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Superficial scald (SS) is one of the main physiological disorders affecting postharvest of pears. Its onset is linked to oxidative processes. Antioxidant compounds such as ascorbic acid and phenolics could play a key role in preventing SS. Growing environment and fruit quality also have an influence on SS symptoms occurrence. The aim of this project is to understand the relationship between antioxidant activity, phenolic content, and development of SS in 'Abate Fétel' pear. Moreover, the effect on SS of fruit maturity at harvest was assessed using multivariate statistical approach. Data were collected in thirty orchards in the EmiliaRomagna region (Italy) in three seasons (2018, 2019 and 2020), and the fruit were stored in a regular atmosphere for 120 days. Antioxidant capacity was determined by 2,2diphenyl1picrylhydrazy (DPPH) method and total phenol content by FolinCiocalteau colorimetric protocol. The results showed that 340 mg of ascorbate/100 g of FW and 300 mg of gallic ac./100 g of FW at least provide good protection against SS. Multivariate analysis indicated that pulp firmness and index of absorbance difference (IAD) seem to keep low the SS occurrence, when at harvest are higher than 6.3 kg and 1.9, respectively. In conclusion, it would be possible to build a forecasting model to control SS that considers preharvest data and content of antioxidants in different orchards, to improve the postharvest management of 'Abate Fétel'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of innovative techniques for orchard light management on the sensory properties and quality of apple (Mains X domestica Borkh.) fruit were measured using sensory and instrumental techniques. In the first experiment, 'Rosy Glow' fruit, thinned chemically or by shading, were compared. In the second experiment, 'Fuji' fruit were grown under five different coloured photo-selective hail nets and compared. For 'Rosy Glow' fruit, the efficacy of both thinning methods was comparable in terms of crop load, and no sensory differences were perceived between treatments by a trained sensory panel, based on quantitative descriptive profiling, except for the "green flesh" attribute. Nevertheless, 'Rosy Glow' fruit from the shade-based thinning had a higher mean fresh weight (FW; 215 g vs. 198 g) and higher titratable acidity (5.3 vs. 4.5 malic acid eq. 100 g-1 juice). Some significant differences were reported by the trained sensory panel for four out of the ten attributes rated among the 'Fuji' apples produced under the neutral black net (control), and the red, white, yellow, and blue photo-selective hail nets. Differences were greatest between fruit from the red and yellow hail nets. Apples from the red hail net had higher scores for yellow colour perception (average intensity 42.3 vs. 28.5, based on a linear scale anchored at 0 as the minimum and 100 as the maximum), sweet taste (score 54.9 vs. 42.4), and hardness (i.e., sensory definition for firmness; score 52.0 vs. 43.0), and a lower score for green colour (4.6 vs. 10.0). In terms of objective instrumental measurements, fruit from the red net treatment had a higher mean FW (217 g), with larger cells and larger intercellular spaces measured in terms of the number of cells mm-3 and the percentage of intercellular spaces, and a higher mean dry matter (DM) content [14.7% (w/w)], when compared to fruit from the other photo-selective net treatments. The spectrum of transmitted light influenced fruit growth by affecting cell proliferation and ripening, which changed the sensory perceptions of fruit appearance, taste, and texture. This study demonstrated that it is possible to use sensory panel analysis to measure the impact of new pre-harvest treatments on the quality of harvested apple fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The daily patterns of vascular and transpiration flows to and from peach fruit were compared between heavily-thinned (LCL) and unthinned (HCL) trees, in order to assess when these flows were limited by resource availability (source-limited) or by the genetic potential of the fruit (sink-limited) during the day. Minute variations in fruit growth and in phloem, xylem, and transpiration flows were determined at cell division (stage I) and at cell expansion (stage III) during fruit development on several fruit per treatment, using highly sensitive fruit gauges. During cell expansion, the thinning treatments were also compared for their effects on fruit water potential. At stage I, no difference between treatments was found in any of the flows, suggesting that fresh matter (FM) import from phloem and xylem is sink- limited during early fruit development. At stage III, HCL fruit were smaller and had higher specific transpiration rates during the day. Xylem flow did not show any source limitations due to high crop load. However, it was "sink-strengthened" in the afternoon, in HCL, as these fruit reached lower water potentials during the day. Phloem flow to HCL fruit was source-limited during the afternoon, and at night, due to fruit-to-fruit competition. However, HCL fruit appeared to take advantage of their lower water potential at midday, when they showed higher rates of phloem flow. Although daily growth in HCL fruit undergoes periods of source limitation, this study showed how, at certain times of day, fruit may be more active sinks in attracting resources in high cropping conditions than at low crop loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]