Nondestructive detection of low temperature induced stress on postharvest quality of kápia type sweet pepper

Abstract

Application of cold storage temperatures below optimum induces a high risk and threat of chilling injury (CI) in the case of sensitive commodities. Sweet pepper belongs to this group of vegetables, so our main objective was to investigate and monitor the effect of non-optimal temperatures (2.5 and 5 °C) induced stress (chilling injury) on kápia type sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) during its postharvest storage by nondestructive quality measuring methods. Fresh, semi-matured (reddish-green colored) samples of ‘Kapitány F1’ cultivar were stored at 2.5, 5 and 10 °C for 7 d followed by 7 d shelf-life. Nondestructive texture measurements were carried out by a purpose built tabletop acoustic stiffness device. Surface color and chlorophyll content related quality indices were evaluated by a chroma meter, a DA-meter® and a chlorophyll fluorescence imaging system. High resolution digital pictures were captured and analyzed for possible CI defects by means of surface color values (normalized RGB, hue and saturation). According to our results, the evaluated quality indices (DA-index®, acoustic stiffness coefficient, surface color parameters; F0, Fm, Fv and Fv/Fm chlorophyll fluorescence parameters) clearly represented the temperature dependent quality changes during low temperature storage, subsequently followed by ambient shelf-life. Samples stored under and at 5 °C showed the chilling temperature stressed symptoms of delayed and partly retarded postharvest ripening, even under simulated shelf-life conditions, but without the onset and manifestation of the characteristic visible symptoms of chilling injury. This may raise doubts and suggest possible future research areas regarding the role of non-optimal cold storage temperatures induced stress, the effect of chilling injury contributing factors and consequences.

Comprehensive Assessment of the Dynamics of Banana Chilling Injury by Advanced Optical Techniques

“…In contrast, storage at these temperatures had no effects on the intactness of the photosynthetic apparatus as indicated by the constancy of both the dark fluorescence signal, F 0 , and the potential maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (F v /F m ). These effects were also reported for green bell peppers and tomatoes [36,62].…”

An attempt to the nondestructive investigation of photo-induced potato postharvest quality degradation – Preliminary results

“…This relationship can be described by an exponential function (R 2 5 0.7416). Contrary to this close relationship between the acoustic stiffness (S) and impact firmness coefficient, such a relation is not entirely valid for inhomogeneous structured commodities like tomato and pepper (Zsom et al, 2020). Based on the relationship shown in Fig.…”

“…It is a valuable tool to determine both photosynthetic capacity, stability and to follow e.g. the maturity related chlorophyll degradation (Zsom et al, 2020) or the negative quality effect of external factors such as low storage temperature (Zsom et al, 2018).…”

Ozone treatment on cucumber and tomato during simulated retail storage

“…Measurements. The measurements were performed according to Baranyai et al (2020), Nguyen et al (2020aNguyen et al ( , 2020b and Zsom et al (2020). Stiffness, surface color, weight loss, decay percentage and DA index were conducted at the initial time (day 0) and on the 4 th , 8 th , 12 th and 16 th day.…”

“…DA (or ΔA) index ® of cucumber was measured by a FRM01-F type Vis/NIR DAmeter ® (Sint eleia s.r.l., Italy) at three points on cucumber skin to evaluate the changes of surface color related chlorophyll content during storage. The value of DA-index ® varying from 0 to 5 is proportional to the amount of active chlorophyll existing in the sample (Zsom et al, 2020).…”