ISHS Acta Horticulturae 701: XII International Symposium on Apricot Culture and Decline
POST-HARVEST QUALITY MAINTENANCE OF FRESH APRICOTS |
| Authors: | F. Mencarelli, R. Botondi, D. De Santis, K. Vizovitis |
| Keywords: | Prunus armeniaca, fruit quality, 1-MCP, aroma, sugars, ethylene |
| Abstract:
Apricot quality is dramatically affected by the harvest date. Consumer is often dissatisfied of apricot because of lack of aroma, not perfect ripeness, too firm or too soft texture. Beauty and taste are the features required by the consumer. Beauty is defined by integrity, proportion, and clearness. Proportion and integrity are characteristics which can be referred to apricot quality. Early harvest is detrimental for quality because it affects the full aroma development. Ethylene is responsible for the aroma development but it also provokes the apricot softening. Softening of apricot can affect the aroma development through the action of the glycosidases. Ethylene triggers glycosidases activity while 1-MCP has the opposite effect. Cooling reduces the aroma of apricots especially if they are picked at early stage. Mechanical injury is another problem for apricot distribution. Impact injury does not show up on the skin but in the flesh. Low temperature controls the appearance of the injury and 1-MCP has a similar affect. Short time 1–MCP as well as high nitrogen or high carbon dioxide treatments can avoid the use of cooling without compromising the aroma development. Handling of Apricots requires more care and slower sorting and packaging speed than other fruits. | |
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