The Biophysical Properties of the Fruit Cuticles of Six Pear Cultivars during Postharvest Ripening
Pears are abundant in bioactive compounds, which exert favorable effects on human health. The biophysical attributes of fruit cuticles are pivotal in determining fruit quality, storability, and susceptibility to mold growth. This study aimed to elucidate the biophysical properties of six pear cultiv...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/3/496 |
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| author | Klemen Bohinc Petra Lasić Nives Matijaković Mlinarić Filip Šupljika Blažka Smolič Anže Abram Ivan Jerman Nigel Willy Van de Velde Marjeta Mencin Mojca Bavcon Kralj Rajko Vidrih |
| author_facet | Klemen Bohinc Petra Lasić Nives Matijaković Mlinarić Filip Šupljika Blažka Smolič Anže Abram Ivan Jerman Nigel Willy Van de Velde Marjeta Mencin Mojca Bavcon Kralj Rajko Vidrih |
| author_sort | Klemen Bohinc |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pears are abundant in bioactive compounds, which exert favorable effects on human health. The biophysical attributes of fruit cuticles are pivotal in determining fruit quality, storability, and susceptibility to mold growth. This study aimed to elucidate the biophysical properties of six pear cultivars, ‘Conference’, ‘Celina’, ‘Abate Fetel’, ‘Packham’s Triumph’, ‘Sweet Sensation’, and ‘Williams’. Two maturity stages, unripe and fully ripened, were investigated. Furthermore, the efficacy of trimethyl-chitosan-coated pear surfaces in preventing <i>Penicillium expansum</i> (<i>P. expansum</i>) growth was assessed. Basic maturity indices (CIE color, ethylene evolution, firmness, soluble solids), cuticle contact angle, roughness, and zeta potential were analyzed. Surface roughness was measured using an optical profilometer, hydrophobicity was measured via profilometry, and zeta potential was quantified using an electrokinetic analyzer. The ‘Celina’ cultivar exhibited the highest roughness, whereas ‘Williams’ had the lowest roughness. All the cultivars’ cuticles demonstrated hydrophilic characteristics, with contact angles ranging between 65° and 90°. For pH values exceeding 3.5, all pear surfaces exhibited a negative zeta potential. <i>P. expansum</i> growth was the slowest on the ‘Packham’s Triumph’ and ‘Conference’ cultivars. Treatment with trimethyl chitosan effectively inhibited <i>P. expansum</i> growth in the initial hours of incubation. In conclusion, diverse pear cultivars manifest distinct biophysical surface properties and varying susceptibility to <i>P. expansum</i> growth. The growth of <i>P. expansum</i> correlates positively with roughness, contact angle, and zeta potential. These differences can significantly impact shelf life potential and the overall postharvest quality of pears. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:39:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e498efc78d2942319229e2255f4e326b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:39:21Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-e498efc78d2942319229e2255f4e326b2024-03-27T13:16:42ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952024-02-0114349610.3390/agronomy14030496The Biophysical Properties of the Fruit Cuticles of Six Pear Cultivars during Postharvest RipeningKlemen Bohinc0Petra Lasić1Nives Matijaković Mlinarić2Filip Šupljika3Blažka Smolič4Anže Abram5Ivan Jerman6Nigel Willy Van de Velde7Marjeta Mencin8Mojca Bavcon Kralj9Rajko Vidrih10Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaFaculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaFaculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaJožef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaNational Institute of Chemistry, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaNational Institute of Chemistry, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaBiotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaFaculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaBiotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaPears are abundant in bioactive compounds, which exert favorable effects on human health. The biophysical attributes of fruit cuticles are pivotal in determining fruit quality, storability, and susceptibility to mold growth. This study aimed to elucidate the biophysical properties of six pear cultivars, ‘Conference’, ‘Celina’, ‘Abate Fetel’, ‘Packham’s Triumph’, ‘Sweet Sensation’, and ‘Williams’. Two maturity stages, unripe and fully ripened, were investigated. Furthermore, the efficacy of trimethyl-chitosan-coated pear surfaces in preventing <i>Penicillium expansum</i> (<i>P. expansum</i>) growth was assessed. Basic maturity indices (CIE color, ethylene evolution, firmness, soluble solids), cuticle contact angle, roughness, and zeta potential were analyzed. Surface roughness was measured using an optical profilometer, hydrophobicity was measured via profilometry, and zeta potential was quantified using an electrokinetic analyzer. The ‘Celina’ cultivar exhibited the highest roughness, whereas ‘Williams’ had the lowest roughness. All the cultivars’ cuticles demonstrated hydrophilic characteristics, with contact angles ranging between 65° and 90°. For pH values exceeding 3.5, all pear surfaces exhibited a negative zeta potential. <i>P. expansum</i> growth was the slowest on the ‘Packham’s Triumph’ and ‘Conference’ cultivars. Treatment with trimethyl chitosan effectively inhibited <i>P. expansum</i> growth in the initial hours of incubation. In conclusion, diverse pear cultivars manifest distinct biophysical surface properties and varying susceptibility to <i>P. expansum</i> growth. The growth of <i>P. expansum</i> correlates positively with roughness, contact angle, and zeta potential. These differences can significantly impact shelf life potential and the overall postharvest quality of pears.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/3/496pearsmaturity stagecontact angleroughnesszeta potentialethylene evolution |
| spellingShingle | Klemen Bohinc Petra Lasić Nives Matijaković Mlinarić Filip Šupljika Blažka Smolič Anže Abram Ivan Jerman Nigel Willy Van de Velde Marjeta Mencin Mojca Bavcon Kralj Rajko Vidrih The Biophysical Properties of the Fruit Cuticles of Six Pear Cultivars during Postharvest Ripening Agronomy pears maturity stage contact angle roughness zeta potential ethylene evolution |
| title | The Biophysical Properties of the Fruit Cuticles of Six Pear Cultivars during Postharvest Ripening |
| title_full | The Biophysical Properties of the Fruit Cuticles of Six Pear Cultivars during Postharvest Ripening |
| title_fullStr | The Biophysical Properties of the Fruit Cuticles of Six Pear Cultivars during Postharvest Ripening |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Biophysical Properties of the Fruit Cuticles of Six Pear Cultivars during Postharvest Ripening |
| title_short | The Biophysical Properties of the Fruit Cuticles of Six Pear Cultivars during Postharvest Ripening |
| title_sort | biophysical properties of the fruit cuticles of six pear cultivars during postharvest ripening |
| topic | pears maturity stage contact angle roughness zeta potential ethylene evolution |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/3/496 |
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