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Tannin content and postharvest quality characteristics of persimmon fruit are often determined by the destructive analysis that consumes time, does not allow the acquisition of data from the same fruit continuously, and requires expensive high-performance equipment. This research was done to investigate the potential for non-destructive estimation of astringency and quality parameters in persimmon fruit based on visible/near-infrared (VNIR) spectra. VNIR spectra readings, the reference tannin content, and quality parameters were measured from fruits of \"Cheongdo-Bansi\" and \"Daebong\" persimmon cultivars at harvest and throughout the ripening/deastringency period. The spectra readings from half of the total fruit were utilized for the calibration set, while the other half readings were used for the prediction set. To develop models correlating the spectra data to the measured reference parameters data, the partial least square regression (PLSR) method was utilized. In the case of 'Daebong', the coefficients of determination (R ) between VNIR spectra and the actual measured values of TSS, firmness, simple sugars, and tannin content were (0.95, 0.94, 0.96, and 0.96) and (0.93, 0.89, 0.96, and 0.93), for the calibration and prediction sets, respectively. Similarly, the R -values of (0.86, 0.93, 0.79, and 0.81) and (0.83, 0.91, 0.75, and 0.75) were recorded in 'Cheongdo-Bansi' for the calibration and prediction sets, respectively. Additionally, the acquired data were divided into two sets in a 3:1 ratio to develop predictive models and to validate the models in multiple regressions. PLSR models were developed in multiple regression to estimate the tannin content of both cultivars from firmness and simple sugars with R -values of 0.83 and 0.79 in 'Cheongdo-Bansi' for the calibration and prediction sets, respectively, whereas, R -values of 0.80 and 0.84 were recorded in 'Daebong' for the calibration and prediction sets, respectively. The overall findings of this study showed the possibility of using VNIR spectra for the prediction of postharvest quality and tannin contents from intact persimmon fruit with quick, chemical-free, and low-cost assessment methods. Also, the multiple regression using physicochemical parameters could fairly predict the tannin content in persimmon fruit though destructively but save time and low-cost.

Cold storage of peach fruit at low temperatures may induce chilling injury (CI). Pre-storage 1-MCP and high CO2 treatments were reported among the methods to ameliorate CI and reduce softening of peach fruit. However, molecular data indicating the changes associated with pre-storage 1-MCP and high CO2 treatments during cold storage of peach fruit are insufficient. In this study, a comparative analysis of the difference in gene expression and physico-chemical properties of fruit at commercial harvest vs. stored fruit for 12 days at 0 °C (cold-stored (CS), pre-storage 1-MCP+CS, and pre-storage high CO2+CS) were used to evaluate the variation among treatments. Several genes were differentially expressed in 1-MCP+CS- and CO2+CS-treated fruits as compared to CS. Moreover, the physico-chemical and sensory data indicated that 1-MCP+CS and CO2+CS suppressed CI and delayed ripening than the CS, which could lead to a longer storage period. We also identified the list of genes that were expressed commonly and exclusively in the fruit treated by 1-MCP+CS and CO2+CS and compared them to the fruit quality parameters. An attempt was also made to identify and categorize genes related to softening, physiological changes, and other ripening-related changes. Furthermore, the transcript levels of 12 selected representative genes from the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the transcriptome analysis were confirmed via quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). These results add information on the molecular mechanisms of the pre-storage treatments during cold storage of peach fruit. Understanding the genetic response of susceptible cultivars such as ‘Madoka’ to CI-reducing pre-storage treatments would help breeders release CI-resistant cultivars and could help postharvest technologists to develop more CI-reducing technologies.

Growing microgreens on trays without substrate in a vertical multilayered growing unit offers several advantages over traditional agriculture methods. This study investigated the yield performance and nutritional quality of five selections of radish microgreens grown in sprouting trays, without a substrate using only water, in an indoor multilayer cultivation system using artificial light. Various parameters were measured, including fresh weight, dry matter, chlorophyll, minerals, amino acids, phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, vitamin C, glucosinolates, and antioxidant activity with four different in vitro assays. After ten days, the biomass had increased by 6-10 times, and the dry matter varied from 4.75-7.65%. The highest yield was obtained from ‘Asia red’, while the lowest was from ‘Koregon red’. However, ‘Koregon red’ and ‘Asia red’ had the highest dry matter. ‘Asia red’ was found to have the highest levels of both Chls and vitamin C compared to the other cultivars, while ‘Koregon red’ exhibited the highest levels of total phenolics and flavonoids. Although variations in the levels of individual glucosinolates were observed, there were no significant differences in the total content of glucosinolates among the five cultivars. ‘Asia purple’ had the highest anthocyanin content, while ‘Asia green 2’ had the lowest. The K, Mg, and Na concentrations were significantly highest in ‘Asia green 2’, and the highest Ca was recorded in ‘Asia purple’. Overall, ‘Asia purple’ and ‘Koregon red’ were the best cultivars in terms of nutritional quality among the tested radish microgreens. These cultivars exhibited high levels of dry weight, total phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, essential and total amino acids, and antioxidant activities. Moreover, the implementation of this vertical cultivation method for microgreens, which relies solely on water and seeds known for their tall shoots during the sprouting could hold promise as a sustainable approach. This method can effectively be utilized for cultivar screening and fulfilling the nutritional and functional needs of the population while minimizing the environmental impacts associated with traditional agriculture practices.

Excessive sugar consumption has emerged as a significant public health concern, leading to growing interest in non-caloric, high-intensity sweeteners (HIS) as alternatives to conventional sugars. Cherry tomatoes, although inherently rich in lycopene, vitamin C, organic acids, and other health-promoting metabolites, are nonetheless perceived as insufficiently sweet by some consumers, particularly younger ones. Hence, sweeter fresh tomato options such as “stevia tomato” have recently gained popularity in Korea. Despite this trend, the effects of infusing HIS into fresh tomatoes on postharvest quality attributes, physiological responses, and sensory perception remain largely unexplored. To address this gap, this study investigated the effects of vacuum infusion of four HIS (glucosyl steviol glycosides (GSG), sucralose (SUC), acesulfame potassium (ACE), and sodium saccharin (SAC)) on the postharvest quality and ripening behavior of ‘TY Nonari’ cherry tomatoes. Fruits were infused under vacuum (0.2 bar, 23 °C) and analyzed for firmness, weight loss, ethylene production and respiration rates, colorimetric attributes, physico-chemical properties (TSS, TA, pH, TSS/TA), sensory quality, and microstructural characteristics using field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Sweetener type significantly influenced tomato performance after vacuum infusion. GSG- and SAC-treated tomatoes exhibited the most rapid softening, with firmness decreasing from 10.25 to 5.66 N and from 9.97 to 5.53 N, respectively, by day 4. In contrast, ACE-treated fruit retained the highest firmness, decreasing from 9.62 to 7.89 N, followed by SUC, which declined from 10.00 to 6.67 N. Weight loss was also the highest in GSG (9.59%) and ACE (7.32%), whereas SUC (2.97%) and SAC (2.36%) showed markedly better water retention. Microstructural analysis corroborated these results: SAC-treated tomatoes exhibited severe cell wall degradation, with thickness decreasing from 8.22 to 4.24 μm, while GSG-treated fruit showed noticeable thinning from 8.33 to 6.39 μm. ACE maintained the thickest cell wall, decreasing from 8.83 to 7.19 μm, with SUC displaying intermediate preservation from 8.43 to 6.63 μm. Overall, ACE was the most effective treatment for preserving sensory quality, micro-structural integrity, and physicochemical attributes. These findings provide a scientific basis for selecting appropriate HIS to develop low-sugar, high-quality fruit products tailored to evolving consumer preferences.

Vertical hydroponics farming has emerged as an alternative solution to feed the continuously growing world population. Additionally, recent studies reported that the exogenous treatments of jasmonic acid influence the phytochemical composition of Brassicaceae. We conducted this study to determine the effect of preharvest methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment on the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activities of soil- and hydroponically grown pak choi. An aqueous solution of 0.5-mM MeJA was sprayed to saturation on the aerial plant part three days before harvest. The harvested pak choi was freeze-dried and then powdered to measure the antioxidant activity and the contents of chlorophylls (Chls), total phenolics and flavonoids, and glucosinolates (GSLs). The overall results revealed that pak choi grown in vertical hydroponics had higher total Chls and total phenolics than those grown in soil in the greenhouse, regardless of MeJA treatment. Nevertheless, the GSLs content and total flavonoids increased significantly due to MeJA treatment in both growing systems, and the highest values were recorded in hydroponically grown MeJA-treated pak choi. Similarly, the 2, 2-di-phenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity, Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (ABTS), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were highest in hydroponically grown MeJA-treated pak choi. Taken together, the preharvest foliar treatment of MeJA can be used to improve the phytochemical composition of pak choi grown in both growing systems. Interestingly, the results strongly support the use of MeJA treatment in the vertical hydroponics growing system compared to the conventional growing system in the soil. This indicates that supplementing the vertical hydroponic growing system with preharvest MeJA treatment could be the best option to improve both the yield per square meter and the quality of pak choi. Besides, MeJA-treated pak choi could be used as a value-added horticultural commodity, as its antioxidant activity increased after treatment. Moreover, after further studies, MeJA could also be applied to other Brassica vegetables to improve their GSL contents and antioxidant properties.

This research was conducted to identify the optimum harvest maturity stage/s that yielded the highest nutritional quality and longest marketable shelf-life. \"TY Megaton\" and \"Yureka\" cultivars were harvested at the breaker, pink, and red stages and stored up to 20 days at 12°C with 85 ± 5% relative humidity (RH). Quality attributes, the contents of important secondary metabolites, and antioxidant activity were assessed during the storage period. Storing and marketing of tomato fruits up to 3 weeks could be possible. However, a gradually decreasing trend of ascorbic acid and total phenolic content was observed as the maturity stage and storage period proceeded, irrespective of the cultivar. Results of lycopene content and antioxidant activity suggest that better nutritional benefit from the breaker and pink stages could be obtained after 16 and 12 days of storage, respectively, and from the beginning to eighth day of storage for the red stage.

This study investigated the effect of preharvest treatment of 0.25 mM methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and 0.5 mM salicylic acid (SA) on quality parameters, most important secondary metabolites (lycopene, β-carotene, ascorbic acid, total phenolics, and flavonoids), antioxidant activities, and amino acid contents of ‘Kumato’ tomato. Treatments with MeJA and SA led to an increase of total yield per plant and were effective in maintaining the fruit quality attributes such as firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, and Brix acid ratio at two maturity stages (S1 and S2). In addition, lycopene, β-carotene, ascorbic acid, total phenolics, and flavonoids were significantly higher in the treated fruit than in the control. Moreover, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), essential amino acids, and antioxidant activity increased due to MeJA and SA treatments at both stages, especially with MeJA treatment at S2. Overall results also showed the effectiveness of MeJA treatment than SA on improving the yield and nutritional quality of ‘Kumato’ tomato.

Tomatoes are rich in secondary metabolites such as lycopene, β-carotene, phenolics, flavonoids, and vitamin C, which are responsible for their antioxidant activates. A high level of γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), a health-promoting functional compound, was also found to accumulate in tomato fruit. In addition to the internal quality attributes, the acceptance of the tomato fruit by consumers is highly dependent on appearance and taste. Hence, we conducted this study to evaluate ‘Tori’, ‘TY VIP’, ‘Mamirio’, and ‘Arya’ tomato cultivars based on their physicochemical characteristics, contents of secondary metabolites, and GABA content. The results have revealed that the tested cultivars were very firm, which renders them the best choice for postharvest distribution of fresh market tomatoes as they resist impacts during harvesting and postharvest operations. Based on total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), and Brix acid ratio (BAR) the choice of cultivar could be ‘Mamirio’ > ’Tori’ > ‘TY VIP’ > ‘Arya’. Apart from flavor intensity, ‘Mamirio’ and ’Tori’ also revealed the highest content of ascorbic acid while ‘Mamirio’ and ‘Arya’ had the highest carotenoids (lycopene and β-carotene) accumulation. On the other hand, the highest total phenolics content was recorded from ‘TY VIP’ and ‘Arya’. Moreover, the highest total flavonoids and GABA contents were recorded from ‘TY VIP’. Nevertheless, the antioxidant activity of ‘TY VIP’ was the lowest of all tested cultivars while the highest was recorded from ‘Mamirio’. Taken together, the findings of the present study could suggest that the consumers’ requirements could be better fulfilled by choosing cultivars for the specific target functional compounds. From the tested cultivars, if the target is ascorbic acid, carotenoids, and antioxidant activity then ‘Mamirio’ is the best choice. On the other hand, if the target is total phenolics, flavonoids, and GABA then ‘TY VIP’ is the best choice. One could also label ‘Mamirio’ as an ‘antioxidant tomato’ and ‘TY VIP’ as the ‘GABA tomato’.

This study was conducted to characterize different colored lines of cherry tomatoes and derive information regarding their metabolite accumulation. Different colored cherry tomato cultivars, namely ‘Jocheong’, ‘BN Satnolang’, ‘Gold Chance’, ‘Black Q’, and ‘Snacktom’, were assessed for their firmness, taste characteristics, and nutritional metabolites at the commercial ripening stage. The cultivars demonstrated firmness to withstand impacts during harvesting and postharvest operations. The significant variations in the Brix to acid ratio (BAR) and the contents of phenylalanine, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid highlight the distinct taste characteristics among the cultivars, and the nutritional metabolites are associated with the color of the cultivars. The cultivar choices would be the black-colored ‘Black Q’ for chlorophylls, β-carotene, total flavonoids, and anthocyanins; the red-colored ‘Snacktom’ for lycopene; the orange-colored ‘Gold Chance’ for total phenolics; and the green-colored ‘Jocheong’ for chlorophylls, vitamin C, GABA, glutamic acid, essential amino acids, and total free amino acids. The antioxidant capacity varied among the cultivars, with ‘Gold Chance’ consistently exhibiting the highest activity across the four assays, followed by ‘Snacktom’. This study emphasizes the importance of screening cultivars to support breeding programs for improving the nutritional content and encourages the inclusion of a diverse mix of different colored cherry tomatoes in packaging to obtain the cumulative or synergistic effects of secondary metabolites.

The glycoalkaloids contents of potato tubers are usually measured by the destructive analysis that consumes time and requires expensive high-performance equipment. This study was carried out to determine the possibility of nondestructive estimation of α-solanine and α-chaconine content in potato tubers. Visible/near-infrared (VIS/NIR) spectra, color values, and the reference α-solanine and α-chaconine were measured from 180 tubers of ‘Atlantic’ and ‘Trent’ potato cultivars with eight replications at two-week intervals during the storage up to ten weeks. The partial least square (PLS) regression method was used to develop models correlating color and spectra data to the measured reference data. Regression coefficient (r) between color variables (Hunter a∗, a∗/b∗, and (a∗/b∗)2) and the actual measured values of a-solanine and a-chaconine content were 0.74, 0.62, and 0.62 and 0.70, 0.58, and 0.57, respectively, for the prediction set. Concurrently, equations were developed from color variables in multiple regression with r-values of 0.76 and 0.71 for α-solanine and α-chaconine, respectively. Additionally, the selected PLS model of VIS/NIR spectra had promising predictive power for α-solanine and α-chaconine with r-values of 0.68 and 0.63, respectively, between measured and predicted samples. Taken together, although it requires further studies to improve the prediction power of the developed models, the results of this study revealed the possibility of using VIS/NIR spectra and color variables for the prediction of α-solanine and α-chaconine contents from intact unpeeled potato tubers with chemical-free, fast, and cheap assessment methods.