Open Access
Efecto del estado de madurez y atmósferas modificadas sobre la calidad de cerezas cv. Sweetheart
(Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, 2004) Horvitz Szoichet, Sandra Susana; Yommi, Alejandra; López Camelo, Andrés; Godoy, Carlos; Tecnología de Alimentos; Elikagaien Teknologia
Se estudió el efecto de cosechar cerezas en dos estados de madurez, así como el uso de atmósferas modificadas empleando PBD y PVC, sobre la calidad de fruta almacenada a 0 °C durante 21 y 42 días, respectivamente. La calidad fue evaluada en base a pérdida de peso (%), color (ángulo hue), firmeza, contenido de sólidos solubles, aspecto de los pedicelos y presencia de podredumbres. La fruta cosechada más madura presentó color, sólidos solubles y firmeza adecuados durante los 21 días a 0 °C, pero el almacenamiento estuvo limitado por la deshidratación de los pedicelos, que mantuvieron aspecto comercial sólo durante una semana. Para ambos estados de madurez, la pérdida de peso fue importante y se registró aumento del contenido de sólidos solubles y firmeza. Sin embargo, la fruta cosechada más inmadura no alcanzó en ningún momento la coloración ni contenido de azúcares de la fruta cosechada en estado de madurez más avanzado. Mediante el uso de las bolsas PBD se logró minimizar la deshidratación y mantener las características organolépticas de la fruta, así como un alto porcentaje de pedicelos con buen aspecto y color durante los 42 días de conservación en frío. El uso de PVC se vio limitado por el deterioro de los pedicelos que afectó alrededor del 50 % de la fruta analizada al término de la primera semana.
Open Access
Postharvest handling of berries
(IntechOpen, 2017-09-13) Horvitz Szoichet, Sandra Susana; Tecnología de Alimentos; Elikagaien Teknologia
Strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries are highly appreciated fruits due to their unique taste and high content in antioxidant and bioactive compounds. They are rich in phenolic compounds, mostly flavonoids and anthocyanins, which are responsible for fruit color and can exert antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti¿inflammatory, anticancer, and cardioprotective effects. However, berries have a short storage life, as a result of their high respiration and softening rate, and susceptibility to mechanical damages and decay. As berries are considered non¿climacteric fruit, they must be harvested at, or near to full maturity, because they will not continue to ripen normally once detached. At this stage, the fruit presents appropriate organoleptic attributes but may become softer and more sensitive to mechanical damage. Thus, it is crucial to be extremely careful during harvest and postharvest handling and to sort, grade, and pack the berries in the field, avoiding excessive manipulation of the fruit. The most extended methods to maintain quality during the postharvest period are prompt precooling and storage at low temperatures. Modified and controlled atmospheres with up to 20-kPa CO2 and 5-10-kPa O2 reduce microbial growth and delay senescence but can affect bioactive compounds with a cultivar¿dependent response observed for these technologies.
Open Access
Effects of modified atmosphere packaging on quality and shelf-life of partially dehydrated red bell pepper
(ISHS, 2015) Horvitz Szoichet, Sandra Susana; Cantalejo Díez, María Jesús; Tecnología de Alimentos; Elikagaien Teknologia; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
Open Access
Extra-virgin olive oil enriched with lycopene: from industrial tomato by-products to consumer
(Wiley, 2024) Fernández Pan, Idoya; Horvitz Szoichet, Sandra Susana; Ibáñez Moya, Francisco C.; Arroqui Vidaurreta, Cristina; Beriain Apesteguía, María José; Virseda Chamorro, Paloma; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Lycopene is usually extracted from the by-product of the tomato industry using organic solvents (OS) in combination with a physical technique. An emerging physical technique is high-pressure processing (HPP). This study aims to find a method by applying a green solvent (edible vegetable oils) in an HPP-assisted solid-liquid extraction. Three dosages of tomato by-product (10%, 20%, and 40%, w/v) were tested using OS, sunflower oil (RSO), and extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO). Lycopene recovery increased with the ratio of by-product to oil, particularly when using EVOO. In another stage of the study, consumers evaluated EVOO that contained two doses of tomato by-product (10% and 20%, w/v). Consumers preferred the EVOO from 10% tomato by-product ratio over that with 20%. Additionally, 83.8% of consumers stated that enriched oil could be deemed beneficial for health. The proposed method considers the fundamental principles of the circular economy and practical industrial scenario to recover lycopene from tomato by-product.
Open Access
Influence of organic and inorganic fertilizer regimes on growth patterns and antioxidants capacity of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cv. Chandler
(Hindawi, 2022) Zahid, Noosheen; Maqbool, Mehdi; Tahir, Majid Mahmood; Horvitz Szoichet, Sandra Susana; Hamid, Abdul; Khalid, Muhammad Shafique; Ejaz, Shaghef; Jawad, Rashid; Awan, Shahid Iqbal; Rehman, Abdur; Ali, Asgar; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
Fertilization, either in the form of organic or inorganic, always affects plant growth, yield, and nutritional quality of fruit crops. Further, the efficacy of fertilizers depends on various factors, including the area, climatic conditions, and cultivars. Rawalakot has ideal climatic conditions for growing strawberries. However, no studies related to the impact of different soil amendments on the growth habit and fruit quality of strawberries have been conducted so far. Therefore, in this study, different combinations of organic (farmyard manure (FYM) and poultry manure (PM)) and inorganic (urea) (N 150 kg/ha) fertilizers were used for comparison of growth pattern and postharvest quality of strawberry cv. Chandler. The organic and inorganic fertilizer regimes showed comparatively better results in terms of all the parameters studied. However, plants grown on soils amended with FYM equivalent to 75 kg N per ha + PM equivalent to 75 kg N per ha and FYM equivalent to 50 kg N per ha + PM equivalent to 50 kg N per ha + urea 50 kg N per ha showed 41% and 28% more survival percentage compared to control. Furthermore, the number of leaves, number of flowers, number of fruits, and yield were significantly high in plants grown on amended soil. Moreover, a significantly high amount of total soluble solids (10.0°Brix), titratable acidity (1.18%), ash (0.84%), fiber (3.03%), total phenols (7.61 μg gallic acid/g fresh weight), total flavonoids (7.93 mmol quercetin/100 g fresh weight), and total antioxidants (0.60 activity of FeSO4 mg/g fresh weight) was noted in comparison with control. Similarly, a combined treatment of FYM, PM, and urea also showed good results in terms of all the growth and fruit quality parameters as compared with other fertilizer regimes as well as control. However, the overall results of this study revealed that strawberries grown on soil amended with a combined dose of FYM equivalent to 75 kg N per ha + PM equivalent to 75 kg N per ha could be a potential dose for maximum yield and better quality fruits of strawberry.
Open Access
Effects of gaseous O3 and modified atmosphere packaging on the quality and shelf-life of partially dehydrated ready-to-eat pepper strips
(Springer, 2015-05-26) Horvitz Szoichet, Sandra Susana; Cantalejo Díez, María Jesús; Tecnología de Alimentos; Elikagaien Teknologia; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
The efficacy of gaseous O3 (0.7 µl.l-1, 3 min) together with different modified atmospheres (5/5 and 10/5 kPa O2/kPa CO2, respectively) was investigated for extending the shelf-life of partially dehydrated red pepper strips stored at 8 ± 1 ºC. Changes in gas composition inside the packages, physicochemical, nutritional, sensory and microbiological quality were periodically evaluated. The best results were obtained in the O3-treated samples stored under a modified atmosphere of 5 kPa O2/5 kPa CO2. In effect, the reduction in the pH, the loss of lightness, red color and firmness and microbial growth were greater and were detected earlier in the control samples and in those peppers stored with 10 kPa O2. Based on these results, the shelf-life of the peppers held in 10 kPa O2/5 kPa CO2 was 42 days, whereas packing the peppers with 5 kPa O2/5 kPa CO2 extended the shelf-life of the samples up to 59 days. Thus, the combination of O3, partial dehydration and modified atmosphere packaging could be effective in maintaining the quality and extending the shelf-life of ready-to-eat partially dehydrated pepper strips.
Open Access
Antioxidant activity, organic acids and bioactive compounds of Andean blackberries (Rubus glaucus Benth)
(ISHS, 2019-11-25) Horvitz Szoichet, Sandra Susana; Arocena Elorza, José Ignacio; Chanaguano, Diana; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
Andean blackberries are considered an important source of vitamins, minerals and different phytochemicals due to their high content in polyphenols, including anthocyanins, ellagitannins and phenolic acids, which present beneficial effects in human health and prevent chronic diseases. Among other factors, harvest maturity and postharvest conditions may affect the concentration of phenolics and the antioxidant activity of the berries. In this study, the effects of harvest maturity and storage temperature on antioxidant activity, organic acids and, polyphenols and anthocyanins concentration of Andean blackberries were evaluated. Blackberries were harvested at maturity stages 3 (light red) and 5 (dark purple), packed in PET clamshells (200±10 g) and stored under room temperature (18±2°C) and cold storage (8±1°C). Organic acids (citric, malic, ascorbic) and total anthocyanins were determined by HPLC, total phenolic content with the Folin-Ciocalteu method and antioxidant activity by the DPPH method. The analyses were performed on day 1 and every 3 d during storage. At harvest, similar total organic acids, polyphenols and antioxidant activity were observed in the fruit from both maturity stages while the anthocyanins were significantly higher in the more mature fruit. What's more, some differences in the individual acids were observed. During storage and regardless of temperature, total organic acids, total anthocyanins and polyphenols content, and antioxidant activity increased in the fruit harvested at maturity stage 3. On the other hand, in the blackberries harvested at maturity stage 5, a decrease in the organic acids was observed while the anthocyanins, the phenolic compounds and the antioxidant activity remained unchanged. According to the Ecuadorian Quality Standard, blackberries can be harvested as soon as they reach the stage maturity 3. However, at this stage the fruit presented a 5-fold lower anthocyanin content and could result unacceptable for consumers due to undeveloped full color.
Open Access
An approach for the evaluation of efficiency of onion packinghouse operations
(Asociación Brasileña de Horticultura, 2003) Camelo, Andrés F. Lopes; Horvitz Szoichet, Sandra Susana; Gómez, Perla A.; Tecnología de Alimentos; Elikagaien Teknologia
The onion is a major export crop in Argentina and obtaining consistent quality is a matter of concern to remain competitive internationally. Grading is generally done according to Mercosur standards but quality assurance programs are necessary at the packinghouse level. The objective of this study was to develop a first approach for characterizing sorting and sizing efficiency. During the 1998 season five onion packinghouses located in the Valle Bonaerense del Río Colorado (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina) were randomly selected. In all of them, variables measured were: sorting table width, bulb transport and rotation speed as well as number of bulbs/sorter/hour. Before and after sorting, samples of 100 bulbs of each size category were randomly taken and closely inspected and their diameters were measured. Sizing efficiency was determined and a Chi-square test was performed to compare observed frequencies of defects with the expected ones within each category. All the studied packinghouses failed to meet the established limits for slight defects and only one of them was able to comply with the standards for basic requirements when preparing Extra class onions. Even when equipment and operational setup were different among packinghouses, the operational flux (bulbs/sorter/hour) was similar for all of them. Differences in sorting performance can be attributed mainly to the sequence of operations and speed of belt conveyors. Equipment and its calibration affected sizing efficiency, with better results obtained with the diverging roller system. The proposed methodology for characterizing efficiency could be considered as a simple and useful tool for monitoring quality at onion packinghouses.
Open Access
Appropriate harvest maturity for exploitation of wild black raspberry (Rubus sp.) fruits during shelf life period from Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir
(AIMS Press, 2025) Hayyat, Sana; Maqbool, Mehdi; Hamid, Abdul; Shehzad, Muhammad; Anwar, Raheel; Horvitz Szoichet, Sandra Susana; Zahid, Noosheen; Khan, Muhammad Azam; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
Black raspberries (Rubus sp.) are abundantly grown and distributed widely in temperate regions of Pakistan which shows rich plant diversity of fruit species. In this study wildly grown black raspberry fruits were harvested from Rawalakot at three different maturity stages and investigated for physical, biochemical and antioxidant properties. Random samples of wild black raspberry fruits from each maturity stage [turning (75% red, 25% green), full red (100% red), black (100% black)] were stored at room temperature (22 ± 2 °C, 46% RH) for maximum 7 days and analysed on alternate days. Results showed that fruit weight, total soluble solids, pH, vitamin C, total flavonoids, total phenols, total antioxidants and total anthocyanins increased whereas fruit firmness and titratable acidity levels decreased as maturity progressed from turning to black stage. During shelf life period, total soluble solids and pH increased, while fruit weight, firmness, total anthocyanins, total flavonoids and total phenols significantly decreased with shelf life period. Moreover, titratable acidity and vitamin C decreased by advancement in shelf life period. It is advisable that wild black raspberry fruits should be harvested at black stage if used for immediate consumption. However, raspberries can be harvested at full red stage to extend storage period without compromising on fruit quality.
Open Access
Microbial and sensory quality of an Andean blackberry (Rubus glaucus Benth) cultivar
(ISHS, 2020-04-07) Horvitz Szoichet, Sandra Susana; Chanaguano, Diana; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
The 'moras de Castilla' (Andean blackberries) are the blackberries most commonly cultivated in Ecuador. They are considered as non-climacteric fruit and thus, they are usually harvested at full maturity. They are also very perishable as rapid mold growth occurs during the postharvest period. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of harvest maturity and storage temperature on the microbiological and sensory quality of Andean blackberries. Blackberries were harvested at maturity stages 3 (light red) and 5 (dark purple), packed in PET clamshells (200±10 g) and stored under room temperature (18±2°C) or cold storage (8±1°C). The analyses were performed on days 0, 3, 6, and 9 of storage for sensory (visual quality, color, aroma, firmness and overall impression) and microbiological quality (total aerobic mesophiles, psychrotrophes, and yeasts and molds). Molds and yeasts' growth was the main factor limiting blackberries shelf-life. The counts for this microbial group continuously increased during the storage period, mainly under room temperature. Psychrotrophes were detected only after 6 and 9 days of cold storage in the more immature fruit and, regardless of maturity stage, mesophiles counts were greater in the blackberries stored at 18°C. The more mature fruit received higher scores in the sensory analyses and were preferred by the panelists as the blackberries harvested at maturity stage 3 were ¿too firm¿ and did not develop their full color and characteristic aroma. Based on our results, and even when the Ecuadorian Quality Standard allows to harvest blackberries when they reach the maturity stage 3, the fruit should be harvested at maturity stage 5 and kept under cold storage as refrigeration was effective in delaying microbial growth and in extending the shelf-life period from 3 days at 18°C to 8 days in cold storage.