0000000000938760
AUTHOR
G. Sortino
Quality changes during postharvest life in white fleshed peach (Prunus Persica L. Batsch) fruits: Preliminary observations
Sicilian white flesh peach fruits ecotypes are characterized by a persistent aroma and excellent flavor that is highly appreciated by consumers. Nevertheless, they reach only regional markets, because of fruit sensitivity to decay and the poor information about their postharvest physiology and shelf-life. In this trial, we studied quality changes during postharvest life of non-melting white-flesh peach ecotypes ‘Tudia’, ‘Bella di Bivona’ and the cultivar ‘Daniela’. Fruits were collected at commercial ripening: a first group was submitted to analytical evaluations and another one was stored (2°C, 90% RH) for 32 days. During this storage period, fruits were submitted to four shelf-life period…
Effects of xanthan gum and calcium ascorbate treatments on color and nutritional quality of fresh cut pear fruit
Edible coatings may be used to extend the shelf life of fresh-cut fruit products by controlling respiration and transpiration reducing overall quality decay. In this study, the effects of xanthan gum, combined with calcium ascorbate treatment, on color and nutritional quality of fresh-cut pear fruit were investigated. Fresh-cut pear fruit were processed with dipping for 4 different treatments: 2% xanthan gum solution with 2% calcium ascorbate (XAC); 2% xanthan gum solution (XAN); 2% ascorbate calcium solution (CAL) and distilled water for control (CTR). Fruit treated were stored at 5°C for 3, 5, 7 and 10 days. At each storage period, visual quality and flavor score, ascorbic acid and phenol…
Split water application for a water supply reduction in Callistemon Citrinus pot plant
Article Irrigation management in Greenhouse Nursery Production (GNP) is based on empiric methods based on farmer personal experiences with over-irrigation results. The effects of irrigation volume and daily application were studied in a pot experiment carried out on rooted cuttings in a greenhouse The irrigation volume treatment was performed on Full and reduced Treatment. The treatment of water application was carried out with split supply and unsplit supply. The effects of the treatments were evaluated in terms of biomass accumulation and partitioning, leaf area, photosynthesis and stomatal response, chlorophyll content, and water productivity. Callistemon showed a good adaptation to the …
Use of chemical treatments to reduce browning color of white fresh-cut peaches, harvested in summer and late crop
Fresh-cut white peach is very perishable and discoloration or browning are the main factors affecting consumer acceptability loss. Color and appearance attract the consumer to a product and can help in impulse purchase. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two different edible coatings formulations in preserving freshcut fruit of the early ripening ‘Murtiddara’ and the late ripening ‘Settembrina’ peach landraces, belonging to the ‘Pesca di Bivona’ varietal population. Fruit sampled at commercial harvest stage, after cutting and dipping in different solutions with ascorbate calcium (ASC) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) were stored for 3, 5, 7 and 12 days at 5°C and…
Characterization of a fiber-reinforced new fully aromatic liquid crystalline polymer
A new rigid liquid crystalline polymer that demonstrates good mechanical and thermomechanical properties and acceptable processing temperature has been recently synthesized and characterized. The melting temperature and some thermomechanical properties do not seem, however, suitable for use in some applications at high temperature or in the presence of aggressive fluids. The use of appropriate inorganic fillers can overcome these shortcomings. In this work the new LCP, polymerized in a bench-scale apparatus, and the same sample filled with carbon fibers are characterized. The properties of the carbon fiber filled LCP are compared with those of another filled wholly aromatic commercial LCP,…
Use of xanthan gum and calcium ascorbate to prolong cv. Butirra pear slices shelf life during storage
After cut, pear fruit (Pyrus communis L.) during shelf-life can be subjected to colour and flavour changes. To maintain flesh colour and firmness, different technologies could be employed during shelf-life, such as chemical, physical and edible coating treatments. In the present study, the effects of two edible coating formulations containing xanthan gum and calcium ascorbate on fresh-cut pear fruit were investigated. After harvest, 200 fruits were cut and coated with Xanthan Gum (XAN) and distilled water or Xanthan gum + Calcium Ascorbate (ASC), respectively, while control (CTR) pear fruit slices were soaked in distilled water and lastly packed in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packages …
Università in scena. Il campo dei Gasometri "nuovo porto" sulla direttrice nord-ovest
Nel progetto per il nuovo insediamento della Bovisa prende corpo il confronto tra due scale, due misure del progetto di architettura. La prime, quella "dell'idea di città" riferita al principio ordinatore della direttrice nord-ovest; infatti, come altrove rimarcato, Milano è da sempre città di dimensioni contenute ma di rapporti territoriali estesi, storicamente radicata a un sistema di itinerari e direttrici di lunga e breve distanza, che si riflette nella compresenza delle diverse scale, appunto, con progetti e realizzazioni che evocano i grandi spazi congeniali a questo carattere di portualità.
Synthesis and Characterization of a New Fully Aromatic LCP
Abstract Liquid crystal polymers (LCP)are a relatively new class of polymers with very interesting and unusual properties. In particular, easy processability and outstanding mechanical and barrier properties make them very attractive. Unfortunately the high stiffness of their chains often leads to compounds having very high melting points and consequently to unprocessable materials. By adding a flexible segments in the chain backbone the LCPs become processable at lower temperatures but lower properties are displayed. A new rigid liquid crystalline polymer, having excellent physical properties, good processing temperature and a good cost/performance compromise, is described in this work. Th…
Instrumental and sensory evaluation of seven apple (Malus domestica borkh.) cultivars under organic cultivation in Sicily
Article In this trial we examined the quality of 7 clones belonging to more diffused apple polyclonal varietal groups, using chemical/physical and sensory analyses during two consecutive years. Galaxy, and their ameliorative clones Gala Annaglò® and Dalitoga (Gala clones) that ripen in summer, Erovan* Early Red One® and Scarlet Spur*-Evasni® (Red Delicious clone), Corail Pinova and its ameliorative clone RoHo 3615 * Evelina® that ripen in autumn were studied. Gala Annaglò® is interesting for the fruit size and peel color, Dalitoga for the early ripening and Galaxy for the crunchiness and consistency. All the Gala clones reached very high total solid soluble content confirmed by the panel ju…
Effects of Zinc Foliar Nutrition on ‘Gala’ Apple (Malus Domestica Borkh) Fruit Quality
To improve fruit color features research has focused on the use of foliar nutrition with zinc. There is a lack of know about apples. The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effects of foliar zinc treatment on the qualitative characteristics of ‘Gala’ apple. Apple trees Cv ‘Gala’ were submitted to a foliar spray application of Zn in the form of aqueous solution of 0.2% and 0.4% zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) for three times. Fruit was harvested at commercial ripening and physicochemical parameters, yield, crop load, yield effi ciency and zinc leaf content were measured. Results revealed that yield, crop load, fruit weight, cover color index and cover color percentage of the observed trees was infl u…
Characterization of a fiber reinforced semirigid liquid crystalline polymer
In this work, samples of a semirigid Liquid crystalline polymer reinforced with carbon and glass fibers has been characterized. Semirigid liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) show some advantages with respect to rigid LCPs: in particular lower processing temperatures, and better compatibility with flexible thermoplastics, but also some disadvantages: lower mechanical properties and poor thermomechanical resistance. Both properties can be improved by adding inorganic fillers. Although elastic modulus and tensile strength of the glass fiber filled LCP improve remarkably with increasing the filler content, the same properties for the carbon fiber-filled samples do not increase with increasing ti…
The role of mucilage of Opuntia ficus-indica Mill. on sweet cherry fruit during storage
Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is an important crop from temperate areas and is widespread and much appreciated by the consumers when the pedicel is green. The objective of this work was to evaluate the quality of sweet cherry fruit treated with a mucilage coating, extracted from cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica L. Mill (OFI). The cultivar ‘Ferrovia’ was harvested at the commercial ripeness stage from an orchard in Puglia (Italy), stored for 14 days at 2°C and RH 92% and to evaluated by the variation of color and other qualitative parameters such as physical-chemical, nutraceutical and sensory analysis. Fruits were transferred at 10°C to postharvest laboratory of University of Palermo after…
Study on consumer preferences for quality attributes of fig fruit after storage at room temperature
Fig (Ficus carica L.) is a nutritious fruit, rich in fiber, potassium, calcium, and iron. It is an important source of vitamins, amino acids, antioxidants and phenolic compounds that contribute to a healthy diet. In addition to Asian countries, fig is cultivated in the Mediterranean basin, where quality fruit has been produced since ancient times. Sicily in southern Italy traditionally cultivated ‘San Giovanni’ figs, but fig consumption has decreased. This cultivar is very interesting for its intrinsic qualities and its appreciation after storage by consumers could help its commercialization. The objective of this study is to know consumer preferences for quality attributes of ‘San Giovanni…
Riorganizzazione territoriale degli Uffici del Giudice di Pace
Lo studio si prefigge lo scopo di riorganizzare, con l’ausilio di applicativi GIS., la distribuzione degli uffici del Giudice di Pace (GdP) nel territorio siciliano, prendendo in analisi le sedi dei distretti di Corte di Appello di Palermo e Caltanissetta. L’articolazione dello studio avviene in due fasi : a) la ricerca di una metodologia oggettiva per l’individuazione delle sedi del Giudice di Pace più idonea, in termini di efficienza ed efficacia, per offrire il servizio di giustizia; b) l’individuazione del nuovo territorio di competenza per ogni sede del Giudice di Pace confermata, con un’attenta analisi spaziale. Per la ricerca di una metodologia oggettiva è stata realizzata una scheda…
Use of xanthan gum as edible coating to prolong shelf life of cactus pear fruit
The objective of this work was to elucidate the effect of xanthan gum-based edible coating C35H49O29 on the quality of cactus pear fruit (Opuntia ficus-indica). The research was conducted in 2018, on O. ficus-indica ‘Bianca’ fruit, coming from second bloom “scozzolatura”. After harvest, 100 fruits were coated with a xantan gum (XAN) and distilled water and on other 100 fruits were immersed in distilled water (CTR). All fruits were stored at 6±0.5°C with RH 90% for 30 days. Every 7 days, visual quality browning index score, flesh colour, total soluble solids (TSS), total acidity (TA), ascorbic acid and total phenols were measured. During cold storage, fruit treated with XAN (p<0.05) showe…
Effect of mucilage edible coating on fresh-cut nectarine cultivar ‘Big Bang’
The mucilage (OFI) obtained from cladodes of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) is useful to produce natural edible coatings to improve the shelf life of fruits. Edible coatings could be used to extend the shelf life of fresh-cut for products. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of (OFI) on quality of ‘Big Bang' nectarine slices. After cutting, nectarine slices were dipped in three different solutions: 1) distilled water, mucilage, glycerol (MC); 2) distilled water, mucilage, glycerol, Tween 20 (TW); 3) distilled water as control (CTR) and were stored for 3, 5, 7 and 12 days at 5°C and 90% RH, in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packages under passive modified atmosphere condit…
Color and sensory changes in fresh cut pear during storage comparing ‘Coscia’ and ‘Butirra’, cultivated in southern Italy
Pear (Pyrus communis L.) cultivars ‘Coscia’ and ‘Butirra’, cultivated in southern Italy are characterized very excellent by aroma and texture. Visual appearance is the primary descriptor that determines the acceptance of fresh-cut pears. Softening is another important quality parameter which considerably influences the acceptance of fresh-cut pears. The aim of this work was to study the effect of genotype on shelf life and quality of fresh-cut pear fruit harvested at commercial maturity stage. After cutting, pear fruit samples were stored under passive atmosphere at 5±1°C for 3, 5, 7 and 12 days. Fruit color (L*, a*, b*, ΔE), consistence, solid soluble, titratable acidity, CO2 and O2 packag…
Innovative techniques to reduce chilling injuries in mango (Mangifera Indica L.) trees under mediterranean climate
As a tropical tree, mango (Mangifera indica L.) cultivated in Mediterranean climate needs protection against low temperatures. The aim of this work is to study the effect of traditional individual protective canopy protection systems in comparison with innovative typologies designed for this experiment on the physiological response of young mango trees during the cold season. We selected 25 four-year-old mango trees cv ‘Glenn’. Trees were divided into five different groups: not covered trees (NC); trees with windbreak protection using a shading net (SN); trees with windbreak protection using non-woven sheets (WB); fully covered trees using non-woven sheets (FC); fully covered trees with non…