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Quality aspects

Importance of food safety

Organic products:no pesticide residues

Possibly better internal quality

Possibly less nitrate

Systems may vary between countries

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BIOSYST-MeBioS www.biw.kuleuven.be

The postharvest quality of integrated and organically

produced apple fruit

E. Róth, A. Z. Berna, K. Beullens, C. Franck, J. Lammertyn, A. Schenk and B. Nicolaï

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Objective

To explore possible differences in the postharvest quality (texture, flavour during cold storage and shelf-life) of organic and integrated apple

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Experimental design

Full factorial experimental design

FactorsRegions: 3

LEUVEN

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Apple orchards

LOVENJOEL

BIERBEEK

ASSENT

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Experimental design

Full factorial experimental design

FactorsRegions: 3

Production system: organic, integrated

Storage: not stored (harvest), air storage, controlled atmosphere storage

Sampling time: 0 day, after 14 days shelf-life

Replicates: 20 apples

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Basic parameters

Acoustic stiffness – Aweta DFT

Magness-Taylor firmness – Stable Micro Systems T.A.

Total soluble solids – digital refractometer

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Taste analysis: HPLC

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Aroma analysis: GC/MS

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Statistical analysis

Principal component analysis (Unscrambler)

Mixed model (SAS System 8.0 program) - test for significant differences

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Results and discussion

Basic parameters

Score plot of PCA on basic parameters of apples

Stiffness, firmness

Air stored, shelf-life

Air stored, fresh

At harvest, fresh

CA stored, freshAt harvest, shelf-lifeAt harvest, shelf-lifeCA stored, shelf-life

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Taste profile

Score plot of PCA on taste parameters of apples

at harvest

after storage

mal

ic, q

uinic

aci

d

glucose 0citric acid

fructosesuccrose

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Aroma profile gained from the analysis of the full spectra

Score plot of PCA gained from analysis of full spectra considering the most important 19 volatiles of apples

CA stored, freshAt harvest, fresh

CA stored, shelf-life

Air stored, shelf-life

At harvest, shelf-lifeAt harvest, shelf-life

Air stored, fresh

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Conclusion

The effect of storage condition is much larger than that of the production systems on the quality of apples.

No considerable regional effect has been experienced, maybe due to the small differences between orchards with respect to climate and soil parameters.

Aroma profiles of apples stored in air and under controlled atmosphere converge during shelf-life conditions

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Future plans

Histological studies

Air storage,after shelf-life CA storage,after shelf-life

Air storage CA storage

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ioS Thanks a lot for your attention!