significant fruit softening during storage, even when 1-MCP was used, and resulted in significantly more external chilling injury in the mid- and late-season than at 2°C. Storage of 1-MCP treated, waxed fruit at 2°C, resulted in the best shelf-life and fruit quality, particularly mid-season fruit which had negligible external chilling injury and 100% sound fruit. Early-season fruit suffered significant external chilling injury at 2°C and late-season fruit had the highest body-rots and internal disorders at this storage temperature. Although mid-season fruit could be successfully stored at 2°C for 56 days, the use of a 56 day storage period is not recommended as a practical storage period, due to the high risk of external damage, particularly if maturity levels are not optimum and trees and fruit are not of the highest quality. Overall this thesis has shown that 1-MCP treatment can play an important role early in the season when fruit are susceptible to external damage, however, storage at 2°C results in good quality fruit and, when used in conjunction with waxing, appears to be a viable alternative to the use of 1-MCP, particularly later in the season. Further, the negative effects of cold chain breaks on fruit quality have been demonstrated and, importantly, the storage temperature of 2°C negates the fruit softening effects of these breaks, even if 1-MCP is not used. / Thesis (M.Sc.Agric.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

The use of sulphur as a method of postharvest disease control and colour retention in litchis is soon to be restricted by the European Union. It is therefore essential that new postharvest treatments and packaging techniques be developed in order to retain internal and external fruit qualities and thus allow for export. Good litchi quality is not only important for the export market but also for use on the local market. In this study, alternative methods for postharvest quality control were investigated with the aim of extending the litchi storage life to 40 days under modified storage. Packaging the fruit in polypropylene bags significantly decreased fruit water loss and resulted in an increase in shelf life, as determined by red colour and overall rind appearance. There was no distinct advantage of amodified atmosphere. The use of a punnet, lined with absorbent sheeting and placed within the sealed polypropylene bag, further improved the shelf life. The absorbent sheeting reduced the amount of free water and resulted in little pathogen infection, while the punnet was effective in protecting the fruit from damage. It was notable that most water loss occurred within the first 10 days of storage and that the majority would actually take place during the cooling phase. A hydrocooling technique was therefore investigated and was found to not significantly decrease water loss, possibly due to not hydrocooling the fruit for a long enough period of time. Temperature management was extremely important for both colour retention and pathogen control. It was found that treatments stored at 5.5QC showed better colour retention after the 40 days storage than the 1QC storage treatment. The higher storage temperature, however, enhances the potential for postharvest diseases. Three compounds, namely ISR 2000, 'Biosave' and F10, were tested for pathogen control. 'Biosave' showed the best results with the most effective concentration being 100 mill water and good pathogen control occurred when storage was at 10 C. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity in the litchi rind was evaluated as it is thought to be closely related to browning of litchi fruit, probably due to the degradation of phenolics by PPO. Brown fruit had a high PPO activity whilst red fruit had much lower activity. It was also shown that PPO activity decrease over storage time, possibly due to product inhibition of the enzyme. The internal quality of the fruit was determined using the T88: acid ratio of the pulp, as it is well correlated to mean eating quality. For fruit to have excellent taste, it must have a T88: acid ratio of between 31:1 and 60:1. All the fruit had a ratio that met this criterion and would therefore ensure good eating quality. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

South Africa is the second largest exporter of citrus fruit in the world. There has recently emerged a strong demand for lemons in the world market due to their nutritional value, culinary and non-culinary uses. During exportation, fruit are subjected to low temperature (-0.5°C) for varying periods of time as an obligatory quarantine treatment. However, lemons are sensitive to low temperatures and easily develop chilling injury during this obligatory quarantine treatment. This has become a major limitation to the expansion of South Africa’s lemon industry. Postharvest treatments with methyl jasmonate (MJ) and / or salicylic acid (SA) have been successfully used in horticultural crops to reduce chilling injury. A similar treatment was applied to ‘Eureka’ lemons. During the 2008 harvest season, postharvest fruit were either dipped in 10 or 50 μM MJ or 2 or 2.5 mM SA solutions. A control or no dip treatment was also applied. Three replicates of 15 fruits per treatment were used. During the 2009 harvest season the following postharvest treatments were applied as dips: 10 μM MJ, 2 mM SA, 10 μM MJ & 2 mM SA, 1 μM MJ & 0.2 mM SA, or 0.1 μM MJ & 0.02 mM SA solutions. A control or no dip treatment was also applied. Three replicates of 15 fruits per treatment were used. Subsequently fruit were stored at -0.5ºC for 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days, before being transferred to room temperature (25°C) for 7 days where after chilling injury was rated. Treatments with 10 μM MJ and / or 2 mM SA reduced chilling injury symptoms in lemons harvested during the 2009 season. Although no visual symptoms of chilling injury were observed during the 2008 harvest season, treatments with 10 μM MJ and / or 2 mM SA reduced fruit mass loss, delayed the occurrence of stress symptoms such as lipid peroxidation and suppressed accumulation of ROS in the rind. Treatments with 10 μM MJ and / or 2 mM SA were more effective in inducing antioxidant capacity and other defence compounds such as phenolics, ascorbic acid, carbohydrates and chilling injury responses such as accumulation of proline in the rind. This may have increased the chilling tolerance of fruit during the cold storage. Therefore, this study revealed that MJ and SA have the potential to reduce and delay symptoms of chilling injury in lemons. This lead to the suggestion that both, MJ and SA dips should be further tested as treatments to mitigate chilling injury in lemons. Future studies should focus more on preventing the injury itself or preventing the primary event of chilling injury. This could probably reduce the chances of secondary events to take place. / Thesis (M.Sc.Agric.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.

Avocados are one of the major food sources in tropical and subtropical regions and are an important horticultural crop in South Africa. Avocados are exported over long distances and may have storage times of up to 30 or more days at temperatures of about 5.5oC. This procedure increases the risk of poor fruit quality, including physiological disorders, early softening and postharvest disease incidence. A major component of the postharvest diseases is Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Anthracnose infects unripe fruit and once infected, the fungus remains dormant in the fruit until ripening begins. This leads to a problem for producers and packers, as the presence of the disease cannot be detected on the pack line, and fruit is not removed. Anthracnose control is normally done through pre-harvest treatment with copper-based fungicides. While effective such treatment needs to be repeated frequently, resulting in copper residues on the avocados. The study was conducted to investigate the effects of phosphoric acid and potassium silicate on known antifungal compounds and critical enzymes of the pathways elemental for systemic resistance inducers, so as to evaluate the potential for using them as alternatives to or in conjunction with, copper fungicides in the control of Anthracnose in avocado fruit. The study included storage temperature and time variations, to take account of the logistics in shipping avocado fruit to distant markets. Pre- and postharvest applications of phosphoric acid and potassium silicate were used, and after harvest, fruit were either ripened at room temperature (22oC) without storage or stored for 28 days at temperatures of 5.5oC or 2oC before analysis. Concentrations of phenolics, activity of the enzyme phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and a known antifungal diene were determined in the fruit exocarp. Pre-harvest treatments of phosphoric acid showed that the highest phenolic concentration was found in fruit harvested 14 days after application for fruit stored at room temperature. For fruit stored at 5.5°C it was seen that as fruit softened, phenolic concentrations increased compared with hard fruit immediately after storage, with the highest increase noted for fruit harvested 7 days after application. When comparing the three storage temperatures, phenolic concentrations were enhanced most when fruit was stored at 2°C. Postharvest treatments showed a significant increase in phenolic concentrations for potassium silicate treated fruit stored at room temperature and 2°C when determined immediately after storage. Fruit stored at 5.5°C showed an increase in phenolic concentrations as it became softer. When considering PAL enzyme activity, it was found that postharvest treatments of both potassium silicate and phosphoric acid influenced enzyme activity, with potassium silicate having greater effects. Similarly, an increase in PAL activity was noted in the pre-harvest phosphoric acid treatment harvested 14 days after application for fruit ripened immediately as well as fruit stored at 5.5°C. Fruit stored at 2°C showed the highest PAL activity for fruit harvested 7 days after application. No results were obtained in the analysis of antifungal compounds for both pre- and postharvest treatments. However, it is suggested that the antifungal diene could follow similar trends to those found for phenolics. It is concluded that applications of both phosphoric acid and potassium silicate do create changes in phenolic concentrations and the activity of the enzyme PAL which is involved in the synthesis of phenolic compounds known to possess antifungal properties. It is therefore possible that phosphoric acid and potassium silicate may be used as part of an integrated programme for Anthracnose control, and should be tested as potential alternatives for high volume copper-based fungicides. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Rind colour is one of the most important external quality characteristics of citrus fruit and plays an important role in purchasing decisions by consumers. Consumers perceive brightlycoloured fruit to be sweet and mature, whereas citrus with a green rind is perceived to be sour and immature. However, there is a poor correlation between rind colour and internal quality, contradicting what is generally assumed by the fruit-buying public. In general, a bright orange rind colour improves consumer acceptance. Thus, it is important to ensure that the rind of citrus fruit is well-coloured on arrival at the market. Various pre-harvest cultural practices and postharvest techniques can be applied to improve rind colour. Degreening with ethylene gas is the most commonly used postharvest technology to improve rind colour, but has various negative side-effects. Degreened fruit are more prone to decay, have rinds which appear dull and flaccid, have been reported to develop off-flavours and have a shorter shelf-life period. Therefore, it is necessary to find alternatives to ethylene degreening and to extend shelf-life of citrus fruit. Under normal orchard conditions, rind colour development is associated with low night temperatures, usually experienced during autumn or following the passing of a cold front. To simulate cold front conditions, a hydrocooler and cold room were used to rapidly drop fruit temperature to 4 ºC for 6 hours, and then fruit were incubated at 20 to 22 ºC for 72 hours. This “cold shock” treatment of ‘Nules Clementine’ mandarin improved rind colour to a level similar to that of degreened fruit in the 2002 season due to a decrease in chlorophyll content and increase in carotenoid content. However, this result could not be repeated. Storage temperature is one of the most important postharvest factors affecting rind colour. Citrus fruit shipped to export markets requiring low temperatures (-0.6 ºC) for pest disinfestations purposes have been reported to arrive with poor rind colour. Shipping under low temperatures results in poor rind colour of fruit on arrival in the market. To comply with the USA’s phytosanitary requirement for imported citrus, fruit is held at -0.6 ºC for a minimum of 22 days. The effect of shipping at various temperatures (-0.6 ºC or 4.5 ºC), durations and the influence of initial rind colour, “orange” or “yellow”, on fruit colour upon arrival in the market was evaluated. Fruit shipped at a higher temperature (4.5 ºC) had a marginally better rind colour than fruit shipped at -0.6 ºC. The perceived loss of rind colour following shipping at sub-zero temperatures is probably due to carotenoid degradation. Therefore, initial rind colour plays a critical role in final product quality. Depending on market destination and shipping temperature, pale-coloured fruit should not be packed for markets sensitive to rind colour. Holding temperature after shipping can be effectively used to improve the rind colour of fruit arriving in the market with undesirable rind colour. An intermediate holding temperature of between 11 and 15 ºC resulted in the greatest improvement in rind colour after 2 weeks. A high holding temperature (20 ºC) caused colour degradation, whereas a low holding temperature (4.5 ºC) resulted in the maintenance of rind colour. By selecting the correct holding temperature, even after shipping at sub-zero temperatures, final colour can be improved. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tyd-temperatuur interaksie op na-oes skilkleur ontwikkeling by sitrus Skilkleur is een van die belangrikste eksterne kwaliteitseienskappe van die sitrusvrug en spëel ʼn belangrikke rol in wat verbruikers koop. Verbruikers verwag dat heldergekleurde vrugte soet en ryp sal wees, terwyl sitrus met ʼn groen skil geassosieer word met onrypheid en ʼn suur smaak. In teenstelling hiermee is daar egter ʼn swak korrelasie tussen skilkleur en interne kwaliteit. Aangesien ʼn heldergekleurde oranje skil verbruikersaanvaarding verbeter, is dit dus belangrik om te verseker dat die sitrusvrug ʼn goeie skilkleur het teen die tyd wat dit die mark bereik. Verskeie voor-oes bestuurspraktyke en na-oes tegnieke kan toegepas word om die skilkleur te verbeter. Ontgroening met etileen gas is die tegnologie wat mees algemeen gebruik word om skilkleur na oes te verbeter, maar dit het egter verskeie newe effekte tot gevolg. Ontgroende vrugte is meer vatbaar vir bederf en verwelkde skille met ʼn dowwe voorkoms. Afsmaake kan voorkom en ʼn verkorte rakleeftyd is al gerapporteer. Dit is dus noodsaaklik om ʼn alternatief vir etileen ontgroening te ontwikkel en die rakleeftyd van sitrusvrugte te verleng. Onder normale boordomstandighede word skilkleur ontwikkeling geassosieer met lae nag temperature wat gewoonlik in die herfs of na ʼn kouefront ondervind word. Om soortgelyke omstandighede na te boots, was ʼn “hydrocooler” en koelkamers gebruik om die temperatuur vinnig te laat daal tot by 4 °C en dit vir 6 uur daar te hou. Die vrugte was dan by 20 tot 22 °C geinkubeer vir 72 uur. Hierdie “koueskok” behandeling van ‘Nules Clementine’ mandaryn het skilkleur verbeter tot ʼn vlak vergelykbaar met ontgroende vrugte in die 2002 seisoen wat ontstaan het weens ʼn verlaging in chlorofil en ʼn toename in die karotinoïed inhoud van die skil. Opbergingstemperatuur is een van die belangrikste na-oes faktore wat skilkleur beinvloed. Sitrusvrugte wat verskeep word na uitvoermarkte wat lae temperature (-0.6 °C) vir disinfestasie vereis arriveer soms by die mark met ʼn swak skilkleur. Om die fitosanitêre vereistes vir die invoer van sitrus deur die VSA na tekom, was vrugte vir ʼn minimum van 22 dae by -0.6 °C gehou. Die effek van verskeping by verskeie temperature (-0.6 °C of 4.5 °C), tydperke en die invloed van aanvanklike skilkleur, “oranje” of “geel” was geevalueer by aankoms in die mark. Vrugte wat by hoër temperature (4.5 °C) verskeep was het ʼn effens beter skilkleur as vrugte by -0.6 °C getoon. Die verlies in skilkleur wat waargeneem word na verskeping onder vriespunt kan moontlik toegeskryf word aan karotenoiëd afbraak. Daarom speel aanvanklike skilkleur ʼn kritieke rol in finale produk kwaliteit. Die finale mark bestemming en verskepingstemperatuur sal bepaal of swakgekleurde vrugte verpak kan word. Opbergingstemperatuur na verskeping kan effektief gebruik word om die skilkleur van vrugte wat swak gekleur was met aankoms by die mark te verbeter. Matige temperature tussen 11 en 15 °C het na 2 weke die beste verbetering in skilkleur gelewer. Hoër temperature (20 °C) het skilkleur nadelig beinvloed, terwyl lae temperature skilkleur behou het. Deur die korrekte temperatuur te kies, selfs na verskeping by temperature onder vriespunt, kan uiteindelike skilkleur steeds verbeter word.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:36:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 540355 bytes, checksum: e4682c4fe29ca44e4e59ad52adf46039 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-05-27 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The aim of this work was to study the physical-chemical and physiological alterations of minimally processed carrot, red cabbage and kale under refrigeration conditions for two distinct harvest periods. Accumulation of gas (CO2, O2, C2H4) kept in closed glass jars, evaluated for vegetables harvested in September showed an increase in CO2 and C2H4 production for the kale and vegetable mixture, followed by red cabbage and carrot. Respiration and ethylene production rates of the vegetables harvested in September and January, kept in open glass jars at 5 o C for 10 days, presented an increase in CO2 in September and C2H4 in January, consistently slightly higher for kale and the vegetable mixture, followed by red cabbage and carrot. CO2, O2, C2H4, visual quality, total soluble phenols, chlorophyll, carotenoid and total anthocyanins were evaluated for the isolated vegetables and the mixture. The vegetables harvested in November and January, kept at 5 o C for 10 days in PEAD bags, presented higher CO2 accumulation, lower O2 concentration reduction and lower C2H4 accumulation in November compared to those harvested in January. Dehydration, drying, turgor loss and scent exhalation were the main symptoms accounting for the visual and sensorial quality loss in carrot, red cabbage and kale. Carrot presented increased phenol content and whiteness index under refrigeration conditions. Red cabbage and kale presented reduced total soluble phenol content and increased browning. Chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocyanins reduced under refrigeration Vegetables harvested in January presented higher ethylene production and anticipation of senescence symptoms, being considered marketable until the sixth day, but until the eighth day in the November harvest. Under the experimental conditions, the vegetable mixture maintained the same quality and lower fresh weight loss, compared to the isolated vegetables, what makes it suitable for the market. / O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar alterações físico-químicas e fisiológicas de cenoura, repolho-roxo e couve minimamente processados, durante sua conservação refrigerada em épocas de colheita distintas. O acúmulo de gases (CO2, O2, C2H4) em sistema de jarros de vidro fechado, avaliado para hortaliças colhidas em setembro, mostrou aumento na concentração de CO2 e C2H4 para couve e salada mista, seguida de repolhoroxo e cenoura. Respiração e taxa de produção de etileno nas hortaliças colhidas em setembro e janeiro, estimadas em sistema de jarros de vidro aberto, mantidas a 5 °C ao longo de 10 dias, apresentaram aumento para CO2 em setembro e aumento para C2H4 em janeiro, sempre ligeiramente maior em couve e salada mista, seguida de repolho-roxo e cenoura. CO2, O2, C2H4, qualidade visual, fenóis solúveis totais, clorofila, carotenoides e antocianinas totais avaliados em hortaliças isoladas e em mistura, colhidas em novembro e janeiro e mantidas a 5 °C ao longo de 10 dias em embalagens de PEAD, apresentaram maior acúmulo de CO2, menor redução na concentração de O2 e menor acúmulo de C2H4 em comparação as hortaliças colhidas em janeiro. Desidratação, ressecamento, perda de turgor e exalação de odor foram os principais sintomas responsáveis pela perda de qualidades visual e sensorial em cenoura, repolho-roxo e couve. Cenoura apresentou incrementos para o teor de fenóis e índice de esbranquecimento durante a conservação. Repolho-roxo e couve tiveram redução no teor de fenóis solúveis totais e incremento no índice de escurecimento. Os teores de clorofila, carotenoides e antocianinas reduziram-se durante a conservação. As hortaliças colhidas em janeiro apresentaram maior produção de etileno e antecipação dos sintomas de senescência, sendo considerados comercializáveis até o sexto dia, enquanto as hortaliças colhidas em novembro se estenderam até o oitavo dia. Sob as condições experimentais, a salada mista manteve a mesma qualidade e menor perda de massa fresca que os componentes isolados, viabilizando a comercialização da salada mista estudada.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T16:44:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGPV08MA044.pdf: 355822 bytes, checksum: 1fe501d96a7d73a1fe7a14d6e9a58c69 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-11-19 / This research was carried out to study the effects of controlled atmosphere storage (CA, with ethylene scrubber) and the treatment with the inhibitor of ethylene action, 1- metilciclopropeno (1-MCP) on postharvest quality preservation of Bruno , Monty and Hayward kiwifruits (Actinidia deliciosa). Hayward, Bruno and Monty kiwifruits were harvested in April of 2003 and 2004, in Fraiburgo, SC. After harvest, fruits were treated with 1.0 &#956;L.L-1 of 1-MCP or left untreated (control), and then stored under air (AA; 0.0 ± 0.5°C / 90± 3% RH) or CA (2.0kPa + 4.5kPa CO2 / 0°C ± 0.5°C and 92 ± 3% RH, with ethylene scrubber) conditions. Fruit were assessed at harvest and periodically during cold storage. Fruit left under AA were assessed after 30, 60, 90 and 120 days, while fruit left under CA were assessed after 60, 90, 120 and 150 days in cold storage, followed by seven days at 23°C. Fruits were analyzed in terms of flesh firmness, soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), ethylene production, respiration, and incidence of physiological disorders. The experiment followed a completely randomized design. The data were subjected to analysis of variance, and the least significant difference (LSD) between treatment means was assessed by Fischer`s least significant difference test (p<0.05). The benefits of treatment with 1-MCP on fruit postharvest quality preservation were observed on both, AA and AC (with ethylene scrubber) storage.The response to 1-MCP treatment was affected by cultivar and storage duration. The treatment with 1-MCP delayed the increase in ethylene production and respiration after removal from cold storage in all cultivars. The reduction of ethylene and respiration by 1-MCP delayed flesh firmness and TA loss, and reduced the development physiological disorders. The treatment with 1-MCP had no effect on SSC. Fruits stored in air showed a high metabolism, resulting in low storage potential, even when treated with 1-MCP. There was an additive effect of treatment with 1-MCP and CA storage with ethylene scrubbing on fruit postharvest preservation / O presente estudo teve por objetivo determinar os efeitos da atmosfera controlada (AC) com catalisador de etileno e do inibidor da ação do etileno 1-MCP, sobre a conservação da qualidade pós-colheita de kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa), cultivares Bruno, Monty e Hayward. Kiwis Bruno , Monty e Hayward foram colhidos em abril de 2003 e 2004 em Fraiburgo, SC. Após a colheita, parte dos frutos foi tratada com 1,0 &#956;L.L-1 de 1-MCP e, então, armazenados em condições de atmosfera do ar (AA; 0,0 ± 0,5oC e UR 90 ± 3%) ou atmosfera controlada (AC; 2,0kPa de O2 + 4,5kPa de CO2 / 0oC ± 0,5oC e UR 92 ± 3%, com a presença de catalisador de etileno). Frutos foram analisados na colheita e periodicamente durante armazenagem. As avaliações foram realizadas após 30, 60, 90 e 120 dias de armazenagem sob AA e 60, 90, 120 e 150 dias de armazenagem sob AC, com catalisador de etileno, mais um e sete dias a 23oC. Os frutos foram analisados quanto à firmeza da polpa, teor de sólidos solúveis (SS), acidez titulável (AT), taxa de produção de etileno, taxa respiratória e incidência de distúrbios fisiológicos. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Os dados foram submetidos à análise da variância e as diferenças entre tratamentos determinadas por teste de separação de médias de Fischer (p<0,05). Os benefícios do tratamento com 1-MCP sobre a conservação da qualidade foram observados tanto para frutos armazenados sob AA quanto sob AC (na presença de catalisador de etileno). De maneira geral, as respostas do 1-MCP foram influenciadas pela cultivar e período de armazenagem. O tratamento com 1- MCP retardou o aumento acentuado da taxa de produção de etileno e da taxa respiratória de kiwi após remoção de câmara fria em todas as cultivares. A redução da taxa de produção de etileno e da taxa respiratória pelo tratamento 1-MCP foi associada ao aumento da conservação da firmeza da polpa e da AT, e redução do desenvolvimento de distúrbios fisiológicos. O tratamento com -MCP não apresentou efeito significativo sobre o conteúdo de SS. Frutos armazenados sob AA apresentaram alto metabolismo resultando em baixo potencial de armazenagem, mesmo quando tratados com 1-MCP. Houve efeito aditivo do tratamento 1-MCP mais armazenagem sob AC com eliminação do etileno sobre a conservação dos frutos