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African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development
Rural Outreach Program
ISSN: 1684-5358 EISSN: 1684-5358
Vol. 14, No. 7, 2014, pp. 9578-9591
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Bioline Code: nd14074
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, Vol. 14, No. 7, 2014, pp. 9578-9591
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INFLUENCE OF FRUIT MATURITY ON ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL AND CHILLING INJURY RESISTANCE OF PEACH FRUIT ( PRUNUS PERSICA ) DURING COLD STORAGE
Dzah, C.S.
Abstract
Postharvest handling of peach (Prunus persica) fruits is challenging as they deteriorate
quickly under ambient conditions. Cold storage slows detrioration but causes chilling
injury (CI), reducing quality of fruits. To overcome this challenge the influence of fruit
maturity on antioxidant capacity and CI development in “Ryan sun” peach fruits was
investigated. Fruits were harvested from commercial farms in Lleida in Spain. Optimum
harvest date (OHD) was determined on-tree visually by ground skin colour when 70%
of skin turned reddish using colour discs. Fruits were harvested 7 days before OHD
(OHD-7) and seven days after OHD (OHD+7) with OHD fruits serving as control. The
fruits were stored at 5 °C for 15, 30 and 45 days. Fruits were evaluated for CI
manifestations such as lack of juiciness (wooliness) and flesh bleeding. The lack of free
juice released upon crushing fruit flesh through cheese cloth reveals symptoms of
wooliness. Percentage CI resistance was calculated (100% - %CI incidence) for each
group. Antioxidants were extracted and analysed using the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant
Property (FRAP) method. Fruits harvested earlier (OHD-7) recorded the highest
antioxidant capacity of 1.080 mgTE/g followed by control fruits (OHD) with
antioxidant capacity of 0.976 mgTE/g. Fruits harvested late (OHD+7) recorded the
lowest antioxidant capacity of 0.471 mgTE/g. After 15 days of cold storage, OHD
resisted CI by 70% followed by OHD+7 (60%) and OHD-7 fruits (55%). After 30 days
of storage, OHD-7 fruits recorded 0 resistance to CI but OHD and OHD+7 fruits resisted
by 20% each. Fruits of all harvest dates showed no resistance to CI after 45 days of
storage. Fruit maturity and cold storage length were found to significantly (P< 0.05)
influence CI resistance. For good keeping quality, “Ryan sun” peach fruits should be
harvested mature for long keeping but harvested earlier when intended for best
antioxidant property.
Keywords
chilling injury; antioxidants; fruit maturity
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