Zahra Falati; Mohammadreza Fattahi; Ali Ebady
Abstract
Introduction: Plums (Prunus spp.) as one of the most popular stone fruits, have low calories and high nutritional value. Over the past decades global production of European and Japanese plums reached from 6,110,870 tons in 1990 to 11,528,337 tons in 2013. In the same period plum production in Iran reached ...
Read More
Introduction: Plums (Prunus spp.) as one of the most popular stone fruits, have low calories and high nutritional value. Over the past decades global production of European and Japanese plums reached from 6,110,870 tons in 1990 to 11,528,337 tons in 2013. In the same period plum production in Iran reached from 118,936 tons to 305,262 tons. Great variety of plum fruits caused differences in chemical composition as well. Plum fruits are rich in bioactive compounds or biochemicals such as vitamins (A, C and E), anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds which have high antioxidant activity.
Materials and Methods: This research was done in a randomized complete block design with three replications in Horticultural Research Station at College of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Tehran University in 2013-2015. Fruit quality characteristics such as vitamin C content, color traits of the fruit skin and flesh, the content of carotenoids, anthocyanins, total phenolics and antioxidant capacity of 16 plum and prune cultivars and genotypes were evaluated.
Results and Discussion: Analysis of variance showed significant differences in terms of all measured factors. The highest L* index (brightness) of fruit skin was observed in 'Tanasgol" and "Compooti" and then in "Golden Drop" and "Shams" cultivars and the lowest level of that was measured in "Sugar" and "Gogeh Sabz" cultivars. "Black Star" and "Gogeh Germez" Showed the highest brightness of fruit flesh among examined cultivars and the lowest brightness of fruit flesh was investigated in "Sugar". A* color index of skin and flesh of fruit also showed significant differences among investigated cultivars and the highest level of that in "Ozarak" cultivar was observed. "Gogeh Sabz" and "Golden Drop" also had the lowest level of this index. "Gogeh Germez" had the highest of a*color index of fruit flesh and "Japanese" cultivar was in second place. The lowest level of this index was measured in "Ozarak" and "Shams" cultivars. "Tanasgol" and "Compooti" had the highest fruit skin b*color index among cultivars and "Santarsa", "Sugar," "Stanley" and "Bukhara" showed the lowest of that. "Black Star" and after that "Tanasgol" and "Dargazi" had the highest b*color index of fruit flesh. "Japanese" had also the lowest b* color index of fruit flesh. The intensity or color purity varied among cultivars and the highest of that was observed in "Tanasgol" and "Compooti" and then in "Ozarak". "Black Star" had the highest chroma of fruit skin and the highest fruit flesh color intensity. The lowest of this index in the fruit flesh was observed in "Santarosa", "Sugar" and "Japanese" cultivars. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) content varied in investigate cultivars. "Gogeh Germez" and "Japanese" had the highest vitamin C content and "Stanley" was showed the lowest amount of vitamin C. "Golden Drop ","Santarosa" and "Compooti" showed the highest total carotenoid among examined cultivars and "Gogeh Germez" had the lowest total carotenoid. "Gogeh Germez" and "Compooti" had the highest and lowest amount of anthocyanin index respectively. The highest total phenol and antioxidant activity was measured in "Ozarak". The lowest total antioxidant capacity was in"Gogeh Sabz". The results showed that There was high correlation (r= 0.93) between antioxidant capacity and a* fruit skin color index. High correlation (r= 0.83) between phenol content and antioxidant capacity of fruits was also observed. Between a* color index of fruit skin and phenolic content was observed high correlation (r= 0.89). As well as between anthocyanin and phenolic content and between anthocyanin and a* fruit skin color index, respectively (r= 0.86) and (r= 0.59) high correlation was detected.
Conclusions: "Ozarak" in terms of antioxidant activity and total phenol component was superior. The highest amount of anthocyanin related to the "Gogeh Germez". "Golden Drop"," Santarosa" and "Compooti " had the highest total carotenoid and "Gogeh Germez" and "Japanese" had the highest vitamin C content among investigated cultivars. By identification of superior cultivars In terms of phytochemical compounds, these cultivars can be used in breeding programs to improve these nutritional quality of fruits. The results showed that the major phenolic compounds were gathered on the skin of plum fruits. Hence the "Ozarak" cultivar having the highest a*color index of fruit skin had the highest total phenol and antioxidant capacity among the investigated cultivars but "Gogeh Germez" by having the highest a*color index of fruit flesh and anthocyanins content higher than "Ozarak" cultivar, had low phenolic content and antioxidant capacity compared to the "Ozarak".
Jamal Javanmardi; Ozra Hasanshahian
Abstract
Introduction Pepino (SolanummuricatumAit.), a Solanaceous vegetable fruit has been recently introduced to Iran markets. Organic farming is currently the fastest growing agricultural sector worldwide. Although several investigations are available on chemical fertilization of pepino, the knowledge of organic ...
Read More
Introduction Pepino (SolanummuricatumAit.), a Solanaceous vegetable fruit has been recently introduced to Iran markets. Organic farming is currently the fastest growing agricultural sector worldwide. Although several investigations are available on chemical fertilization of pepino, the knowledge of organic fertilization ismostly lacking. Therefore, at the beginning of introducing pepino plant to Iranian farmers it worth to evaluate the impact of organic fertilization on the productivity, profitability, acceptability and sustainability of farming systemsto this plant. High chemical fertilization of pepinoincreases the vegetative growth over the generative and fruit production. The aim of this investigation was to introduce the possibility of organic production of pepino.
Materials and Methods.A two-year experiment was carried out to assess the possibility of organic production of pepino using organic fertilizers. Humistar® organic fertilizer (containing 8.6% humic acid) at 50 L/ha and sheep or cow manure teas at 1:10 and 1:5 ratios were used for production of pepino cv. Kanseola to evaluate their effects on the physiology of reproductive stage and some fruit quality characteristics. The experiments were arranged as factorial in a randomized complete block design comprised of 3 replications, each of which 10 plants. Mother plants were obtained from Mashhad Ferdowsi University and incubated in a greenhouse (mean temperature of 25 °C and 60-70% relative humidity) for 1 month to proliferate. Cuttings with 2-3 leaves at the top, 3-5 healthy buds and 20 cm length were rooted for 14 days in a rooting media, ( 1:1:2 of field soil, composted leaf and perlite), respectively. Plants were transplanted into the field in 100 × 75 cm spacing after the danger of frost was over. Treatments consisted of two levels of 1:5 and 1:10 (w:w) cow or sheep manure teas in combination with two levels of Humistar® organic fertilizer as 0 and 50L/ha levels. Control plants received no manure teas and organic fertilizer. Treatments were applied as drenching2 weeks after transplantation in a weekly manner for 10 weeks. Plant characteristics including number of days from transplanting to first flowering, flower number in truss, fruit set percentage, number of days from transplanting to the first harvestable fruit were recorded. Fruit quality indices including fruit fresh weight, fruit dry matter percentage, total soluble solids (TSS), fruit total phenolic contents and ascorbic acid content were measured at harvest time.
Results and Discussions The seasonal effect on all traits was not significant. All studied traits were affected by combination of manure teas andhumic acid except fruit total soluble solid. Cow manure tea at 1:5 v/v caused plants to fail growth in both years. The sole application of manure tea did not significantly affect the number of flowers per truss but humic acid alone or in combination with manure tea showed similar increasing trend in flower number. Application of sheep manure tea at 1:10 v/v caused the greatest total soluble solid content in fruits (up to 6.9 °Brix) as was 45% greater than control and cow manure tea treatment. The effect of humic acid on the number of days from planting to the first flower formationwas not significant. Sheep manure tea at 1:10 (v/v) level when combined with humic acid lead to the least required days preceding the first flower formation (9 days earlier flowering). The same treatment leads to the highest fruit dry matter percent (as about 8.1%) which was 10 times greater than control plants. The sole application of humic acid led to the greatest fruit set percentage as of 60% (2 fold above control). The same treatment caused 17 days earlier crop (53 days for fruit ripening versus 70 days in control plants. The greatest total phenolic content (56.1 mg gallic acid per 100 g fresh fruit over 50% greater than control plants) was obtained with sole humic acid application. This treatment leads to the greatest fruit ascorbic acid content asabout 15.62 mg/100g fw (over 57% greater than control plants).
ConclusionTo obtain the preferred fruit quality for industry or fresh use, different combinations of humic acid, cow and sheep manure teas should be considered. Briefly, sole application of humic acid would affect fruitset percentage, earliness, fruit total phenolic content and vitamin C. Manure tea affect fruit total soluble solid content, while in combination with humic acid would affect flowering and fruit dry matter content.
Mohammad Reza Asghari; Hojjat Khalily
Abstract
Because of the harmful effects of chemicals on human health and environment, the use of these compounds in postharvest technology of horticultural crops is highly restricted. Current study was done to evaluate the effect of Aloe vera gel on postharvest quality and storage life of fruit cultivar Siahe-Mashhad. ...
Read More
Because of the harmful effects of chemicals on human health and environment, the use of these compounds in postharvest technology of horticultural crops is highly restricted. Current study was done to evaluate the effect of Aloe vera gel on postharvest quality and storage life of fruit cultivar Siahe-Mashhad. Fruit were treated with Aloe vera gel of 25 and 33% for 5 min at 22 °C. Control fruit were treated with distilled water at 22°C. After drying the surface moister of fruit at ambient temperature. Fruit were divided into different groups of 25 fruit in each group and were transferred to cold storage of 1±0.5°C with 85-95% RH. Fruit quality attributes including marketing, total acidity, total phenolics, pH, weight loss and polyphenoloxidase enzyme activity were evaluated at first day and after 15 and 30 days of cold storage. 33% Aloe vera gel effectively preserved marketability, total acidity and total phenolics content and prevented increase in pH, polyphenoloxidase enzyme activity and decrease in fruit weightduring 30 days of cold storage. The results showed that Aloe vera gel could be used as commercial compound as a good alternative to chemicals in postharvest technology of cherry fruit cultivar Siahe-Mashhad.
Leila Ahadi
Abstract
Because of the harmful effects of chemicals on human health and environment, use of these compounds in postharvest technology of agricultural crops is recently restricted and it is necessary to find safe compounds for use in postharvest technology of fruits and vegetables. In this study, effects of salicylic ...
Read More
Because of the harmful effects of chemicals on human health and environment, use of these compounds in postharvest technology of agricultural crops is recently restricted and it is necessary to find safe compounds for use in postharvest technology of fruits and vegetables. In this study, effects of salicylic acid and Aloe vera gel on quality attributes and postharvest life of table grape(cv. Gizel uzum) was studied. Fruit were treated with salicylic acid (0, 1and 2 mM) and Aloe vera gel (33% and 25%), then were stored at 0±0.5oC with 85-95% RH for 45 days Fruit quality attributes including pH, total soluble solids, total acidity, total phenolics, total antioxidant capacity, and vitamin C were evaluated after 45 days. 2 mM salicylic acid effectively decreased the rate of pH increase. TSS and TA content were significantly affected by 2 mM salicylic acid and 33% Aloe vera gel treatments and retained TSS and the reduction of titratable acids and sugars to prevent its decomposition. In this study, the highest total antioxidant activity and total phenols and vitamin C of 2 mM salicylic acid gel and 33% Aloe vera gel and Combination treatment with 2mM salicylic acid and 33% Aloe vera gel respectively. postharvest treatment of fruit with the combination of salicylic acid and Aloe vera gel may be considered as a good alternative to chemicals in postharvest technology of table grapes.
Rasul Jalili Marandi; Hamed Doulati Baneh; Mohsen Esmaiili; Ramin Hagitagilo; Robabeh Ebrahimi Tazekandi
Abstract
Application of ethephon is an effective way in increase of grape fruits quality. In this study the effect of preharvest application of ethephon solution at four levels (0, 150, 250 and 300 mg/l)and application time at two levels (10-20% and 50-70% of berry coloring), were evaluated on quality indices ...
Read More
Application of ethephon is an effective way in increase of grape fruits quality. In this study the effect of preharvest application of ethephon solution at four levels (0, 150, 250 and 300 mg/l)and application time at two levels (10-20% and 50-70% of berry coloring), were evaluated on quality indices of Ghizil Uzum grape cultivar at harvest time. Evaluated indices were soluble solids content, titratable acidity, palatability, total phenolics, tissue firmness and fruit color. Different concentrations of ethephon were effective on all quality attributes of berries. But ethephon spray times were effective only on titratable acidity, palatability, total phenolics and fruit firmness.Results showed that 250 ppm of ethephon and treatment time of 50 – 70 % of berry coloring had the highest effect on berry quality. Based on obtained results application of ethephon with the optimum concentration in the proper time can be an effective strategy in pre harvest technology of grapes from the point of color and optimum quality of berries.
