Effect of nitric oxide fumigation on microorganisms and quality of dried apricots during storage

Abstract

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is a nutrient-rich edible drupe, which is classified under the Prunus species of Prunoidae and has beneficial properties in nutrition and health care (Hacıseferoğulları et al., 2007).China is one of the four major apricot-producing countries in the world, along with the United States, Australia, and Turkey (Toğrul & Pehlivan, 2003). However, the harvesting of ripe fresh apricots is usually done during the hot season, which can lead to fruit decay, softening, browning, and pathogen infection (Gupta et al., 2015). To avoid these issues, fresh apricots are frequently dried to increase commercial value and economic benefits (Coşkun et al., 2013).Well known for high-quality apricot production, Xinjiang is one of the main producing areas of dried apricots in China, but the fruits from this area are susceptible to environmental stress during the drying process. Once harvested, dried fruits must be stored for a long time. As a result, some quality degradation inevitably occurs during storage, especially infestation with moths and other diseases, increased browning, and reduced nutritional value (Wei et al., 2014). Sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) has been used to inhibit browning and the growth of microorganisms for color protection, sterilization, and preservation of dried apricots (Salur-Can et al., 2017;Sen et al., 2015;Türkyılmaz et al., 2012). However, improper use of SO 2 can leave harmful residues on dried apricots and could pose a

Effects of Aspergillus niger Infection on the Quality of Jujube and Ochratoxin A Cumulative Effect

“…As one of the most significant pathogens, A. niger severely influences the quality and marketing value of jujubes. Chen et al found that A. niger, which has the highest pathogenicity and isolation frequency, is one of the main pathogens causing jujube mildew and rot in Xinjiang, China [12]. Zhang et al investigated the main fungal diseases of Zizyphus mauritiana Lam in the Yunnan Province of China, and found that the pathogenic fungi of jujubes involved nine genera, among which A. niger was a common one [13].…”