The influence of full irrigation, double-regulated (RDI) and sustained deficit irrigation (SDI) treatments on almond quality was assessed by analyzing different parameters: sugars, organic acids, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content (TPC), and volatile compounds. Almond quality studies for plants submitted to water stress are scarce, and it is essential to understand the biochemical responses of plants to water stress in maintaining fruit yield and quality. Citric acid, sucrose, antioxidant activity, and TPC were not affected by the application of studied deficit irrigation strategies (DI). An increase in malic acid and a decrease in glucose was observed for stressed samples (T3 and T4), while a higher number of total volatiles compounds was found for moderate RDI (T2). Using deficit irrigation strategies, the almond yield and quality was not changed, and in fact, some parameters, such as glucose and key volatile compounds, slightly increased under moderate RDI. This finding might encourage farmers to implement these strategies and contribute to sustainable agriculture.

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BACKGROUND Modern agriculture allows farmers to choose among different cultivars of the same fruit to fulfill their agronomic needs and consumers' demands; however, there are only a few studies that describe and compare key functional and sensory properties of different pistachio cultivars. The main objective of this study was to compare eight pistachio cultivars by analyzing key functional properties (phenolic compounds, polymeric procyanidins, antioxidant activity, and inhibition of α‐amylase and β‐glucosidase), aromatic compounds with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and by examining their sensory properties with a trained panel. RESULTS A combination of LC‐PDA‐MS‐QTof (liquid chromatography photodiode array quadrupole time‐off flight mass spectrometry) and electrospray ionization was used to determine two phenolic acids, nine flavonols, one anthocyanin, and three flavan‐3‐ols in pistachio cultivars, with a total concentration ranging from 500 to 6065 mg 100 g−1 dry weight (dw). The total polymeric procyanidins concentrations oscillated between 348 and 5919 mg 100 g−1 dw, (−)‐epicatechin being the major monomer contributor. Pinene was the most abundant volatile compound (∼200 mg kg−1 dw), and, in the sensory analysis of samples, 23 sensory attributes were found to differ significantly among the cultivars. CONCLUSION The cultivar ‘Larnaka’ stood out as having the best functional profile (high polyphenolic content, high antioxidant activity, and high values of α‐amylase and β‐glucosidase inhibition), and the cultivars ‘Kastel’ and ‘Kerman’ showed the most attractive sensory properties, mainly the most intense flavor. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

Currently, poverty, climate change, environmental pollution and the depletion of natural resources have generated a greater concern for sustainability. The objective is the survival of the human species and the persistence of all components of the biosphere. To achieve sustainability, human participation is essential; sustainable consumption depends on consumers’ perceptions of sustainability and how they affect their behavior. The aim of this study was to understand consumers’ perceptions and attitudes towards food sustainability based on country, age, gender, income and education level. An online survey was carried out in countries in Europe, America and Asia. Consumers were asked questions organized into food categories. The results showed that consumers’ attitude towards sustainability is understood differently in each country, even within the same food category. Consumers with lower education level showed the lowest knowledge and concern about food sustainability. Older generations were less aware of sustainability and its related problems. While income level presented unclear results, gender did not affect attitude towards food sustainability. Therefore, to achieve a sustainable future, raising awareness among the population is increasingly necessary. Consequently, segmenting training campaigns according to the group they are aimed at will provide a greater impact and, therefore, greater awareness.

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