A NEW APPROACH TO POSTHARVEST NUT STORAGE FOR QUALITY: COULD SEED STORAGE PRINCIPLES BE APPLIED FOR COMMERCIAL NUT STORAGE?

Current studies on viability maintenance of nuts (as seed) and postharvest quality maintenance of nuts (as edible) are undertaken independently.
It is suggested that data from these two topics could be integrated and exchanged with better results for both.
A review of the literature indicates that the concepts used in viability maintenance of stored seeds, such as gradual drying, storage below critical RH and use of desiccants, could be (and sometimes are) applied in commercial nut storage to enhance quality.
As fungal infection is a major factor influencing seed deterioration and viability and that mycotoxin production is a significant problem for quality and marketability of many nut crops, including pistachio and brazil nuts, it is suggested that application of seed viability maintenance concepts could be used in commercial storage of nuts.
Additional quality factors such as aroma and taste could be influenced also because the integrity of biological membranes is essential for viable seeds, would be maintained using such techniques.

XXVII International Horticultural Congress – IHC2006: International Symposium on The Role of Postharvest Technology in the Globalisation of Horticulture

E. Hadavi

postharvest physiology, fungal infestation, storability, processing

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2008.768.44