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In this study, the effect of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and gum Arabic (GA) edible coatings amended with 0.2% geraniol (GE) were evaluated for the control of brown rot, caused by Monilinia fructicola, on artificially inoculated plums (Prunus salicina Lindl., cv. Angeleno) stored for 5 weeks at 1 °C. Brown rot is the most important pre- and postharvest fungal disease of stone fruits, causing severe economic losses worldwide. Geraniol is an important constituent of many essential oils that can be obtained as a byproduct from different industrial procedures, such as those of the juice industry. Fruit postharvest quality was also evaluated after 5 and 8 weeks of storage at 1 °C, followed by 3 days at 7 °C plus 5 days at 20 °C, simulating packinghouse, transport, and retail shelf-life conditions, respectively. HPMC coatings containing 0.2% GE reduced the incidence and severity of brown rot by 37.5 and 64.8%, respectively, compared to uncoated fruit after 5 weeks of storage at 1 °C. HPMC-coated plums, with and without GE, showed the highest level of firmness, the lowest change in external peel color parameters (L*, a*, b*, C*, hue), and the lowest flesh bleeding compared to uncoated control and GA-coated samples throughout the entire storage period, which correlated with a higher gas barrier of these coatings without negatively affecting sensory quality. Furthermore, the HPMC-0.2% GE coating provided the highest gloss to coated plums, showing the potential of this coating as a safe and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional fungicides and waxes for brown rot control and quality maintenance of cold-stored plums.

Mango is one of the most popular fruits in the world due to its attractive color, delicious taste, and excellent nutritional properties. Mango is among the most economically and culturally important tropical fruits. Mangos have become a standard food crop in south Iran. Quality determination of fruits is at present characterized by the overwhelming use of sensory. Quality indices include primarily external properties, such as appearance, size, shape, colour, texture, and flavour. Mangoes are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are really necessary for human diet and a healthy and longer life. Numerous phytochemicals are present in mango peel and pulp, such as the triterpene, lupeol which is under basic research for its potential biological effects. Thus high quality will attract people to the high consumption of fruits. Cultivars prepared with the origin of the Iran, India, Pakistan, and the Philippines. In this study, 10 cultivars were compared in terms of some indicators of quality in Ahvaz. One of the mango quality evaluation methods is sensory laboratory evaluation (panel test). This research carried out at 2013 in Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran. The result indicated that the most quality was related to Alphonso cultivar. On this basis, fruit features such as mango flesh and skin color are an important component role in consumer acceptability.

BACKGROUND: phenylalanine treatment affect on chilling tolerance during postharvest cold storage. OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to investigate Exogenous application of phenylalanine (Phe; 0, 15 and 30 mM) on berry phenolic compounds, quality and chilling tolerance of ‘Red Sahebi’ grape was examined during 60 days at 1°C. METHODS: Every 15 days (storage durations were 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 days), approximately 150 gr of grape bunches were sampled randomly from cool chamber for following physicochemical and microbial analysis. RESULTS: Phe-treated grape at 30 mM maintained higher titratable acid, total sensory score, total soluble solid, soluble sugars, organic acids, and antioxidant capacity compared to control grapes. At the end of storage time, 30 mM Phe-treated grapes showed higher flavonols (11% myricetin, 20% quercetin, and 23% kaempferol), flavanols (22% catechin, 34% epicatechin, and 40% epigallocatechin) and anthocyanins (42% malvidin-3-O-glucoside, 30% delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, 25% cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, and 23% pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside) compared to control samples due to lower polyphenol oxidase but higher antioxidant enzyme activities. Also, 30 mM Phe was found to be effective for berry trans-resveratrol and phenolic acid preservation, displayed less fungal decay. The efficiency of Phe on chilling tolerance was monitored by lower rachis browning, electrolyte leakage, and malondialdehyde but higher abscisic acid content. CONCLUSION: Phenylalanine application retained higher TA, TSS, and vitamin C, antioxidant capacity and total sensory score in treated fruits and alleviates chilling injury of table grape during cold storage.