Control of superficial scald and analysis of α-farnesene and conjugated trienols in ‘Annurca’ apple

‘Annurca’ apple is a typical PGI product of Campania region (Italy). This cultivar is highly susceptible to superficial scald, an important postharvest disorder.
After harvest, ‘Annurca’ fruit are subjected to a typical reddening treatment (melaio) to turn the apples’ skin red.
They are usually stored under normal atmosphere (NA) conditions and, in the past, chemical products were used to prevent superficial scald.
Recently, chemicals like diphenylamine have been banned by the EU and then it is becoming more and more important to find a non-chemical way to control this disorder.
In this work, controlled atmosphere (CA: 1% O₂, 0.7% CO₂, 0.5°C) and reddening treatment (15 days) were tested on their effect on superficial scald development and fruit quality of ‘Annurca Rossa del Sud’ apple.
At the same time, α-farnesene and conjugated trienols, compounds involved in the superficial scald development, were analyzed.
At the end of storage (4 months), not reddened fruit stored in NA showed the highest scald index (0.83) while no symptoms of scald were shown by the other treatments.
Red color (a*) was less intense in fruit not subjected to the reddening treatment but it increased during storage.
Fruit firmness was higher in CA treatments and in not-reddened fruits. α-farnesene content did not seem particularly linked with the scald incidence, while CT281 increased in the scalded fruit.
CA and reddening treatment affected both, superficial scald development and fruit quality, and then, a combined use of these two factors could be a good practical approach to non-chemical control of ‘Annurca’ superficial scald.

VIII International Postharvest Symposium: Enhancing Supply Chain and Consumer Benefits – Ethical and Technological Issues

M. Buccheri, F. Lovati, M. Petriccione, P. Rega, M. Grassi, R. Lo Scalzo

controlled atmosphere, color, firmness, fruit quality, storage

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1194.202