O. Khademi, Y. Moustofi, Z. Zamani , M.r. Fatahi Moghaddam,
Volume 12, Issue 43 (4-2008)
Abstract
In this experiment the response of persimmon fruit, cv. Karaj, to astringency removal by ethanol and the effects of this treatment on some important fruit characteristics were investigated. Fruits were harvested at three different dates and at each date based on the previous results, and then modified treatments were applied. The best ethanol astringency removal treatment in this study was 10 ml of 38% ethanol per kg fruit for 48 hours. The period after ethanol treatments had no effect on the reduction of soluble tannin concentration, although it resulted in the reduction of flesh firmness and increased soluble pectin. Ethanol treatments and also temperature conditions reduced flesh firmness and increased ground color of fruits however, the effect of ethanol treatments was more than temperature conditions. Temperature conditions increased ethylene production, thus reducing the flesh firmness and increasing the ground color index of fruits. Ethanol treatments did not increase the ethylene production, and it seems that its effects on some characteristics are due to ethanol itself or factors other than ethylene.
H. Khoshghalb, K. Arzani, M. J. Malakouti, M. Barzegar,
Volume 12, Issue 45 (10-2008)
Abstract
Changes of the main sugars and organic acids content in Asian pear (Pyrus serotina Rehd.) Cultivars ‘KS’9 and ‘KS’13 grown in Tehran were studied from fruit set to maturity. The main sugars and organic acids content in fruits were determined 1 and 2 months before harvest, at the time of harvest and 1, 2 months after harvest time using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Fruits were stored at 2˚C and 80-85% relative humidity (RH). There were significant differences between cultivars and time of fruit harvest in terms of sugars and organic acids content. In both studied cultivars, fructose, glucose and sorbitol increased from the first fruit sampling to one month after harvest (1 to 9% FW) and then decreased. Sucrose content decreased from 2 months before harvest to 2 months after harvest time (3 to 0.75% FW). In both studied cultivars organic acids content increased at the time of pick-up and then decreased. The highest organic acids contents in the studied cultivars were malic and ascorbic acids (345 and 41.1mg 100g-1FW in ‘KS’9 and control, respectively). The relationship between low sugar and organic acid content in fruits showed the highest correlation (0.8 to 1) in both cultivars among low flesh firmness, low total soluble solid (TSS), low dry weight and high internal browning determined in this study. Results indicated that high content of sugars and organic acids in fruit led to delayed internal browning. Asian pears with a low ascorbic acid concentration are probably more susceptible to internal browning. High correlation was observed between high sugars content and high fruit colour.
