Extending storage potential of de‐hulled fresh pistachios in passive‐modified atmosphere

Abstract

Background The effects of passive modified‐atmosphere packaging (passive‐MAP) on the postharvest quality of de‐hulled fresh pistachios (Pistacia vera L. cv. Kerman) stored at cold temperature (0 ± 0.5 °C) and 90 ± 1% relative humidity was investigated with fruits under ambient air condition as the control treatment. The fruit quality parameters measured included kernel firmness, color values (L*, a*, b*, h°, and C*), weight loss, fungal decay and marketability, ethylene production, respiration rate, and sensory characteristics at 0, 30, 60, and 105 days of storage. The carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) concentrations in the package headspace were monitored during storage. RESULTS A modified atmosphere of 0.95–3.35% O2 and 23.17–29.82% CO2 was achieved in the passive‐MAP treatment. Fruit respiration rates increased significantly relative to controls throughout storage (P ≤ 0.01). However, storage had no significant effect on ethylene production rates. Additionally, passive‐MAP‐stored fruits maintained firmness, shell lightness, kernel color, and sensory quality with minimum weight loss and fungal decay, compared with the control. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate storage life of fresh pistachios in passive‐MAP can be extended up to 105 days, compared with 30 days in ambient conditions. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

Shelf Life of Fresh Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) upon Foliar Application of Sulfur as Pesticide

“…Pistachio is among the most important and valuable nuts that is mainly traded as dry, in-shell kernels (Tsantili et al 2011). But drying leads to various degrees of loss in nutrients and antioxidant components of pistachio, therefore, there has been an increasing demand for fresh pistachios due to health bene ts (Sheikhi et al 2019). Fresh pistachio can be stored in cold storage conditions for a short period of time, with different factors affecting its shelf life.…”

Exogenous β‐aminobutyric acid application attenuates Aspergillus decay, minimizes aflatoxin B1 accumulation, and maintains nutritional quality in fresh‐in‐hull pistachio kernels

“…Aspergillus decay and AFB 1 accumulation in pistachio kernels can restrict its local and international marketing. An attempt to adopting safe eco‐friendly strategies for attenuating Aspergillus decay of fresh pistachio fruits during postharvest operation for minimizing AFB1 accumulation in kernels will therefore enhance the significant economic value of pistachio fruits …”

“…In addition to its significant economic value, owing to higher phytochemicals such as fatty acids, proteins, vitamins, mineral nutrition, and phenols, pistachio kernels have nutritional and medicinal value and so are beneficial for human health. [1][2][3][4] Owing to significant economic, nutritional, and medicinal benefits, pistachio fruits could be considered as green gold worldwide. 5 Pistachio fruits suffer from postharvest decay, caused by Aspergillus flavus, resulting in aflatoxin B1 (AFB 1 ) accumulation in kernels, which is hazardous for human health due to its carcinogenic activity.…”

“…An attempt to adopting safe eco-friendly strategies for attenuating Aspergillus decay of fresh pistachio fruits during postharvest operation for minimizing AFB1 accumulation in kernels will therefore enhance the significant economic value of pistachio fruits. 1 In plants, triggering endogenous ⊎-aminobutyric acid (BABA) accumulation in response to stresses demonstrates that BABA may serve as a priming molecule for fortifying defense systems activity for conferring stresses tolerance. [7][8][9] In recent years, BABA treatment has been used as a promising and safe strategy to enhance fungal decay resistance in strawberry, 10,11 peach, 12 grape berry, 13 mango, 14 jujube, 15 apple, 16 blueberry fruits, 17 tomato, 18 kiwifruit 19 and pitaya 20 fruits during postharvest life.…”

“…In 2017, the annual pistachio production of Iran was 575,000 metric tons, which constituted 51% of the world's pistachio production 1. In addition to its significant economic value, owing to higher phytochemicals such as fatty acids, proteins, vitamins, mineral nutrition, and phenols, pistachio kernels have nutritional and medicinal value and so are beneficial for human health . Owing to significant economic, nutritional, and medicinal benefits, pistachio fruits could be considered as green gold worldwide .…”