Title: Impact of ripeness stage and supply chain conditions on quality and bioactive compounds of 'Ambrunés' picota-type sweet cherries

Authors: Manuel Joaquín Serradilla; Mercedes Lozano; María Josefa Bernalte; María Concepción Ayuso; Margarita López-Corrales; David González-Gómez

Addresses: Área de Postcosecha, Instituto Tecnológico Agroalimentario (INTAEX-CICYTEX), Junta de Extremadura, Avda. Adolfo Suárez s/n, 06007 Badajoz, Spain ' Área de Postcosecha, Instituto Tecnológico Agroalimentario (INTAEX-CICYTEX), Junta de Extremadura, Avda. Adolfo Suárez s/n, 06007 Badajoz, Spain ' Escuela de Ingenierías Agrarias, Universidad de Extremadura, Ctra. de Cáceres s/n, 06007 Badajoz, Spain ' Escuela de Ingenierías Agrarias, Universidad de Extremadura, Ctra. de Cáceres s/n, 06007 Badajoz, Spain ' Departamento de Fruticultura Mediterránea, Centro de Investigación Finca La Orden-Valdesequera (CICYTEX), Junta de Extremadura, Autovía Madrid-Lisboa s/n, 06187 Guadajira, Badajoz, Spain ' Departamento de Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales y Matemáticas, Universidad de Extremadura, 10003, Cáceres, Spain

Abstract: This research aims to assess the main quality parameters and bioactive compounds of 'Ambrunés' sweet cherries automatically sanitised and sorted into three commercial ripeness stages (colour 1, 2 and 3) by machine vision systems. Sweet cherries were stored for 21 days (1°C, 95% RH) and afterwards subjected to a supply chain period of two days at 5°C (transport simulation) and two days at 20°C (shelf-life). The results show significant increases in soluble solid content, pH, total phenolic content, and maturation index from colour 1 to 3, and significant decreases in firmness, titratable acidity, and colour parameters during the process of fruit senescence throughout the supply chain. The most abundant anthocyanin was cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside, which levels increased with colour category and during the supply chain but decreased during cold storage. With regard the bioactive compounds, the main hydroxycinnamic acid was p-coumaroylquinic acid, varying its concentration according to the ripeness stage throughout the supply chain. The flavonol 'rutin' was the only phenolic compound that increased its concentration within the colour category, during cold storage and subsequent supply chain. Therefore, it could be considered as a biomarker of storability throughout the postharvest life of 'Ambrunés' sweet cherries.

Keywords: sweet cherry; colour category; cold storage; storability; physicochemical parameters; phenolic acids; anthocyanins; flavan-3-ols; flavonols; total antioxidant activity; TAA.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPTI.2022.121907

International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation, 2022 Vol.8 No.2/3, pp.196 - 211

Accepted: 29 Jul 2021
Published online: 07 Apr 2022 *

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