The Post-harvest Management of Apples, from Hot Water Treatment to Decision Support System. Alex van Schaik Coordinator Paolo Bertolini WP1 Ria Derkx WP2
Outline Non-destructive measurement of quality Sustainable prevention of postharvest rot Improved storage systems Quality prediction
Post Harvest Chain Quality determined at harvest!! - Ripening status - Size/color/presentation - Sustainable product - Biochemical composition - Potential taste (sugars) - Sensitivity to defects - Shelflife
Initial quality: DA meter NIR technique Portable Quality prediction (harvest and storage) Research: Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Pink Lady Galaxy, Elstar, Rubens Harvest 4 Sept Harvest 2 Oct
Workin g 2.5 Absorbance (A) 2 1.5 1 0.5 1.1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 I AD 0 650 750 850 950 1050 Wavelength (nm) The I AD is calculated as the difference in absorbance at the wavelengths of 670 (chlorophyll-a absorbance peak) and 720 nm (background of the spectrum) The I AD decreases throughout fruit development and ripening
DA-meter 2.5 10 9 2 8 Ethylene emission ppm h -1 kg -1 1.5 1 Starch index 7 6 5 4 3 0.5 2 1 0 1.65-1.55 1.55-1.5 1.5-1.4 1.4-1.3 1.3-1.2 <1.0 0 1.65-1.6 1.6-1.55 1.55-1.5 1.5-1.45 1.45-1.4 1.4-1.35 1.35-1 <1 I AD Ethylene production (left) and Starch content (right) in relation with DA measurement at 3 harvest dates for Red Delicious apples
DA meter: results DA-classes for Gala Apples harvested at three times
4 Sept 40 35 30 25 % 20 % 15 10 5 0 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 40 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2 DA-index 11 Sept 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2 DA-index 19 Sept DA distribution at different harvest dates for Rubens apples 1.4 1.2 Rubens - DA-index % 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2 DA-index 25 Sept DA-index 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 20 10 4 1 40 35 30 0.2 % 25 20 15 10 5 0.0 19-9 29-9 9-10 19-10 29-10 8-11 18-11 0 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2 DA-index Date 2 Oct 40 35 30 % 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2 DA-index Decline in DA-index during storage at different temperatures
Relation DA and Firmness Correlation between DA-index and fruit firmness Pink Lady: badges of fruit Fruit firm ness, N 80 75 70 65 60 55 50 45 40 y = 18.122x + 51.51 R 2 = 0.587 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 DA-index Elstar individual fruits
Tools in the chain: DA meter Promising technique for several varieties Reduction biological variation: selection at harvest Measurement in the orchard possible Application for more fruits Quality prediction (harvest and storage) Relationship with other quality attributes Must accepted as a standard tool?!
Safer Fruit and Environment Replacing pesticide treatment against Postharvest rot by: - HWT Hot Water Treatment - BCA Biological Control Agents (Antagonists) - GRAS Generally Recognized Safe Substances
Hot Water Treatment
Results of Hot Water Treatment. Example of results: Golden Delicious: 52 C for 40 seconds and 54 C/ 56 C for 20 seconds. Braeburn can be safely treated up to 56 C for 40 seconds and 58 C for 20 seconds. Royal Gala can be safely treated up to 52 C for 40 seconds and 54 C for 20 seconds. Queen Cox can be safely treated up to 54 C for 20 seconds.
Results of Hot Water Treatment. BUT: Variation in effects depending to season, orchard, growing area and variety. Good result Nectria and Gloeosporium, not against Botrytis. Longer immersion time and higher temperature: skin damage. Standard protocol for every situation is problematic Logistic problems during harvest Large scale application is difficult
Hot Water Treatment on peaches 75 a infected fruits % 50 25 0 E I 84,38% b peach "Rich Lady" a E I 100% b nectarine "Big Top" Control HW 60 C x 20"
Treatments with GRAS and Antagonists Effects of official EU registered Antagonists were ineffective Some GRAS treatments were effective: - Na-molybdate - Peroxyacetic acid - Alcohol ethoxylate Registration is necessary and is time consuming in EU
Storage systems 1-MCP is blocking the ripening process ethylene production [pmol/kg/s] 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 0 50 100 150 200 time [hours] ethylene C = C receptor C = C C C - C = C receptor 1-mcp
Storage techniques: 1-MCP treatment firmness after shelf-life at 18 C firmness [N/cm²] 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 harvest 1 harvest 2 0 48 75 103 138 175 0 43 70 98 133 170 storage days + MCP - MCP storage days Kitteman, Bavendorf
Storage techniques: Dynamic Oxygen Conditions Principle ULO Relative respiration DCS/DCA 0 % O 2 21
Dynamic Storage Systems DCA: Source A. Zanella, Italy DCS: Source A. van Schaik, Netherlands
Dynamic Oxygen Systems Influence different technologies on scald Red Delicious % Scald 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 ULO DPA MCP DCA Technology Scald SV-score (0-3) 1.6 1.4 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 Skinspots and DCS after 1 Week 18 C Zanella, Laimburg 11330 10412 10350 10069 avg Orchard ULO DCS
Dynamic Control System (DCS) Distribution firmness of apples after 7.5 Month in storage direct en 1 wk shelflife CA and DCS storage with and without 1-MCP (Elstar) 0.6 0.5 amout of fruits (%) 0.4 0.3 0.2 ULO shelflife Control ULO shelflife SmartFresh DCS shelflife Control DCS shelflife SmartFresh 0.1 0 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 Firmness class (per 0.5 kg)
Interactive Storage systems (DCA\DCS\ILOS) Advantages Orchard related storage condition Retention of firmness and ground color in the chain Reduction of biological variation Reduction of physiological disorders Replacement of chemical treatments Allowed for organic fruits Necessary: More equipment Special sensors Gastight rooms
Peaple Decision Support System for Simulation of Postharvest Quality Changes in Fruit Supply Chains PawelKonopackiet all
Peaple is a prototype Decision Support System to: simulate quality changes of apples and peaches along different supply chains to meet the demands of consumers and consequently stimulate the increase of fresh fruit consumption.
Peaplecontains models for several apple and peach quality indices: firmness acidity soluble solids content skin colour disorders helpsystem
Included in Peaple: 1 Cultivars 2 Growth location 3 Harvesting time 4 Transport (conditions) 5 Storage: CA, 1 MCP, DCA, HWT 6 Distribution (conditions) 7 Shelflife
70 65 60 Firmness 70 65 60 55 50 RA storage Transport Retail Firmness 55 50 45 40 35 CA storage Transport Retail 0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 45 Time 40 35 0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 Time
www.peaple-dss.eu
Conclusions Improvement Non Destructive measurement of Quality Non Chemical treatments against Post Harvest Rot in some cases possible. New storage systems successful on the market Prototype DSS system for quality
Thanks for your attention!