Search results for "Crop quality"

Effects of 1-Methylcyclopropene on postharvest quality traits, antioxidant activity and ascorbic acid content of mature-ripe mango fruits

2017

Introduction - Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a climacteric fruit, very sensitive to prolonged storage with a relatively short postharvest life. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 1-MCP treatment on the pomological and sensory traits, antioxidant capacity and ascorbic acid content in late ripening mature-ripe mango fruits submitted to a simulated shelf life at 20 degrees C. Materials and methods - Mango late ripening fruits (cv. Keitt) were harvested from a commercial orchard, located at Furiano, province of Messina (Sicily, Italy; 38 degrees 3'N, 14 degrees 33'E; 5 m a.s.l.). Fruits were treated with 1-MCP (0.005 kg m(-3)) for 20 h in 1 m(3) closed containers and then …

Cultivation trials of hop (Humulus lupulus L.) in semi-arid environments

2020

Abstract The recent developments in the market and craft beer industry in Italy have led to an increasing demand for local raw materials, such as barley malt and hops. Few works have been addressed to evaluate suitability and productivity of hop in semi-arid Italian environments. With this purpose, two experiments were carried out in 2018 and 2019, testing the suitability to cultivation of three commonly used hop varieties (Cascade, Chinook and Nuggett) in two typical semi-arid environments in Sicily. Phenological stages were also evaluated, and GDDs accumulated in vegetative and reproductive stages were calculated according to 9 different methods, dealing with three Tbase temperatures (0 °…

Soybean Seedlings Enriched with Iron and Magnesium - Impact on Germination, Growth and Antioxidant Properties

2018

Abstract Iron (Fe) and magnesium (Mg) deficiency in human diets is a widespread problem observed in various regions of the world. Insufficient Fe uptake results in the development of iron dependent anaemia and depressed physical and intellectual performance. In turn Mg deficiency is associated with alterations in neuromuscular and cardiovascular systems. An emerging alternative to traditional supplementation of these elements in the form of pills, liquids or effervescent tablets, is introduction of fortified food products. In present study we show that preincubation of soybean seeds in Fe and Mg solutions leads to elevated content of these elements in the seedlings. Importantly the pretreat…

POMOLOGICAL TRAITS, SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS, AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY IN FRUITS OF NINE LOQUAT CULTIVARS GROWN IN SICILY

2015

Loquat cultivation in Italy currently aims at offering a wider choice of cultivars to growers. The present study determined commercial quality, characterized the antioxidant capacity, and quantified the major bioactive compounds of some local ('BRT 20', 'Claudia', 'Nespolone di Trabia', 'Sanfilippara') and international ('Algerie', 'El Buenet', 'Bueno', 'Golden Nugget' and 'Peluche') cultivars. Fruit was harvested at commercial ripening and chemical-physical determinations of weight, diameters, skin and flesh color, soluble solid content, tritable acidity, antioxidant activity and polyphenol content, and sensory analyses were carried out. Data showed a large variability among genotypes and …

1-METHYLCYCLOPROPENE DELAYS RIPENING AND IMPROVES POSTHARVEST QUALITY OF WHITE FLESH LOQUAT

2015

The ethylene inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) delayed ripening and improved postharvest fruit quality of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.). 1-MCP was used on the white flesh sub-acid loquat cultivars ‘Claudia’ and ‘BRT20’ to evaluate the possible effect on fruit ripening and to prevent negative effects of cold storage, like internal browning and flesh leatheriness. 1-MCP was applied at 2°C for 20 h and concentrations of 1 and 5 μl L-1. After 1-MCP treatment fruit were held at 2°C for 7, 14, and 21 days and then moved to 18°C for 5 days. Fruit flesh firmness, titratable acidity (TA), total soluble content (TSS), weight loss, internal browning and flesh leatheriness were evaluated at …

Antioxidants Response of Two Varieties of Tomato to Fungicides and Acetylsalicylic Acid Treatments

2015

The antioxidants (ascorbic acid and total phenolics) activity was evaluated as a comparative study regarding the influence of selected systemic fungicides, CuSO 4 mixture and acetylsalicylic acid on tomato fruits. Experimental crop consisted of two tomato varieties on which three types of treatments were applied. The antioxidants analysis was performed by spectrophotometric methods both for ascorbic acid and total phenolics determination. Our results showed significant differences regarding the antioxidants level in the experimental tomato crops.

RESPONSE OF MELON GENOTYPES TO POLYETHYLENE AND BIODEGRADABLE STARCH-BASED MULCHING FILMS USED FOR FRUIT PRODUCTION IN THE WESTERN COAST OF SICILY

2009

FRUIT PRODUCTION OF CULTIVATED CACTI: A SHORT OVERVIEW ON PLANT ECOPHYSIOLOGY AND C BUDGET

2009

TWO YEARS OF STUDIES INTO NATIVE BERMUDAGRASS (CYNODON SPP.) GERMPLASM FROM SICILY (ITALY) FOR THE CONSTITUTION OF TURF CULTIVARS

2008

Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) is the most widely used warm season turf species in the world for sport, lawn and utility turfs. The species is widespread in Sicily (Italy) where it exhibits a large range of diverse morphological characteristics due to a long process of adaptation to varying climatic and soil conditions of the island. In order to exploit the bermudagrass genetic resources and establish a germplasm bank for use in various plant breeding programmes, bio-agronomic evaluation tests were carried out on the 40 Sicilian biotypes of Cynodon spp. from 2002 to 2004 at the experimental farm “Orleans”, University of Palermo. The accessions were compared to the standard cultivar ‘Savannah’,…

ANTIOXIDANT COMPOUNDS AND QUALITATIVE TRAITS IN EUROPEAN (PRUNUS DOMESTICA L.) AND JAPANESE (P. TRIFLORA L.) PLUM FRUITS AS AFFECTED BY COLD STORAGE

2010

The Italian territory is rich in fruit trees germplasm and in the last years many research programs have been carried out to characterize local cultivars and accessions for deepenings about them and enhancing the market agreement too. The Sicilian plum cultivars 'Sanacore' and 'Ariddo di core' and the Piedmontese plum cultivar 'Ramassin' were studied to highlight their qualitative traits including the nutraceutical properties. Moreover, since it is important to know in which way the qualitative parameters change during the storage period one more study was carried out by storing the fruits under modified atmosphere in the Tectrol ® system. The results evidenced very interesting aspects abou…