Articles
From static to the dynamic controlled atmosphere: enhancing long-term quality preservation of apple fruits through storage at the lowest tolerated oxygen level
Article number
1458_1
Pages
1 – 10
Language
English
Abstract
Effective postharvest management strategies are crucial for maintaining the quality and extending the shelf life of horticultural products.
The overall longevity of certain crops, when stored with the most appropriate cooling procedures, can be further prolonged by optimizing the storage atmosphere composition based on empirically determined values and set statically for the entire storage period.
This technology has witnessed significant advancements, particularly with the evolution of controlled atmosphere (CA) storage techniques, which have transitioned from static composition settings to dynamic adjustments tailored to the specific requirements of plant products, including genotype, phenotype, and age.
The dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA) is a system in continuous evolution, based on various physiological concepts, which involves the active regulation of atmospheric conditions to optimize fruit storage environments.
Emphasis is given to the approaches with storage conditions set to the lowest oxygen level (LOL) tolerated within a dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA) for the long-term preservation of apple fruit quality.
A pivotal role has emerged for DCA based on chlorophyll fluorescence response (DCA-CF). This technology utilizes real-time biosensing, allowing for the dynamic adjustment of atmospheric conditions based on the metabolic responses of stored fruits, as detected by sudden changes in chlorophyll fluorescence at the LOL. Reasons for its adoption include residue-free techniques, reduced respiration rates, delayed ripening, minimized enzymatic browning, control of certain storage disorders and diseases, leading to improved retention of visual and eating quality, and diminishing food loss and food waste.
Commercially widely adopted first in South Tyrol, Italy, a region renowned for its substantial apple production (≈10% of the EU), DCA-CF has penetrated the market, adding to other established technologies like 1-MCP treatment and serving as an alternative for organically produced fruit.
Attention is directed herein towards the development, validation, and impact of the DCA-CF technique, emphasizing its influence on enhancing apple fruit quality preservation, beyond research aspects, and incorporating insights into commercial applications and scalability.
The overall longevity of certain crops, when stored with the most appropriate cooling procedures, can be further prolonged by optimizing the storage atmosphere composition based on empirically determined values and set statically for the entire storage period.
This technology has witnessed significant advancements, particularly with the evolution of controlled atmosphere (CA) storage techniques, which have transitioned from static composition settings to dynamic adjustments tailored to the specific requirements of plant products, including genotype, phenotype, and age.
The dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA) is a system in continuous evolution, based on various physiological concepts, which involves the active regulation of atmospheric conditions to optimize fruit storage environments.
Emphasis is given to the approaches with storage conditions set to the lowest oxygen level (LOL) tolerated within a dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA) for the long-term preservation of apple fruit quality.
A pivotal role has emerged for DCA based on chlorophyll fluorescence response (DCA-CF). This technology utilizes real-time biosensing, allowing for the dynamic adjustment of atmospheric conditions based on the metabolic responses of stored fruits, as detected by sudden changes in chlorophyll fluorescence at the LOL. Reasons for its adoption include residue-free techniques, reduced respiration rates, delayed ripening, minimized enzymatic browning, control of certain storage disorders and diseases, leading to improved retention of visual and eating quality, and diminishing food loss and food waste.
Commercially widely adopted first in South Tyrol, Italy, a region renowned for its substantial apple production (≈10% of the EU), DCA-CF has penetrated the market, adding to other established technologies like 1-MCP treatment and serving as an alternative for organically produced fruit.
Attention is directed herein towards the development, validation, and impact of the DCA-CF technique, emphasizing its influence on enhancing apple fruit quality preservation, beyond research aspects, and incorporating insights into commercial applications and scalability.
Authors
A. Zanella, S. Stürz, N. Sadar
Keywords
DCA, DCA-CF, chlorophyll fluorescence, hypoxia, 1-MCP, scald, shelf-life, food loss, Malus × domestica
Online Articles (67)