Pest categorisation of Calepitrimerus baileyi

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Bailey's rust mite, Calepitrimerus baileyi Keifer (Acariformes: Eriophyidae), following the commodity risk assessment of Malus domestica plants from Türkiye performed by EFSA, in which C. baileyi was identified as a pest of possible concern to the European Union. This mite is not listed in Annex II of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. The eriophyid is known to occur in Africa, America, Asia, Europe (Greece and Serbia) and Oceania on Malus spp., which is the only confirmed host genus for C. baileyi. Plants for planting of Malus spp. are the main potential pathway for entry into the EU. However, plants for planting of the genus Malus Mill. are considered as high-risk plants (EU 2018/2019) and therefore prohibited from entering the EU unless granted a country-specific derogation. This is the case for the import of Malus spp. plants for planting from Serbia ((EU) 2020/1361 corrected by 2022/1309). Therefore, this derogation could provide a plausible entry pathway for C. baileyi into the EU. Climatic conditions and the ample availability of the host, Malus spp., in the EU are conducive for establishment, as proven by the occurrence of C. baileyi in Greece. However, the species is not reported as having an impact in Greece, despite reports of damage outside the EU. Measures to prevent further entry and spread of C. baileyi in the EU are available. C. baileyi satisfies all the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest. However, uncertainties about the distribution of C. baileyi within the EU and its impact on apples in the EU are considered key and affect the confidence of conclusions for this categorisation.

A study into how thickness, infrared intensity, and airflow affect drying kinetics, modeling, activation energy, and quality attributes of apple slices using infrared dryer

Drying is a widely recognized process that reduces the need for storage and shipping weight, keeps free water out of the product, and prolongs its shelf life. An infrared dryer was designed to dry apples under different drying conditions. Apple slices of 6-, 4-, and 2-mm thicknesses were dried at intensities 0.130, 0.225, and 0.341 W/cm2 and airflow 1.0, 0.5, and 1.5 m/s. The dehydrating period was prolonged with higher airflow and shortened with higher infrared intensity (IR). The shortest dehydrating period was verified by 190 min at 0.341 W/cm2, 0.5 m/s under 2 mm thickness. Increasing the sample thickness from 2 to 4 mm and then to 6 mm resulted in an 84% and 192% increase in drying time, respectively. Dehydrated apples had water activity values ranging from 0.30 to 0.40. The shrinkage ratio increased with an increase in infrared radiation intensity. However, it decreased with an increase in air velocity, while the rehydration ratio decreased with an increase in radiation intensity and increased with an increase in air velocity. Regarding total color change, apple slice thickness was a major factor. The effective diffusivities varied between 2.6 and 9.0 𝗑10-10 m2/s under different drying conditions. The dehydrating curves of apples were best described by the model developed by Midilli et al.

Old Apple Cultivars as a Natural Source of Phenolics and Triterpenoids with Cytoprotective Activity on Caco-2 and HepG2 Cells

Apples are among the most consumed fruits worldwide. They serve as an excellent source of compounds that have a positive impact on human health. While new varieties of apples are being developed, numerous varieties have been forgotten. In this article, we present the results of research on 30 old apple cultivars, focusing on both qualitative and quantitative determination of antioxidant properties, and content of total phenolics, phenolic acids, triterpenoids and polyphenols. Our analyses show significant differences in the total content of each group of compounds between apple cultivars, as well as the phytochemical profile. The richest source of antioxidants was revealed to be 'Reneta Blenheimska' and 'Książę Albrecht Pruski' varieties, but the highest amount of phenolics had 'James Grieve' and 'Kantówka Gdańska' (KG). Among studied apples KG, 'Krótkonóżka Królewska' and 'Grochówka' (G) were the richest source of phenolic acids and polyphenols, whereas G, 'James Grieve' and 'Krótkonóżka Królewska' had the highest level of triterpenoids. Based on these findings, we selected two cultivars, G and KG, for further in vitro cell line-based studies. Based on biological activity analyses, we demonstrated not only antioxidant potential but also proapoptotic and cytoprotective properties within human-originated Caco-2 and HepG2 cell lines. In the era of a dynamically growing number of lifestyle diseases, it is particularly important to draw the attention of producers and consumers to the need to choose fruit varieties with the highest possible content of health-promoting compounds and, therefore, with the strongest health-promoting properties.

Fruit Quality Attributes of Organically Grown Norwegian Apples Are Affected by Cultivar and Location

In this work, 12 apple cultivars grown organically in three regions of Norway (Telemark, Ullensvang, Viken) were analyzed in terms of fruit quality, with the aim of equating different growing regions under specific climatic conditions. Apples were analyzed for concentration levels of minerals, sugars, sugar alcohols, organic acids, total phenolic content (TPC), radical scavenging activity (RSA), and phenolic profiles. Discovery "Rose" from Telemark stored the highest level of minerals (24,094.5 mg/kg dry weight). Glucose, fructose, sucrose, and sorbitol were the major carbohydrates, whereas the predominant organic acids were quinic acid and malic acid. Cultivar Discovery from Ullensvang had the highest TPC (9.22 g/kg) and RSA (229.32 mmol TE/kg). Of the polyphenols quantified, chlorogenic acid and kaempferol-3-O-glucoside were the most abounded, accounting for 85.50%. Principal component analysis (PCA) shows that the Ullensvang region is the richest source of most carbohydrates, organic acids (quinic, shikimic, and galacturonic), and most polyphenols, whereas the highest content of minerals and maleic acid characterized Viken. Regardless of location, the Discovery cultivar had, on average, the highest sugar and polyphenol contents. The results obtained suggest that organic apples from Norway are a rich source of beneficial compounds that can have a positive impact on human health. In addition, these results may be useful for consumers in identifying apple cultivars with desirable characteristics and for the fruit industry in tracing back the origin of apples. The findings could also be of great interest for locations with similar climate and soil conditions worldwide.

Hail netting: an economically competitive IPM alternative to insecticides for Midwest apple production

Apple orchards are highly managed agricultural ecosystems where growers typically rely on insecticides to minimize the risk of pest-related fruit losses. Apple growers practicing integrated pest management require cost-effective alternatives to conventional insecticides for control of major pests such as codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.) and apple maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella Walsh). Exclusion netting has been shown to effectively control multiple insect pest species, limit fruit damage and reduce the use of insecticides while also conferring consumer and environmental benefits. In this study, partial budgeting was applied to explore the financial efficacy of using a hail netting (DrapeNet®) system as a sustainable pest management strategy for Midwest U.S. apple (Malus x domestica). The cost of the hail netting was compared to a common Midwest insecticide spray regimen for apples using yield and quality data from a field study at two Minnesota apple orchards in 2021-2022. The PB analysis indicated that the netting system was an economically competitive alternative to conventional insecticide applications. The economic results were robust across a range of apple prices and yields suggesting that Minnesota apple growers can benefit economically from the application of hail netting for sustainable pest management.

Consumers' Preferences for Apple Production Attributes: Results of a Choice Experiment

Various food safety and environmental problems in China have raised consumer awareness of food safety issues and negative environmental impacts in various supply chains. This research assessed consumer preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for food safety and ecosystem delivery attributes associated with apples, demonstrated through the application of different traceability systems. Research participants were recruited in Beijing (N = 384) and Shanghai (N = 320). Choice experiment methodology was applied. The data were analyzed using conditional logit, random parameter logit, and latent class models; the results indicated significant consumer preferences for traceability information, including in relation to lower pesticide usage and application of organic fertilizer during primary production. The results also indicated that participants in this research had a significant willingness-to-pay premium for apple products that had production information traceability, had reduced pesticide use, and were grown with organic fertilizers. The models demonstrated heterogeneous preferences among participants such that consumers could be divided into three classes: non-price-sensitive (53.5%), pesticide-sensitive (21.7%), and price-sensitive (24.8%).

A Review of Storage Temperature Recommendations for Apples and Pears

An exploration of the range of expert opinions on the optimum storage temperature for apples and pears in RA (refrigerated air), CA (controlled atmosphere), and DCA (dynamic controlled atmosphere) is provided, based on the accumulated postharvest data from the last 20 years. Apple cultivars have been divided into two storage temperature groups (0 to 1 °C and >1 °C), based on chilling sensitivity. Increasingly, gradual cooling, rather than rapid cooling, is recommended for apple cultivars, especially for chilling-sensitive cultivars. European pear cultivars are held at storage temperatures close to or just below 0 °C since they are not chilling-sensitive, and most cultivars require a cold temperature to induce ethylene production and ripening, especially if picked early for long-term storage. Asian pears apparently have higher temperature requirements in CA, compared with European pears. The temperature recommendations for RA and CA storage differ in some apple and European pear cultivars. In such cases, the CA recommendation is, on average, approximately 0.9 °C higher for apple cultivars and approximately 0.5 °C higher for pear cultivars, compared with RA. Research evidence suggests that some apple and pear cultivars can be stored at higher temperatures in DCA than in CA, and if the ethylene inhibitor, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), is applied in CA and/or DCA, leading to possible energy savings and quality benefits. A cool growing season may increase postharvest disorders, depending on cultivar and region. The store or packinghouse manager may choose to mitigate potential postharvest problems by maintaining the storage temperature at or above the temperature listed here and/or using stepwise (gradual) cooling. The storage temperature can affect the humidity and vapour pressure deficit (driving force) in the storage room. Altering the vapour pressure deficit controls the water loss in stored fruit, which can affect various quality parameters and the occurrence of several storage disorders.

Feature Reduction for the Classification of Bruise Damage to Apple Fruit Using a Contactless FT-NIR Spectroscopy with Machine Learning

Spectroscopy data are useful for modelling biological systems such as predicting quality parameters of horticultural products. However, using the wide spectrum of wavelengths is not practical in a production setting. Such data are of high dimensional nature and they tend to result in complex models that are not easily understood. Furthermore, collinearity between different wavelengths dictates that some of the data variables are redundant and may even contribute noise. The use of variable selection methods is one efficient way to obtain an optimal model, andthis was the aim of this work. Taking advantage of a non-contact spectrometer, near infrared spectral data in the range of 800-2500 nm were used to classify bruise damage in three apple cultivars, namely 'Golden Delicious', 'Granny Smith' and 'Royal Gala'. Six prominent machine learning classification algorithms were employed, and two variable selection methods were used to determine the most relevant wavelengths for the problem of distinguishing between bruised and non-bruised fruit. The selected wavelengths clustered around 900 nm, 1300 nm, 1500 nm and 1900 nm. The best results were achieved using linear regression and support vector machine based on up to 40 wavelengths: these methods reached precision values in the range of 0.79-0.86, which were all comparable (within error bars) to a classifier based on the entire range of frequencies. The results also provided an open-source based framework that is useful towards the development of multi-spectral applications such as rapid grading of apples based on mechanical damage, and it can also be emulated and applied for other types of defects on fresh produce.

Addressing pollination deficits in orchard crops through habitat management for wild pollinators

There is increasing evidence that farmers in many areas are achieving below maximum yields due to insufficient pollination. Practical and effective approaches are needed to maintain wild pollinator populations within agroecosystems so they can deliver critical pollination services that underpin crop production. We established nesting and wildflower habitat interventions in 24 UK apple orchards and measured effects on flower-visiting insects and the pollination they provide, exploring how this was affected by landscape context. We quantified the extent of pollination deficits and assessed whether the management of wild pollinators can reduce deficits and deliver improved outcomes for growers over 3 years. Wildflower interventions increased solitary bee numbers visiting apple flowers by over 20%, but there was no effect of nesting interventions. Other pollinator groups were influenced by both local and landscape-scale factors, with bumblebees and hoverflies responding to the relative proportion of semi-natural habitat at larger spatial scales (1000 m), while honeybees and other flies responded at 500 m or less. By improving fruit number and quality, pollinators contributed more than £16 k per hectare. However, deficits (where maximum potential was not being reached due to a lack of pollination) were recorded and the extent of these varied across orchards, and from year to year, with a 22% deficit in output in the worst (equivalent to ~£14 k/ha) compared to less than 3% (equivalent to ~£2 k/ha) in the best year. Although no direct effect of our habitat interventions on deficits in gross output was observed, initial fruit set and seed set deficits were reduced by abundant bumblebees, and orchards with a greater abundance of solitary bees saw lower deficits in fruit size. The abundance of pollinators in apple orchards is influenced by different local and landscape factors that interact and vary between years. Consequently, pollination, and the extent of economic output deficits, also vary between orchards and years. We highlight how approaches, including establishing wildflower areas and optimizing the ratio of cropped and non-cropped habitats can increase the abundance of key apple pollinators and improve outcomes for growers.

Empire Apple (Malus domestica) Juice, Pomace, and Pulp Modulate Intestinal Functionality, Morphology, and Bacterial Populations In Vivo (Gallus gallus)

Approximately $20 billion of apple sales are generated annually in the United States. With an estimated 5 million tons produced yearly in the U.S. within the last decade, apple consumption is considered ubiquitous. Apples are comprised of bioactive constituents such as phytochemicals and prebiotics that may potentiate intestinal health and the gut microbiome. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Empire apple juice, pomace, and pulp soluble extracts on intestinal functionality, morphology, and the microbiome in vivo (Gallus gallus). There were five treatment groups: non-injected (NI); 18 MΩ H2O (H2O); 6% apple juice (AJ); 6% apple pomace (APo); 6% apple pulp (APu). The eggs were treated by intra-amniotic administration of the samples on day 17 of incubation. After hatching, the blood, tissue, and cecum samples were collected for further analyses—including duodenal histomorphology, hepatic and duodenal mRNA expression, and cecal bacterial populations. Crypt depth was significantly (p < 0.5) shortest in AJ when compared to APo and APu. APo and APu soluble extracts significantly improved villi surface area compared to NI and H2O control groups. The highest count of Paneth cells per crypt was observed in APo as compared to all groups. In addition, the expression of brush border membrane micronutrient metabolism and functional proteins varied between treatments. Lastly, Lactobacillus cecal microbial populations increased significantly in the AJ group, while AJ, APu, and APu increased the abundance of Clostridium (p < 0.5). Ultimately, these results indicate the potential of Empire apple pomace to improve host intestinal health and the gut microbiome.

Chitosan-Based Edible Coatings Containing Essential Oils to Preserve the Shelf Life and Postharvest Quality Parameters of Organic Strawberries and Apples during Cold Storage

Edible coatings and films have been researched for more than three decades due to their ability to be incorporated with different functional ingredients or compounds as an option to maintain the postharvest quality of fruits and vegetables. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of three types of chitosan-based (CH) edible coatings obtained from medium and high molecular weight chitosan, containing ascorbic or acetic acid and sea buckthorn or grape seed essential oils on the physical-chemical and microbiological properties of organic strawberries and apple slices during cold storage at 4 °C and 8 °C. Scanning electron microscope images showed both a smooth structure and a fracture and pore structure on strawberry coatings and a dense and smooth structure on the apple slices coatings. Further, the edible coatings managed to reduce the microbial load of yeasts and molds of the coated strawberries during the storage period. Overall, the treatments preserved the ascorbic acid, total polyphenol content, and antioxidant activity for all the tested samples compared to the control sample, throughout the storage period. In addition, the water activity (a_w) of the coated samples presented lower values (0.96-0.98) than the control samples. The obtained results indicate that the developed chitosan-based edible coatings could maintain the postharvest parameters of the tested samples, also leading to their shelf-life prolongation.

Physiochemical, sensorial, and rheological characteristics of sauce developed from Kashmiri apples: Influence of cultivars and storage conditions

The present investigation was undertaken to develop sauce from different cultivars of apples. Apple sauce of 5 cultivars was developed and effect of the storage conditions on the pH, acidity, TSS, total sugar, color, sensory, and rheological behavior of different apple sauce cultivars was studied. Analytical determinations were made after 0, 15, 30, and 45 days at both refrigerated and ambient conditions. The observed range of TSS was 30 to 30.14˚brix for refrigerated and 27.4 to 30.7˚brix for sauces stored at ambient storage conditions.. The pH decreased during the overall storage period from 4.07 to 3.96 in refrigerated samples, while as pH decreased from 4.06 to 3.92 in ambient stored samples. Rheological properties of sauces were evaluated using a parallel plate rheometer that showed the storage modulus, Gʹ higher than the loss modulus, G″ for all the sauce samples indicating the dominance of the elastic behavior. The viscosity decreased with an increase in the shear rate for both, refrigerated and ambient stored sauce samples at the end of the storage period. Organoleptic characteristics (taste, color, aroma, and appearance) were examined by a semi‐trained panelist using 5 point hedonic scale. The sauce samples from Mollies Delicious and Chamure apple cultivars showed the highest acceptance.

Red-Fleshed Apples Rich in Anthocyanins and White-Fleshed Apples Modulate the Aorta and Heart Proteome in Hypercholesterolaemic Rats: The AppleCOR Study

The impact of a red-fleshed apple (RFA) rich in anthocyanins (ACNs), a white-fleshed apple (WFA) without ACNs, and an extract infusion from Aronia fruit (AI) equivalent in dose of cyanidin-3-O-galactoside (main ACN) as RFA was determined by the proteome profile of aorta and heart as key cardiovascular tissues. Hypercholesterolaemic Wistar rats were separated into six groups (n = 6/group; three males and three females) and the proteomic profiles were analyzed using nanoliquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. No adverse events were reported and all products were well tolerated. RFA downregulated C1QB and CFP in aorta and CRP in heart. WFA downregulated C1QB and CFP in aorta and C9 and C3 in aorta and heart, among other proteins. AI downregulated PRKACA, IQGAP1, and HSP90AB1 related to cellular signaling. Thus, both apples showed an anti-inflammatory effect through the complement system, while RFA reduced CRP. Regardless of the ACN content, an apple matrix effect was observed that involved different bioactive components, and inflammatory proteins were reduced.

New Non-Invasive Method for the Authentication of Apple Cultivars

Food authentication is very important to protect consumers, sellers, and producers from fraud. Although several methods have been developed using a wide range of analytical techniques, most of them require sample destruction and do not allow in situ sampling or analysis, nor reliable quantification of hundreds of molecules at the same time. To overcome these limitations, we have developed and validated a new noninvasive analytical workflow for food authentication. The method uses a functionalized strip to adsorb small molecules from the surface of the food product, followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of the desorbed analytes. We validated the method and applied it to the classification of five different apple varieties. Molecular concentrations obtained from the analysis of 44 apples were used to identify markers for apple cultivars or, in combination with machine learning techniques, to perform cultivar classification. The overall reproducibility of the method was very good, showing a good coefficient of variation for both targeted and untargeted analysis. The approach was able to correctly classify all samples. In addition, the method was also used to detect pesticides and the following molecules were found in almost all samples: chlorpyrifos-methyl, deltamethrin, and malathion. The proposed approach not only showed very good analytical performance, but also proved to be suitable for noninvasive food authentication and pesticide residue analysis.

Opportunities to reduce pollination deficits and address production shortfalls in an important insect-pollinated crop

Pollinators face multiple pressures and there is evidence of populations in decline. As demand for insect-pollinated crops increases, crop production is threatened by shortfalls in pollination services. Understanding the extent of current yield deficits due to pollination and identifying opportunities to protect or improve crop yield and quality through pollination management is therefore of international importance. To explore the extent of "pollination deficits," where maximum yield is not being achieved due to insufficient pollination, we used an extensive dataset on a globally important crop, apples. We quantified how these deficits vary between orchards and countries and we compared "pollinator dependence" across different apple varieties. We found evidence of pollination deficits and, in some cases, risks of overpollination were even apparent for which fruit quality could be reduced by too much pollination. In almost all regions studied we found some orchards performing significantly better than others in terms of avoiding a pollination deficit and crop yield shortfalls due to suboptimal pollination. This represents an opportunity to improve production through better pollinator and crop management. Our findings also demonstrated that pollinator dependence varies considerably between apple varieties in terms of fruit number and fruit quality. We propose that assessments of pollination service and deficits in crops can be used to quantify supply and demand for pollinators and help to target local management to address deficits although crop variety has a strong influence on the role of pollinators.

Effect of Osmotic Pretreatment Combined with Vacuum Impregnation or High Pressure on the Water Diffusion Coefficients of Convection Drying: Case Study on Apples

The paper presents water diffusion coefficients as providing a significant contribution to the creation of a comprehensive database and knowledge of weight variation during the drying process of raw plant materials that is used for modelling the technological process and designing innovative products. Dehydration is one of the most widely used methods for improving the stability and durability of fruit and vegetables because it reduces water activity and microbial activity, and minimises the physical and chemical changes during storage. The considerable impact of pressure on heat exchange and weight during the convection drying process of osmotically pretreated apples is demonstrated. The course of the drying curves and the drying rate is determined by the use of pressures of 0.02 and 500 MPa. Varied pressure applied during osmotic impregnation significantly influences the value of the diffusion coefficient: the average determined for the entire course of the drying curve and the average determined in the intervals of the reduced water content. The lowest values of the average water diffusion coefficient are obtained for apples preboiled under overpressure conditions and, at the same time, the determined diffusion coefficients in the water content are characterised on the drying curve by a clearly decreasing course until the reduced water content reaches approximately 0.2.

Penicillium expansum Impact and Patulin Accumulation on Conventional and Traditional Apple Cultivars

Penicillium expansum is a necrotrophic plant pathogen among the most ubiquitous fungi disseminated worldwide. It causes blue mould rot in apples during storage, transport and sale, threatening human health by secreting patulin, a toxic secondary metabolite that contaminates apples and apple-derived products. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of sufficient data regarding the resistance of different apple cultivars to P. expansum, especially ancient ones, which showed to possess certain resistance to plant diseases. In this work, we investigated the polyphenol profile of 12 traditional and 8 conventional apple cultivar and their resistance to P. expansum CBS 325.48. Eight polyphenolic compounds were detected; the most prominent were catechin, epicatechin and gallic acid. The highest content of catechin was detected in ‘Apistar’—91.26 mg/100 g of fresh weight (FW), epicatechin in ‘Bobovac’—67.00 mg/100 g of FW, and gallic acid in ‘Bobovac’ and ‘Kraljevčica’—8.35 and 7.40 mg/100 g of FW, respectively. The highest content of patulin was detected in ‘Kraljevčica’ followed by ‘Apistar’—1687 and 1435 µg/kg, respectively. In apple cultivars ‘Brčko’, ‘Adamčica’ and ‘Idared’, patulin was not detected. Furthermore, the patulin content was positively correlated with gallic acid (r = 0.4226; p = 0.002), catechin (r = 0.3717; p = 0.008) and epicatechin (r = 0.3305; p = 0.019). This fact indicates that higher contents of gallic acid, catechin and epicatechin negatively affected and boost patulin concentration in examined apple cultivars. This can be related to the prooxidant activity of polyphenolic compounds and sensitivity of P. expansum to the disturbance of oxidative status.

Variation in the Methylation of Caffeoylquinic Acids and Urinary Excretion of 3'-methoxycinnamic acid-4'-Sulfate After Apple Consumption by Volunteers

INTRODUCTION

It has been reported that the phenolic metabolite 3'-methoxycinnamic acid-4'-sulfate generated from 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid may have potential benefits in human health. However, the variation in 3'- and 4'-methylation of 3',4'-dihydroxycinnamic acid and its impact on the yield of this sulfate metabolite is unclear and has been poorly studied.

METHODS AND RESULTS

To address this aim, the excreted 3'-methoxy and 4'-methoxy metabolites in urine samples (24-h) are determined in 14 volunteers after an acute intake of 80 g of red-fleshed apple (RFA) or white-fleshed apple (WFA). These methoxy metabolites are also determined in the same volunteers in a second acute intake after a 6-week sustained consumption of the same products.

CONCLUSION

Seven 3'-methoxy and seven 4'-methoxy metabolites are determined, i.e., the free cinnamic and corresponding phenylpropanoic acid, plus their sulfate, glucuronide, and glycine conjugates. In only six volunteers, five females and one male, is 4'-methylation preferred over 3'-methylation, but it is observed that an individual's 3'- : 4'-methylation ratio can change over time, and that the yield of 3'-methoxycinnamic acid-4'-sulfate is extremely variable, ranging from undetectable to 71% of the total C6 -C3 metabolites excreted, and any benefit accruing from this metabolite will not necessarily be available to all consumers.

Susceptibility of Impact Damage to Whole Apples Packaged Inside Molded Fiber and Expanded Polystyrene Trays

Postharvest damage, leading to loss and waste, continues to be a significant problem in the fresh produce industry. Trays, designed to reduce fruit-to-fruit contact, are utilized by the apple industry to minimize bruising of whole apples. During distribution, packaged apples are subjected to various supply chain hazards, which may lead to bruising damage. Currently, molded fiber (MF) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) trays transport whole apples from the packhouse to the retail outlet. Mechanical shock, by free-fall drop method, was used to evaluate the performance differences between the two trays and quantify the bruising characteristics of the apples. Results showed that the EPS trays provided better shock protection to the apple as compared to the MF tray, reducing the impact acceleration by more than 70%. Additionally, the bruise susceptibility was 40% less for the apples packaged inside the EPS trays, regardless of drop height. However, apples packaged in the middle layer trays were most susceptible to bruising damage, regardless of tray type.

Daily apple consumption reduces plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cell-secreted inflammatory biomarkers in adults with overweight and obesity: a 6-week randomized, controlled, parallel-arm trial

BACKGROUND

Obesity-associated low-grade inflammation contributes to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Apples are rich in anti-inflammatory bioactives including polyphenols and fiber.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to determine the effects of regular apple consumption on fasting plasma biomarkers of inflammation (primary outcome), endotoxemia, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism (glucose, insulin, triacylglycerol; secondary outcomes), and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)-secreted cytokines (secondary outcome) in individuals with overweight and obesity.

METHODS

A randomized, controlled, parallel-arm trial was conducted with n = 46 participants. After avoiding foods and beverages rich in polyphenols and fiber for 2 wk, participants consumed 3 whole Gala apples (∼200 g edible parts)/d as part of their habitual diet (n = 23) or avoided apples (control, n = 23) for 6 wk. All participants limited consumption of polyphenols and fiber during the 6-wk trial. Fasting blood samples were collected before and after 6 wk for analysis of plasma biomarkers and isolation of PBMCs, which were cultured for 24 h unstimulated or stimulated with LPS (10 ng/mL).

RESULTS

Forty-four participants completed the trial (30 female, 14 male; mean ± SEM age: 45.4 ± 2.2 y; BMI: 33.4 ± 0.9 kg/m2). After ANCOVA and correcting for multiple comparisons, apples decreased fasting plasma C-reactive protein by 17.0% (range: 14.3%-19.6%, P = 0.005), IL-6 by 12.4% (range: 6.7%-17.5%, P < 0.001), and LPS-binding protein by 20.7% (range: 14.1%-26.4%, P < 0.001) compared with control. Apples also decreased PBMC-secreted IL-6 by 28.3% (range: 22.4%-33.5%, P < 0.001) and IL-17 by 11.0% (range 5.8-15.6%, P = 0.003) in the unstimulated condition compared with control. Exploratory analysis showed apples also increased plasma total antioxidant capacity by 9.6% (range: 1.7-18.9%, P = 0.002) compared with control. However, apples had no effect on anthropometric or other CVD risk markers.

CONCLUSIONS

Six-week daily whole Gala apple consumption may be an effective dietary strategy to mitigate the obesity-associated inflammation that exacerbates CVD risk, without weight loss. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03523403.

The Potential of Dietary Antioxidants from a Series of Plant Extracts as Anticancer Agents against Melanoma, Glioblastoma, and Breast Cancer

In modern society, cancer is one of the most relevant medical problems. It is important to search for promising plant raw materials whose extracts have strong antioxidant and anticancer effects. The aim of this study was to determine the composition of phenolic compounds in plant extracts, to evaluate their antioxidant and anticancer activity, and to find the correlations between those activities. Extracts of calendula, sage, bearberry, eucalyptus, yarrow, and apple were selected for the study. The phenolic compounds of these extracts were determined by the UPLC-ESI-MS/MS method and the antioxidant activity was evaluated in vitro by four different UV-VIS spectrophotometric methods (ABTS, DPPH, CUPRAC, FRAP). The anticancer activity of extracts was tested against melanoma IGR39, glioblastoma U-87, and triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell lines in vitro by MTT assay. The highest content of identified and quantified phenolic compounds was found in sage leaf extract and the lowest in ethanol eucalyptus leaf extract. The highest antioxidant activity was determined by all applied methods for the acetone eucalyptus leaf extract. The majority of extracts were mostly active against the melanoma IGR39 cell line, and possessed the lowest activity against the glioblastoma U-87 cell line. Acetone extract of eucalyptus leaf samples exhibited the highest anticancer activity against all tested cell lines. Strong and reliable correlation has been found between antioxidant and anticancer activity in breast cancer and glioblastoma cell lines, especially when evaluating antioxidant activity by the FRAP method.

Synergistic Effects of Lauric Arginate and Peracetic Acid in Reducing Listeria monocytogenes on Fresh Apples

Apples are naturally coated with a water-repelling hydrophobic wax layer, which may limit the antimicrobial efficacies of surface sanitizer solutions. Lauric arginate (LAE) is a cationic surfactant with antimicrobial efficacy against Listeria monocytogenes. In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial and the wettability effects of LAE in enhancing anti-L. monocytogenes efficacy of peracetic acid (PAA) and further verified the optimized treatment combinations in a pilot spray-bar brush bed system. Apples after 48 h of inoculation were treated with PAA surface sanitation in combination with different concentrations of LAE at 22 or 46°C. The effectiveness of PAA with LAE solutions in decontaminating L. monocytogenes significantly increased with the increased concentration of PAA (60-80 ppm) or LAE (0.01-0.05%) or the treatment temperature (from 22 to 46°C). A 30-120-sec wash by 80 ppm PAA with 0.01 and 0.05% LAE at 22°C reduced L. monocytogenes on apples by 2.10-2.25 and 2.48-2.58 log10 CFU/apple, respectively. Including LAE in the PAA solution decreased contact angles on apple surfaces. However, the increased wettability of the sanitizer solution may not be the main contributor to the enhanced antimicrobial efficacy of the PAA solution, given that the addition of Tween 80 or Tween 85 only slightly boosted the anti-L. monocytogenes efficacy of PAA solutions though both increased the wettability of the PAA solutions. The synergistic effects of PAA and LAE were further validated in a pilot spray-bar brush bed packing system, where a 30-sec spray wash with 80 ppm PAA and 0.05% LAE at 22 and 46°C caused 1.68 and 2.08 log reduction of Listeria on fresh apples, respectively. This study provides an improved PAA process/preventive strategy for ensuring microbial food safety of fresh apples that is applicable to commercial apple packing lines.

Nutritional Significance of Fruit and Fruit Products in the Average Polish Diet

The aim of the present study was to analyze the supply of energy, 19 nutrients, free sugars, and dietary fiber in the average Polish diet from fruit and fruit products. Our analysis is based on 2016 data from the national representative household budget survey conducted on a sample of 36,886 households, yielding a population of 99,230 individuals. Fruit and fruit products provided 3.12% of energy to the average diet in Poland with the highest share of bananas and apples. The highest significance of this food group was found for vitamin C (23.65%), including citrus fruits providing 8.03% of vitamin C, berries (5.97%), other fruits (3.45%), and apples (3.13%). The share of fruit and their products in the supply of free sugars is equally high and amounts to 23.52%. This means that apples provide 6.34% of free sugars, while other fruits also have a high supply of free sugars, including berries 3.68%, stone fruits 3.06%, bananas 2.56%, and citrus fruits 2.54%. The proportion of supply exceeding the percentage of energy (which was 3.12%) was obtained for carbohydrate (5.79%), and fiber (13.66%). The food group studied was particularly important (more than 5% share) in providing four minerals: potassium (8.59%), iron (5.07%), magnesium (5.51%), copper (8.81%), and three vitamins: vitamin C (23.65%), vitamin B6 (5.74%), and vitamin E (5.53%). The influence of sociodemographic and economic characteristics of households on the structure of energy and nutrient supply from fruit and fruit products was assessed using cluster analysis. There were four clusters characterized by different energy, nutrient, and fiber supply. The factors with the highest statistical significance on the supply of energy, nutrients, and fiber from fruit and fruit products were month of study, income, degree of urbanization, education, size of town, and land use. The obtained results concerning energy and nutrient supply from fruits and fruit products are important for the Polish society from the public health point of view, as indicated in the discussion of results and conclusions.

Prevalence of Listeria Species on Food Contact Surfaces in Washington State Apple Packinghouses

The 2014 caramel apple listeriosis outbreak was traced back to cross-contamination between food contact surfaces (FCS) of equipment used for packing and fresh apples. For Washington state, the leading apple producer in the United States with 79% of its total production directed to the fresh market, managing the risk of apple contamination with Listeria monocytogenes within the packing environment is crucial. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of Listeria spp. on FCS in Washington state apple packinghouses over two packing seasons and to identify those FCS types with the greatest likelihood to harbor Listeria spp. Five commercial apple packinghouses were visited quarterly over two consecutive year-long packing seasons. A range of 27 to 50 FCS were swabbed at each facility to detect Listeria spp. at two sample times, (i) postsanitation and (ii) in-process (3 h of packinghouse operation), following a modified protocol of the FDA's Bacteriological Analytical Manual method. Among 2,988 samples tested, 4.6% (n = 136) were positive for Listeria spp. Wax coating was the unit operation from which Listeria spp. were most frequently isolated. The FCS that showed the greatest prevalence of Listeria spp. were polishing brushes, stainless steel dividers and brushes under fans/blowers, and dryer rollers. The prevalence of Listeria spp. on FCS increased throughout apple storage time. The results of this study will aid apple packers in controlling for contamination and harborage of L. monocytogenes and improving cleaning and practices for sanitation of the FCS on which Listeria spp. are the most prevalent.IMPORTANCE Since 2014, fresh apples have been linked to outbreaks and recalls associated with postharvest cross-contamination with the foodborne pathogen L. monocytogenes These situations drive both public health burden and economic loss and underscore the need for continued scrutiny of packinghouse management to eliminate potential Listeria niches. This research assesses the prevalence of Listeria spp. on FCS in apple packinghouses and identifies those FCS most likely to harbor Listeria spp. Such findings are essential for the apple-packing industry striving to further understand and exhaustively mitigate the risk of contamination with L. monocytogenes to prevent future listeriosis outbreaks and recalls.

Apples before the fall: Does shape stability coincide with maturity?

Fruit shape is the result of the interaction between genetic, epigenetic, environmental factors and stochastic processes. As a core biological descriptor both for taxonomy and horticulture, the point at which shape stability is reached becomes paramount in apple cultivar identification, and authentication in commerce. Twelve apple cultivars were sampled at regular intervals from anthesis to harvest over two growing seasons. Linear and geometric morphometrics were analysed to establish if and when shape stabilised and whether fruit asymmetry influenced this. Shape stability was detected in seven cultivars, four asymmetric and three symmetric. The remaining five did not stabilise. Shape stability, as defined here, is cultivar-dependent, and when it occurs, it is late in the growing season. Geometric morphometrics detected stability more readily than linear, especially in symmetric cultivars. Key shape features are important in apple marketing, giving the distinctness and apparent uniformity between cultivars expected at point of sale.

Processing Apples to Puree or Juice Speeds Gastric Emptying and Reduces Postprandial Intestinal Volumes and Satiety in Healthy Adults

BACKGROUND

Whole apples produce greater satiety than processed apples, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to assess the intragastric processing of apple preparations and the associated small and large bowel contents using MRI.

METHODS

An open label, 3-way crossover, randomized, controlled trial. Eighteen healthy adults (mean ± SD age, 25 ± 4 y; BMI, 22.7 ± 3.5 kg/m2) underwent serial MRI scans on 3 occasions separated by 7 d, after consumption of isocaloric (178 kcal) portions of either whole apples, apple puree, or apple juice. Gastric emptying, small bowel water content (SBWC; primary endpoint), were measured at baseline and at 45 min intervals (0-270 min) postmeal ingestion. Fullness and satiety were also assessed at each time point. Treatment effects between groups were analyzed using ANOVA.

RESULTS

Gastric emptying half-time (GE t50) was greater (P < 0.0001) after participants consumed whole apple (mean ± SEM), 65 (3.3) min compared with when they consumed apple puree (41 [2.8] min) or apple juice (38 [2.9] min), times that did not differ. Postprandial area under the curve (AUC) (135-270 min) SBWC was also greater for whole apples than puree (P = 0.025) and juice (P = 0.0004) but juice and puree did not differ. AUC for fullness and satiety (0-270 min) postingestion was also greater (P = 0.002 and 0.004, respectively) for whole apple compared with juice but juice and puree did not differ.

CONCLUSIONS

Gastric emptying is slower after whole apple consumption causing a greater sensation of fullness and satiety than puree or juice in healthy adults. Whole apples increased small bowel and colonic contents during the later phase of the study which may be relevant for subsequent food consumption.This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03714464.

Alginate- and Gelatin-Coated Apple Pieces as Carriers for Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis DSM 10140

Fruit and vegetables are considered good natural supports for microorganisms; however, probiotics could cause negative changes on some organoleptic and sensory traits. Thus, the main topic of this paper was the design of coated apple chips as carriers for probiotics with a high level of sensory traits. The research was divided into two steps. First, four functional strains (Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 20016, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis DSM 10140, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum c16 and c19) were immobilized on apple pieces through dipping of fruit chips in probiotic suspensions for different contact times (from 15 to 30 min) and stored at 4°C for 12 days. Periodically, the viable count was assessed. As a result of this step, a contact time of 15 min was chosen because it assured an optimal deposition of microorganisms. In the second step, apple pieces inoculated with B. animalis subsp. lactis DSM 10140 were coated with alginate and gelatin and stored at 4 and 8°C for 10 days; pH, microbiological counts, color (browning index), and sensory scores were evaluated. Bifidobacterium animalis DSM 10140 exerted a negative effect on apple chips and cause a significant browning; however, the use of coating counteracted this phenomenon. In fact, coated chips showed higher sensory scores and lower browning index. In addition, gelatin showed better performances in terms of probiotic viability, because at 8°C, a significant viability loss of B. animalis DSM 10140 (1.2 log cfu/g) was found on alginate-coated chips. Gelatin-coated apple pieces with B. animalis subsp. lactis DSM 10140 could be an attractive functional food for a wide audience, although further investigations are required on in vivo effects of this product after consumption.

Non-Destructive Estimation of Total Chlorophyll Content of Apple Fruit Based on Color Feature, Spectral Data and the Most Effective Wavelengths Using Hybrid Artificial Neural Network-Imperialist Competitive Algorithm

Non-destructive assessment of the physicochemical properties of food products, especially fruits, makes it possible to examine the internal quality without any damage. This is applicable at different stages of fruit growth, harvesting stage, and storage as well as at the market stage. In this regard, the present study aimed to estimate the total chlorophyll content using three types of data: color data, spectral data, and spectral data related to the most effective wavelengths. The most important steps of the proposed algorithms include extracting spectral and color data from each sample of Fuji cultivar apple, selecting the most effective wavelengths at the range of 660-720 nm using hybrid artificial neural network-particle swarm optimization (ANN-PSO), non-destructive assessment of the chemical property of total chlorophyll content based on color data, and spectral data using hybrid artificial neural network-Imperialist competitive algorithm (ANN-ICA). In order to assess the reliability of the hybrid ANN-ICA, 1000 iterations were performed after selecting the optimal structure of the artificial neural network. According to the results, in the best training mode and using spectral data and the most effective wavelength, total chlorophyll content was predicted with the R2 and RMSE of 0.991 and 0.0035, 0.997 and 0.001, 0.997 and 0.0006, respectively.

Electroactive Phenolic Contributors and Antioxidant Capacity of Flesh and Peel of 11 Apple Cultivars Measured by Cyclic Voltammetry and HPLC-DAD-MS/MS

In this study, 11 apple cultivars were characterized by their total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant, reducing, and chelating capacity by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays; and ferrous ion chelating capacity. The phenolic compounds in flesh and peel were determined by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and diode array detector (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS) and their electroactivity by CV. The results showed higher TPC, TFC, and antioxidant capacity by DPPH test in the peels of all apple cultivars as compared to the respective flesh. The peel extracts also showed two-fold higher FRAP values as compared to the flesh extracts. The reducing capacity of the peel and flesh determined by CV measurements confirmed the results achieved by spectrophotometric methods of evaluating antioxidant capacity. There was no significant difference in chelating capacity in the peel and flesh. The HPLC-DAD-MS/MS analysis showed the presence of 11 phenolic compounds in the peel and flesh which varied in antioxidant, reducing, and chelating activity. The order of the phenolic compound content in flesh and peel in Quinte cultivar, which showed the highest antioxidant capacity, was as follows: epicatechin > chlorogenic acid > quercetin 3-arabinoside > quercetin 3-glucoside > cyanidin 3-galactoside > quercetin 3-rhamnoside > catechin > phloridzin > rutin > phloretin = quercetin. CV results were highly correlated with those obtained by spectrophotometry and HPLC-DAD-MS/MS, providing evidence to support the use of cyclic voltammetry as a rapid method to determine the phenolic profile and reducing the power of apple flesh and peel. The association between antioxidant assays and phenolic compound content showed that the highest contribution to the antioxidant capacity of apple peel and flesh was provided by catechin, epicatechin, and cyadinin-3-galactoside, while phloretin, phloridzin, and chlorogenic acid were the main contributors to chelating activity. Results from this study clearly indicate that removing the peel from apples may induce a significant loss of antioxidants.

Untargeted Screening in a Case Control Study Using Apples as a Matrix

Untargeted screening using high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) is a promising approach for screening the food supply for contaminants, but the sheer amount of information inherent to the HRMS data set presents analytical challenges. Red apples, collected during the U.S. FDA's Total Diet Study, were studied to determine whether bioinformatic software can be used to distinguish spiked model compounds from those native to apples. A workflow was created, in which initial data sets of over 44,000 features in each of the two spiked samples were reduced by several orders of magnitude to a scale suitable for visual inspection. After visual inspection to address degeneracy and data quality, the final data sets contained 30 and 2 suspect compounds, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest scale case-control study on food matrices to date and the first use of market basket samples as references in an untargeted screening study.

Impact of the Physicochemical Composition and Microbial Diversity in Apple Juice Fermentation Process: A Review

Fermented apple beverages are produced all over the world with diverse characteristics associated with each country. Despite the diversifications, cider producers are confronted with similar issues and risks. The nature of the raw material, also known as the fermentation medium, plays a key role in fermentation. A well-defined composition of apples is, therefore, required to produce cider with good quality. In addition, ferment and its metabolism are important factors in the fermentation process. The producers of cider and other alcoholic beverages are looking in general for novel yeast strains or for the use of native strains to produce "authentic" and diversified beverages that are distinct from each other, and that attract more and more consumers. Research articles on cider production are infrequent compared to wine production, especially on the impact of the chemical composition and microbial diversity of apples on fermentation. Even though the processing of fermented beverages is close in terms of microbial interactions and production, the study of the specific properties of apples and the production challenges of cider production is advantageous and meaningful for cider producers. This review summarizes the current knowledge on apple composition and the impact of the must composition on fermentation and yeast growth. In addition, the microbial diversity of cider, activities, and its influence on fermentation are reviewed.

Analysis of Volatile Compounds and Sugar Content in Three Polish Regional Ciders with Pear Addition

Aroma plays important part in cider acceptability to the consumer. In this study, techniques such as headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME), which has been coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, have been used to assess what changes in the volatilome occur during fermentation of three apple cultivars (Cortland, Gala, Idared) with and without addition of pear (Konferencja) juice addition. Analysis of volatiles has shown that temperature of fermentation, apple variety and pear juice addition have significant influences on the volatile compositions of the acquired ciders. Ciders prepared in laboratory conditions fermented at 15 °C were characterized by a greater share of esters, such as ethyl hexanoate, ethyl decanoate and ethyl dodecanoate, in volatile profile (66.24–79.58%) than ciders fermented at 20 °C (58.81–77.22%). Ciders fermented at a higher temperature were characterized by a greater share of alcohols, such as phenylethyl alcohol and hexan-1-ol (18.34–36.7%) than ciders fermented at a lower temperature (16.07–25.35%). In the ciders prepared from pear (20% w/w) and apple (80% w/w) juice, the presence of esters, such as ethyl (2E, 4Z)-deca-2,4-dienoate, characterized by a pear aroma, could be noted.

In-Situ Measurement of Fresh Produce Respiration Using a Modular Sensor-Based System

In situ, continuous and real-time monitoring of respiration (R) and respiratory quotient (RQ) are crucial for identifying the optimal conditions for the long-term storage of fresh produce. This study reports the application of a gas sensor (RMS88) and a modular respirometer for in situ real-time monitoring of gas concentrations and respiration rates of strawberries during storage in a lab-scale controlled atmosphere chamber (190 L) and of Pinova apples in a commercial storage facility (170 t). The RMS88 consisted of wireless O₂ (0% to 25%) and CO₂ sensors (0% to 0.5% and 0% to 5%). The modular respirometer (3.3 L for strawberries and 7.4 L for apples) consisted of a leak-proof arrangement with a water-containing base plate and a glass jar on top. Gas concentrations were continuously recorded by the RMS88 at regular intervals of 1 min for strawberries and 5 min for apples and, in real-time, transferred to a terminal program to calculate respiration rates (RO2 and RCO2) and RQ. Respiration measurement was done in cycles of flushing and measurement period. A respiration measurement cycle with a measurement period of 2 h up to 3 h was shown to be useful for strawberries under air at 10 °C. The start of anaerobic respiration of strawberries due to low O₂ concentration (1%) could be recorded in real-time. RO2 and RCO2 of Pinova apples were recorded every 5 min during storage and mean values of 1.6 and 2.7 mL kg⁻¹ h⁻¹, respectively, were obtained when controlled atmosphere (CA) conditions (2% O₂, 1.3% CO₂ and 2 °C) were established. The modular respirometer was found to be useful for in situ real-time monitoring of respiration rate during storage of fresh produce and offers great potential to be incorporated into RQ-based dynamic CA storage system.

Quantification of Morpholine in Peel and Pulp of Apples and Oranges by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Morpholine salts of fatty acids have been used in wax coatings on the surfaces of fruit and vegetable commodities in China and the United States, etc. However, morpholine usage was prohibited in many other countries because of safety concerns. We optimized analytical methods to determine morpholine in the peel and pulp of fruits and vegetables by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This morpholine analysis method was applied to real samples of apples, citrus fruits, and vegetables from Korea, China, and the U.S. The method was validated using apple and citrus fruit peels and pulp. The method detection limit (MDL) was 1.3–3.3 µg/kg. The recovery rates of morpholine were 88.6–107.2% over a fortified level of 10–400 µg/kg. Intra-day and inter-day precisions were 1.4–9.4% and 1.5–2.8%, respectively. The morpholine concentrations were n.d. (not detected)–11.19 and n.d. (not detected)–12.82 µg/kg in apple and citrus peels, respectively. Morpholine was not detected in citrus or apple pulp samples or in vegetable samples.

Metabolomic-Based Approach to Identify Biomarkers of Apple Intake

SCOPE

There is an increased interest in developing biomarkers of food intake to address some of the limitations associated with self-reported data. The objective is to identify biomarkers of apple intake, examine dose-response relationships, and agreement with self-reported data.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Metabolomic data from three studies are examined: an acute intervention, a short-term intervention, and a free-living cohort study. Fasting and postprandial urine samples are collected for analysis by ¹ H-NMR and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Calibration curves are developed to determine apple intake and classify individuals into categories of intake. Multivariate analysis of data reveals that levels of multiple metabolites increase significantly post-apple consumption, compared to the control food-broccoli. In the dose-response study, urinary xylose, epicatechin sulfate, and 2,6-dimethyl-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran increase as apple intake increases. Urinary xylose concentrations in a free-living cohort perform poorly at an individual level but are capable of ranking individuals in categories of intake.

CONCLUSION

Urinary xylose exhibits a dose-response relationship with apple intake and performs well as a ranking biomarker in the population study. Other potential biomarkers are identified and future work will combine these with xylose in a biomarker panel which may allow for a more objective determination of individual intake.

Influence of Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma harzianum on Penthiopyrad Degradation under Laboratory and Field Studies

In plant protection, biological preparations are used alternately with chemical pesticides. The applied microorganism can influence the concentration of chemical substances. Laboratory and field studies were conducted to assess the influence of Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma harzianum on the penthiopyrad concentration. In laboratory studies, the effectiveness of penthiopyrad degradation by B. subtilis was approximately 5% during 14 days of the experiment. For penthiopyrad treated with T. harzianum strains, the degradation effectiveness ranged from 34.2% on Day 3 to 56.9% on Day 14. In experiments testing the effects of mixed culture of microorganisms, the effectiveness of penthiopyrad degradation ranged from 23.7% on Day 3 to 29.1% on Day 14. After treatment of apple trees of Gala and Golden Delicious varieties with a biological preparation, a maximum degradation of penthiopyrad of 20% was found in both varieties. Samples of apples were prepared by the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe (QuEChERS) method, and penthiopyrad was analyzed by gas chromatography with a mass detector. A determined value of the chronic exposure to penthiopirad was 1.02% of the acceptable daily intake, both for children and for adults. The acute exposure amounted to 7.2% and 1.9% of the acute reference dose for children and adults, respectively. These values were considered to be acceptable and not threatening to health.

Quantification of Urinary Phenyl-γ-Valerolactones and Related Valeric Acids in Human Urine on Consumption of Apples

Flavan-3-ols are dietary bioactive molecules that have beneficial effects on human health and reduce the risk of various diseases. Monomeric flavan-3-ols are rapidly absorbed in the small intestine and released in the blood stream as phase II conjugates. Polymeric flavan-3-ols are extensively metabolized by colonic gut microbiota into phenyl-γ-valerolactones and their related phenylvaleric acids. These molecules are the main circulating metabolites in humans after the ingestion of flavan-3-ol rich-products; nevertheless, they have received less attention and their role is not understood yet. Here, we describe the quantification of 8 phenyl-γ-valerolactones and 3 phenylvaleric acids in the urine of 11 subjects on consumption of apples by using UHPLC-ESI-Triple Quad-MS with pure reference compounds. Phenyl-γ-valerolactones, mainly as sulfate and glucuronic acid conjugates, reached maximum excretion between 6 and 12 after apple consumption, with a decline thereafter. Significant differences were detected in the cumulative excretion rates within subjects and in the ratio of dihydroxyphenyl-γ-valerolactone sulfate to glucuronide conjugates. This work observed for the first time the presence of two distinct metabotypes with regards to the excretion of phenyl-γ-valerolactone phase II conjugates.

Effects of Intake of Apples, Pears, or Their Products on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Apples and pears contain nutrients that have been linked to cardiovascular health. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize related research. Medline, Cochrane Central, and Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau databases were searched for publications on apple or pear intake and cardiovascular disease (CVD)/ cardiometabolic disease (CMD). Studies in adults (healthy or at risk for CVD) that quantified apple or pear intake were included. Random-effects models meta-analysis was used when ≥3 studies reported the same outcome. In total, 22 studies were eligible including 7 randomized controlled trial, 1 nonrandomized trial, and 14 prospective observational studies. In RCTs, apple intake significantly decreased BMI, but made no difference in body weight, serum lipids, blood glucose, or blood pressure. In observational studies, apple or pear intake significantly decreased risk of cerebrovascular disease, cardiovascular death, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and all-cause mortality. No association was reported for cerebral infarction or intracerebral hemorrhage. In conclusion, apple or pear intake significantly decreased BMI and risk for CVD outcomes.

Ultrasound-Assisted Osmotic Dehydration of Apples in Polyols and Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) Solutions

The aim of this work was to analyse the effect of ultrasound-assisted osmotic dehydration of apples v. Elise on mass transfer parameters, water activity, and colour changes. Ultrasound treatment was performed at a frequency of 21 kHz with a temperature of 40 °C for 30-180 min using four osmotic solutions: 30% concentrated syrups of erythritol, xylitol, maltitol, and dihydroxyacetone (DHA). The efficiency of the used solutes from the polyol groups was compared to reference dehydration in 50% concentrated sucrose solution. Peleg's model was used to fit experimental data. Erythritol, xylitol, and DHA solutions showed similar efficiency to sucrose and good water removal properties in compared values of true water loss. The application of ultrasound by two methods was in most cases unnoticeable and weaker than was expected. On the other hand, sonication by the continuous method allowed for a significant reduction in water activity in apple tissue in all tested solutions.

Enhanced Efficacy of Peroxyacetic Acid Against Listeria monocytogenes on Fresh Apples at Elevated Temperature

Peroxyacetic acid (PAA) is the most commonly used antimicrobial in spray bar antimicrobial treatment during fresh apple packing and processing. However, there are limited data regarding its practical efficacy against Listeria monocytogenes on fresh apples. This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of PAA against L. monocytogenes on fresh apples applicable to current industry practice, and further examined practical parameters impacting its efficacy to maximize the biocidal effects. Apples were inoculated with a three-strain L. monocytogenes cocktail at ~6.0 Log₁₀ CFU/apple and then subjected to comparative antimicrobial treatments after 48 h post-inoculation. An 80 ppm PAA treatment, at 30-s and 2-min exposure, reduced L. monocytogenes on fresh apples by ~1.3 or 1.7 Log₁₀ CFU/apple, respectively. The anti-Listeria efficacy of PAA was not affected by the water hardness and pH of PAA solution, while it improved dramatically when applied at elevated temperature. A 2-min exposure of 80 ppm PAA at 43 and 46°C resulted in a 2.3 and 2.6 Log₁₀ CFU/apple reduction, respectively. A 30-s contact time of 80 ppm PAA at 43-46°C reduced L. monocytogenes on apples by 2.2-2.4 Log₁₀ CFU/apple. Similarly, PAA intervention at elevated temperatures significantly strengthened its effectiveness against naturally occurring apple microbiota. PAA treatment at 43-46°C can provide a vital method to improve antimicrobial efficacy against both L. monocytogenes and indigenous microbiota on fresh apples. Our data provide valuable information and reference points for the apple industry to further validate or verify process controls.

Origins of the Apple: The Role of Megafaunal Mutualism in the Domestication of Malus and Rosaceous Trees

The apple (Malus domestica [Suckow] Borkh.) is one of the most economically and culturally significant fruits in the world today, and it is grown in all temperate zones. With over a thousand landraces recognized, the modern apple provides a unique case study for understanding plant evolution under human cultivation. Recent genomic and archaeobotanical studies have illuminated parts of the process of domestication in the Rosaceae family. Interestingly, these data seem to suggest that rosaceous arboreal crops did not follow the same pathway toward domestication as other domesticated, especially annual, plants. Unlike in cereal crops, tree domestication appears to have been rapid and driven by hybridization. Apple domestication also calls into question the concept of centers of domestication and human intentionality. Studies of arboreal domestication also illustrate the importance of fully understanding the seed dispersal processes in the wild progenitors when studying crop origins. Large fruits in Rosaceae evolved as a seed-dispersal adaptation recruiting megafaunal mammals of the late Miocene. Genetic studies illustrate that the increase in fruit size and changes in morphology during evolution in the wild resulted from hybridization events and were selected for by large seed dispersers. Humans over the past three millennia have fixed larger-fruiting hybrids through grafting and cloning. Ultimately, the process of evolution under human cultivation parallels the natural evolution of larger fruits in the clade as an adaptive strategy, which resulted in mutualism with large mammalian seed dispersers (disperser recruitment).

Effect of CaCl2 and Various Wild Yeasts From Plant Origin on Controlling Penicillium expansum Postharvest Decays in Golden Delicious Apples

The biocontrol potential of four wild yeast strains (Meyerozyma guilliermondii – strain YS-1, Meyerozyma caribbica – strain YS-3, Cryptococcus albidus – strain YS-4, and Cryptococcus sp. – strain YS-5) against Penicillium expansum was studied in vivo (on Golden Delicious apples). The test yeasts were applied to the fruits alone as well as in combination with 2% CaCl₂. Treated apples were stored at room temperature (~21°C) for up to 2 weeks or under refrigeration (3°C) for up to 2 months. Candida oleophila was used as positive biocontrol agent. Biocontrol activities were expressed as percentages of lesion size reduction caused by the test yeasts or by test yeasts + CaCl₂ as compared with decays on apples treated with P. expansum alone. All strains tested during this study showed some degree of biocontrol activity against P. expansum. When the test yeasts were applied alone, they effected moderate pathogen inhibition reducing the decay size by 28% to 52% at day 7 and 11% to 27% at day 14 of incubation at room temperature. When the treated apples were stored at 3°C, lesion size reduction was between 48% and 63% after 1 month and 24% to 41% after 2 months of incubation. Addition of CaCl₂ to yeast suspensions facilitated much higher pathogen inhibition. At room temperature, lesion size reduction ranged between 74% and 77% during the first week. After 2 weeks of incubation, decays on yeast + CaCl₂-treated apples were still substantially smaller (49%-73% lower) than those on apples treated with P. expansum alone. At refrigeration, lesion size reduction ranged between 76% and 92% in the first month of storage and between 75% and 87% after 2 months of incubation. Decay incidence was 75% to 100% in apples stored at room temperature and 30% to 85% in those kept under refrigeration. The inhibitory activities of the wild yeast strains were similar to those exhibited by C. oleophila for the most part. These strains, when combined with CaCl₂, showed high potential as biocontrol agents against P. expansum on stored apples.

Assessment of GC-MS response of selected pesticides in apple matrices related to matrix concentration

A uniform analyte response is required for GC-MS analysis in order to obtain acceptable quantitative results. The response of pesticides in complex matrices is susceptible to variation due to the interactions of co-extractives, both with pesticides or with GC-MS system. This study was conducted to determine the magnitude of the interactions, called matrix effect, and their behavior with the matrix dilution. The response of pyrimethanil (4,6-dimethyl-N-phenylpyrimidin-2-amine), cyprodinil (4-cyclopropyl-6-methyl-N-phenylpyrimidin-2-amine), trifloxystrobin (methyl-(2Z)-2-methoxyimino-2-[2-[[(E)-1-[3(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethylidene amino]oxymethyl]phenyl]acetate) and bifenthrin(2-methyl-3-phenylphenyl)methyl-3-[(Z)-2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-enyl]-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylate), used in apple crops protection, was evaluated in different concentrations of peel and flesh extracts of Granny Smith, Golden Delicious and Demi Rouge, selected as representatives of different matrix types. The matrix effect ranged from -0.05 to 146.14%, depending on matrix type and pesticide. The highest response variation was observed in extracts of Granny Smith-an enhancement in flesh and suppression in peel extract. With the dilution, the matrix effect decreased with different magnitudes, but for Granny Smith peel extract an inverted effect was observed. The presence of the matrix effect in GC-MS pesticides analysis was obvious, requiring the application of matrix-matched calibration in quantification procedures for each variety, with calibration standards matched by the matrix concentration.

Edible Coatings Enriched with Essential Oils on Apples Impair the Survival of Bacterial Pathogens through a Simulated Gastrointestinal System

Edible coatings supplemented with essential oil components have been investigated to control spoilage microorganisms. In this study, the survival of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium on apples treated with edible coatings based on sodium alginate (2%) (ECs) and supplemented with essential oil components, namely eugenol (Eug) at 0.2% or in combination with 0.1% (v/v) of Eug and citral (Cit) at 0.15% was determined. Both bacterial pathogens were exposed on apples treated with ECs supplemented with Eug or Eug + Cit and challenged with gastrointestinal fluids and their survival was examined. Both pathogens were able to survive on the surface of 'Bravo de Esmolfe' apple. The use of ECs in fresh-cut fruits impaired the survival of both bacterial populations over 72 h at 4 °C. The exposure of the pathogens on apples with ECs supplemented with Eug and Cit and challenged with gastrointestinal fluids significantly reduced their survival. This study evidences that the use of alginate edible coating enriched with Eug or the combination of Eug and Cit can contribute to the safer consumption of minimally processed fruits.

Atmospheric Cold Plasma Inactivation of Salmonella and Escherichia coli on the Surface of Golden Delicious Apples

The contamination of fruits with human pathogens is a reoccurring concern in the fresh produce industry. Atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) is a potential alternate to customary approaches for non-thermal decontamination of foods. In this study, the efficacy of a dielectric barrier discharge ACP system against Salmonella (Salmonella Typhimurium, ATCC 13311; Salmonella Choleraesuis, ATCC 10708) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922, ATCC 11775) was explored. For each bacteria, a two-strain mixture at 8 log₁₀ CFU/ml was spot inoculated on the surface of Golden Delicious apples, air dried, and exposed to ACP at a fixed distance of 35 mm, input power of 200 W for 30, 60, 120, 180, and 240 s. Bacterial inactivation was achieved in all treatment times with highest reduction of 5.3 log₁₀ CFU/cm² for Salmonella and 5.5 log₁₀ CFU/cm² for E. coli. Our results showed that reductions were interrelated to exposure time and ranged from 1.3 to 5.3 and 0.6 to 5.5 log₁₀ CFU/cm² for Salmonella and E. coli, respectively. Salmonella and E. coli significantly decreased (>5.0 log) at 180 and 240 s as compared to 30, 60, and 120 s exposure. Microbial inactivation data was modeled by using Weibull distribution. These findings demonstrate the potential of ACP as a postharvest technology to effectively reduce pathogens on apples, with reference to Salmonella and E. coli.

Patulin in Apples and Apple-Based Food Products: The Burdens and the Mitigation Strategies

Apples and apple-based products are among the most popular foods around the world for their delightful flavors and health benefits. However, the commonly found mold, Penicillium expansum invades wounded apples, causing the blue mold decay and ensuing the production of patulin, a mycotoxin that negatively affects human health. Patulin contamination in apple products has been a worldwide problem without a satisfactory solution yet. A comprehensive understanding of the factors and challenges associated with patulin accumulation in apples is essential for finding such a solution. This review will discuss the effects of the pathogenicity of Penicillium species, quality traits of apple cultivars, and environmental conditions on the severity of apple blue mold and patulin contamination. Moreover, beyond the complicated interactions of the three aforementioned factors, patulin control is also challenged by the lack of reliable detection methods in food matrices, as well as unclear degradation mechanisms and limited knowledge about the toxicities of the metabolites resulting from the degradations. As apple-based products are mainly produced with stored apples, pre- and post-harvest strategies are equally important for patulin mitigation. Before storage, disease-resistance breeding, orchard-management, and elicitor(s) application help control the patulin level by improving the storage qualities of apples and lowering fruit rot severity. From storage to processing, patulin mitigation strategies could benefit from the optimization of apple storage conditions, the elimination of rotten apples, and the safe and effective detoxification or biodegradation of patulin.

Assessment of boscalid and pyraclostrobin disappearance and behavior following application of effective microorganisms on apples

The aim of this study is to assess the disappearance of boscalid (IUPAC name: 2-chloro-N-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)phenyl]pyridine-3-carboxamide) and pyraclostrobin (IUPAC name: methyl N-[2-[[1-(4-chlorophenyl)pyrazol-3-yl]oxymethyl]phenyl]-N-methoxycarbamate) residues in apple fruit, and to verify whether an organic fertilizer enriched with strains of antagonistic microorganisms can reduce pesticide residue levels. Field trials were conducted in a commercial orchard on apples of the Gloster variety, during 21 days after the treatment with Bellis 38 WG and the subsequent application of Zumba Plant formulation containing Bacillus spp., Trichoderma spp. and Glomus spp. In control samples, the decrease rate of boscalid and pyraclostrobin residue levels followed an exponential function, described by formulae R_t = 0.2824e^-0.071t and R_t = 0.1176e^-0.060t, with the coefficient of determination of r² = 0.8692 and r² = 0.9268, respectively. These levels dropped to half (t_1/2) of their initial values after 9.8 and 11.5 days, respectively. The treatment with Zumba Plant resulted in a reduction in boscalid and pyraclostrobin residue levels by 52% and 41%, respectively. The results of this study are of importance for horticulture sciences and for producers of apples using plant protection products (PPPs).

Effect of thyme oil-alginate-based coating on quality and microbial safety of fresh-cut apples

BACKGROUND

Food preservation is critical for keeping fresh-cut products fresh, nutritious, safe, attractive and available for consumers. To improve the safety and quality of fresh-cut fruits, 15 essential oils (EOs) were screened to test the antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes (LM), Salmonella typhimurium (ST), Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EC O157:H7). The effect of alginate-based edible coating (EC) incorporating different concentrations thyme oil on fresh-cut 'Red Fuji' apples was investigated.

RESULTS

Results showed that thyme oil, cinnamon oil and oregano oil were more effective in inhibiting the microbes than other EOs. The result showed that the combined usage of 0.5 µL mL^-1 thyme oil incorporated with alginate-based EC could significantly inhibit the microbial growth, respiration, weight loss, firmness and browning of fresh-cut 'Red Fuji' apples.

CONCLUSION

The edible coating and natural additives like thyme oil could be used to preserve the quality of fresh-cut fruits. It revealed that EC incorporated with 0.5 µL mL^-1 thyme oil can be a safe preservative for fresh-cut apples. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Impact of veA on the development, aggressiveness, dissemination and secondary metabolism of Penicillium expansum

Penicillium expansum, the causal agent of blue mould disease, produces the mycotoxins patulin and citrinin amongst other secondary metabolites. Secondary metabolism is associated with fungal development, which responds to numerous biotic and abiotic external triggers. The global transcription factor VeA plays a key role in the coordination of secondary metabolism and differentiation processes in many fungal species. The specific role of VeA in P. expansum remains unknown. A null mutant PeΔveA strain and a complemented PeΔveA:veA strain were generated in P. expansum and their pathogenicity on apples was studied. Like the wild-type and the complemented strains, the null mutant PeΔveA strain was still able to sporulate and to colonize apples, but at a lower rate. However, it could not form coremia either in vitro or in vivo, thus limiting its dissemination from natural substrates. The impact of veA on the expression of genes encoding proteins involved in the production of patulin, citrinin and other secondary metabolites was evaluated. The disruption of veA drastically reduced the production of patulin and citrinin on synthetic media, associated with a marked down-regulation of all genes involved in the biosynthesis of the two mycotoxins. Moreover, the null mutant PeΔveA strain was unable to produce patulin on apples. The analysis of gene expression revealed a global impact on secondary metabolism, as 15 of 35 backbone genes showed differential regulation on two different media. These findings support the hypothesis that VeA contributes to the pathogenicity of P. expansum and modulates its secondary metabolism.

Comparing conventional Descriptive Analysis and Napping®-UFP against physiochemical measurements: a case study using apples

BACKGROUND

The extensive time and cost associated with conventional sensory profiling methods has spurred sensory researchers to develop rapid method alternatives, such as Napping® with Ultra-Flash Profiling (UFP). Napping®-UFP generates sensory maps by requiring untrained panellists to separate samples based on perceived sensory similarities. Evaluations of this method have been restrained to manufactured/formulated food models, and predominantly structured on comparisons against the conventional descriptive method. The present study aims to extend the validation of Napping®-UFP (N = 72) to natural biological products; and to evaluate this method against Descriptive Analysis (DA; N = 8) with physiochemical measurements as an additional evaluative criterion.

RESULTS

The results revealed that sample configurations generated by DA and Napping®-UFP were not significantly correlated (RV = 0.425, P = 0.077); however, they were both correlated with the product map generated based on the instrumental measures (P < 0.05). The finding also noted that sample characterisations from DA and Napping®-UFP were driven by different sensory attributes, indicating potential structural differences between these two methods in configuring samples.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, these findings lent support for the extended use of Napping®-UFP for evaluations of natural biological products. Although DA was shown to be a better method for establishing sensory-instrumental relationships, Napping®-UFP exhibited strengths in generating informative sample configurations based on holistic perception of products. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.