Physicochemical characterization of cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) fruits ecotype Colombia during preharvest development and growth

Cape gooseberry fruits are increasingly recognized due to their excellent organoleptic and functional characteristics as a food. As the cultivation of this fruit expands, it is necessary to determine the quality characteristics and evolution of the new growing zones. This study sought to characterize the growth and development of cape gooseberry fruits, Ecotype Colombia, in the Ventaquemada region (Department of Boyacá in Colombia). For the experiments, 50 plants were taken completely at random from which 20 flowers of the middle third were selected and marked considering that 50% of the flowers were open. The selected cape gooseberry plants were 9 months old from the establishment. Samples were carried out every 5-7 days to evaluate changes in different physiological and physicochemical properties of the fruits such as equatorial diameter, weight, dry matter, respiration intensity (RI), total soluble solids (SST), titratable acidity (TA), and maturity ratio (SST/TA). Logistic and modified enzyme kinetics models were fitted to represent the change in these characteristics as a function of growth time and to establish a suitable maturity index. A rapid increase in the growth and a substantive change in the properties of the fruits were observed between 36 and 45 days after anthesis (DAA) and stabilization between 60 and 65 DAA, which constitutes the stage of physiological maturity. At this stage, fruits with a polar/equatorial diameter of 2.2-2.5 cm, 14.9% TSS, 2.2% TA, and 191.7 cm3 CO2 /g/d RI were obtained. Likewise, from the adjusted models, it was possible to identify these changes, especially for the relative growth rate (RGR), color index, and maturity ratio. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: In this work, we present the characterization of some physicochemical properties of cape gooseberry throughout its development and preharvest growth. This fruit is of wide interest due to its broad nutritional properties and is known as a "superfruit." The monitoring of the changes in the quality characteristics is important because it allows producers to define an optimum maturity stage for its commercialization. We also fit suitable regression models to relate the evolution in the product as a function of time and provide prediction tools to monitor fruit development. The above can help growers better schedule their production cycles.

Physiological changes in green and red cherry tomatoes after photocatalytic ethylene degradation using continuous air flux

In this work photocatalytic ethylene degradation (TiO₂-UV) was applied in green cherry tomatoes with the aim to control biochemical and physiological changes during ripening. Photocatalytic process was performed at 18 °C  ±  2 °C and 85% HR for 10 days using continuous air flux. Ethylene, O₂ and CO₂ concentration from cherry tomatoes under TiO₂-UV and control (c) fruits, were measured by GC-MS for 10 days. After that, the tomatoes were stored for 20 days. During the photocatalysis process, ethylene was completely degraded and control fruits, the ethylene was 28.73 nL g^-1. Respiration rate was lower for fruits under TiO₂-UV than control. During storage period, cherry tomatoes treated by TiO₂-UV, showed lower ethylene concentration, respiration rate, total soluble solid, lycopene, sugar and organic acid content than control showing that the fruits treated with photocatalysis did not reach the full maturity. In addition, all the cherry tomatoes showed different maturity stages. Fungal incidence was higher in control fruits than fruits treated with photocatalysis. This research showed for the first time that photocatalytic technology preserved the physiological quality of cherry tomatoes for 30 days of storage, being a promised technology to preserve cherries tomatoes.

The Co-regulation of Ethylene Biosynthesis and Ascorbate-Glutathione Cycle by Methy Jasmonate Contributes to Aroma Formation of Tomato Fruit during Postharvest Ripening

Currently, many fruits are always harvested at the early ripening stage to reduce postharvest losses followed by 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) or ethephon treatment. However, harvesting at the early ripening stage adversely affects fruit quality, especially for the aroma. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment could induce the biosynthesis of bioactive compounds and maintain postharvest fruit quality. In the present work, the contributions of MeJA to tomato fruit quality during postharvest ripening were studied. The results showed that MeJA treatment significantly promoted the accumulation of volatile organic components (VOCs) by inducing the activities of enzymes related to lipoxygenase pathway and ethylene biosynthesis, whereas 1-MCP treatment largely inhibited the accumulation of VOCs by inhibiting activities of those enzymes. Although the application of ethephon also induced activities of the above enzymes in comparison with control, no significant differences were observed between the VOCs contents of the control and ethephon-treated fruit. Further study revealed that the ethephon treatment resulted in the enhancement of electrical conductivity and malondialdehyde content. Conversely, MeJA treatment inhibited the superoxide anion radical and hydrogen peroxide by regulating the ascorbate-glutathione cycle and further inhibited the enhancement of electrical conductivity and malondialdehyde content, which might be one of the most important reasons why the VOCs contents in fruit treated with ethephon were lower than those in MeJA-treated fruit. Thus, it is considered that MeJA treatment may be an effective and promising strategy to regulate postharvest tomato fruit quality, especially for the aroma, by regulating the ascorbate-glutathione cycle and ethylene biosynthesis.

Dataset on the change of postharvest quality of Physalis peruviana L. as an effect of ethylene inhibitor

Ethylene will be a major problem in postharvest quality of fresh fruit such as Physalis peruviana L. that belongs to an important medicinal plant. This data article describes the alteration of fruit quality of P. peruviana L. during 21 days of postharvest storage as an effect of ethylene inhibitor, 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), at different concentration and duration of application. Nutritional parameters and fruit shelf life from 1-MCP treated fruit with three level concentrations (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 μL L⁻¹) and three level of durations application (6, 12 and 24 hours) were analyzed.