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Alternatives to Chemicals in Fruits and Vegetables Production and Storage

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A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Horticultural and Floricultural Crops".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 17638

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Elazar Fallik

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Guest Editor

ARO-the Volcani Center, Department of Postharvest Science of Fresh Produce, 68 HaMakkabbim Road, P.O. Box 15159, Rishon LeZiyyon 7505101, Israel
Interests: postharvest physiology; pathology; sensory and biochemistry issues; fruit; vegetables
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Zoran Ilic

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Agriculture, University of Pristina, Serbia, Piština, 38219 Lešak, Serbia
Interests: organic vegetables production and quality; postharvest physiology of vegetables; preharvest factors effect on qualiy (especially shadow nets and grafting)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fruits and vegetables have always been an important component of the human diet; similarly, losses in produce have always been a limitation for modern agriculture. Losses include any damage or change in the quantity or quality of produce from harvest to consumption. The magnitude of postharvest losses in fresh produce is estimated to be 5 to 25% in developed countries and 25 to 50% in developing countries. Attempts to control the loss caused by fungi and insects are generally carried out by the application of synthetic fungicides and pesticides before and/or after harvest. However, the growing health and safety concerns regarding the residues of synthetic fungicides and pesticides, due to their carcinogenic and toxicity to humans and potential contamination of the environment, have led to alternative, nonchemical approaches to preserve the quality of fresh produce during prolonged storage and marketing. In addition, the continued mass use of fungicides and excessive levels of chemical residues have resulted in the development and proliferation of fungal resistance. Due to these growing concerns, many countries have banned the application of synthetic chemicals to fresh produce after harvest.

This Special Issue aims to summarize original scientific papers, mini reviews or review articles dealing with the use of alternative treatments to synthetic chemicals, before and/or after harvest, in maintaining the overall quality of fresh produce during prolonged storage and marketing.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Horticulturae.

Prof. Dr. Elazar Fallik
Prof. Dr. Zoran Ilic
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

anoxia
biocontrol
fruits
grafting
GRAS (pre and postharvest application)
modified and controlled atmosphere
physical treatments
preharvest
postharvest
vegetables

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2862 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Hot Water and 1-Methylcyclopropane Treatments on Air-Stored Quince Fruit

by Nurdan Tuna Gunes and Ender Sinan Poyrazoğlu

Agronomy 2022, 12(2), 458; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12020458 - 12 Feb 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1718

Abstract

The commercial application potential of hot water treatments against 1-Methylcyclopropane (1-MCP) treatments for maintaining quality of fruit in quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill. cv. ‘Eşme’) during long-term regular air storage was investigated. The fruits were treated with either hot water at 50 ± 1 °C for 3 and 5 min or two different 1-MCP (SmartFresh^SM) concentrations (300 ppb and 1000 ppb) at 12 °C for 20 h. Then, all fruits were stored at 0 ± 1 °C temperature, 85–90% relative humidity and regular air conditioning for 6 months. The efficacy of postharvest treatments in some fruit treats was monitored at monthly intervals. Postharvest treatments did not remarkably affect physiological features of fruits, such as ethylene production and respiration rate. Hot water treatments and 1000 ppb 1-MCP treatments positively maintained flesh color, acidity, malic acid content, 5–caffeoylquinic acid and vitamin C levels, and alleviated flesh firmness and sensory expert analysis scores. Overall, hot water treatment, a non-chemical treatment, had a potential for maintaining quality in quince fruit during long-term regular air storage at 0 ± 1 °C temperature and 85–90% relative humidity conditions for 6 months. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternatives to Chemicals in Fruits and Vegetables Production and Storage)

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12 pages, 3153 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Effect of Treating String Bean Pods with Modified Atmosphere Packaging and UV-C Irradiation on Their Storage Life

by Jolanta Franczuk, Robert Rosa, Anna Zaniewicz-Bajkowska and Agnieszka Ginter

Agronomy 2021, 11(9), 1747; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11091747 - 30 Aug 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2134

Abstract

The aim of the experiment was to determine the optimal treatment of string bean pods, prolonging their storage life. To this end, the effect of modified atmosphere packaging in Xtend^® bags (CH-49) and UV-C radiation on the quality of string beans ‘Unidor’ in cold storage was studied. Observations of the pods and their measurements were made after 14 and 28 days and chemical analyses 14 days after irradiation exposure and storage at 2–4 °C. The tests were conducted in laboratory conditions in a completely randomized design. Storing bean pods in Xtend^® bags significantly increased the weight and umber of pods fit for consumption, compared to those stored in bulk. However, the content of dry matter, total sugars, and protein in pods stored in Xtend^® bags decreased. Irradiation, regardless of the exposure time and the distance of lamps from the surface, contributed to an increase in the weight and number of pods suitable for consumption after 14 and 28 days. After 14 days irradiated pods contained more dry matter, L-ascorbic acid, polyphenols and flavonoids. After UV-C irradiation for 600 s with lamps at a height of 40 cm pods in Xtend^® bags responded with the most favorable protein content. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternatives to Chemicals in Fruits and Vegetables Production and Storage)

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10 pages, 31066 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Hot Water Rinsing and Brushing of Fresh Produce as an Alternative to Chemical Treatment after Harvest—The Story behind the Technology

by Elazar Fallik, Sharon Alkalai-Tuvia and Daniel Chalupowicz

Agronomy 2021, 11(8), 1653; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11081653 - 19 Aug 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2789

Abstract

For decades, heat treatments have been known to reduce or eliminate decay-causing agents and slow the physiological deterioration of freshly harvested fruits and vegetables. For years, fungicides and pesticides have been used to control fungi on freshly harvested fruits and vegetables. However, these chemicals can contaminate the environment and be hazardous to those who consume fresh produce. Therefore, heat treatments, lasting only minutes or up to several days, have been developed to control insects and pathogenic fungi on fresh produce after harvest. In the 1990s, hot water rinsing and brushing (HWRB) technology to clean and disinfect fresh produce at relatively high temperatures (50 to 62 °C) for seconds (12–20 s) was developed at the Volcani Institute in Israel. This technology has been improved over time and is currently used commercially on several crops in Israel and elsewhere. This article discusses the development of this prestorage technology, from 1996 to 2006, and describes the effects of HWRB on the internal and external characteristics of fruits and vegetables, as well as the possible mode of action of this technology, as examined in the literature published since 1996. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternatives to Chemicals in Fruits and Vegetables Production and Storage)

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12 pages, 682 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Efficiency of Basil Essential Oil Antimicrobial Agents under Different Shading Treatments and Harvest Times

by Zoran S. Ilić, Lidija Milenković, Ljubomir Šunić, Nadica Tmušić, Jasna Mastilović, Žarko Kevrešan, Ljiljana Stanojević, Bojana Danilović and Jelena Stanojević

Agronomy 2021, 11(8), 1574; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11081574 - 06 Aug 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4118

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activity of essential oils obtained from sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L. cv. ‘Genovese’) cultivated in the open field under different shading conditions (red, blue, and pearl nets with a shade index of 50% and full sunlight exposure (control plants)), harvested at different times. The antimicrobial activity of basil essential oils (BEOs) obtained from all samples was determined for four microorganisms, while determinations for an additional five microorganisms included samples from non-shaded plants, plants grown under red and pearl nets, and second harvest of plants grown under blue net. Basil essential oil exhibited antimicrobial activity surpassing the activity of relevant commercial antibiotics regardless of growing conditions in the case of B. cereus, K. pneumoniae and C. albicans, while superior antimicrobial activity was exhibited in the case of essential oils from plants grown under blue nets in the case of S. aureus, E. coli and P. vulgaris. The influence of the application of colored shading nets was highly significant (p < 0.01) in the cases of all analyzed microorganisms except C. albicans and P. aeruginosa, while the influence of harvest time was proven in the cases of all microorganisms except K. pneumoniae. ANOVA proved that antimicrobial activities are highly dependent on the methods of plant production, shading treatment, and harvest time. Obtained results are discussed in relation to previously determined composition and yield of essential oils from basil grown under shade nets and harvested in different periods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternatives to Chemicals in Fruits and Vegetables Production and Storage)

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Review

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13 pages, 689 KiB

Open AccessReview

Non-Chemical Approaches to Control Postharvest Gray Mold Disease in Bell Peppers

by Charles Krasnow and Carmit Ziv

Agronomy 2022, 12(1), 216; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12010216 - 16 Jan 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5838

Abstract

Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) is a widely grown vegetable crop that is nutritious and flavorful and economically important for growers worldwide. A significant limiting factor in the postharvest storage and long-distance transport of peppers is gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea. The pathogen is widespread in nature, highly aggressive, and able to cause disease at cool refrigerated temperatures during transport and storage. Fungicides have been relied on in the past to reduce bell pepper rots in storage; however, concern over residues on the fruit and environmental degradation have heightened the importance of natural and generally recognized as safe (GRAS) solutions that effectively limit disease. Essential oils, plant extracts, inorganic chemicals, biocontrols, defense activators, hot water treatments, and modified storage conditions have been tested to reduce losses from gray mold. Despite significant amounts of research on natural methods of control of B. cinerea postharvest, research specific to gray mold in peppers is limited. The objective of this review is to summarize the research conducted with environmentally friendly alternatives to chemical fungicides to control this important pathogen of peppers postharvest. To ensure a steady supply of healthy and nutritious produce, more research is needed on the development, use, and application of non-hazardous Botrytis control methods. Until an effective solution is found, using a combined approach including environmental controls, sanitation, and GRAS products remain paramount to limit Botrytis fruit rot of peppers postharvest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternatives to Chemicals in Fruits and Vegetables Production and Storage)

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