Storability and Linear Regression Models of Pericarp Browning and Decay in Fifty Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) Cultivars at Room Temperature Storage

Abstract

The primary cause for the limited shelf life of litchi fruit is rapid pericarp browning and decay. This study aims to evaluate the storability of 50 litchi varieties and establish a linear regression model for pericarp browning and decay based on 11 postharvest physical and chemical indices after 9 days of storage at room temperature. The results indicated that the average value of the browning index and decay rate significantly increased to 3.29% and 63.84% of 50 litchi varieties at day 9, respectively. Different litchi varieties showed different variations in appearance indicators, quality indicators, and physiological indicators. Furthermore, principal component analysis and cluster analysis revealed that Liu Li 2 Hao exhibited the highest resistance to storage, whereas Dong Long Mi Li, Jiao Pan Li, E Dan Li 2 Hao, and Ren Shan Li were not resistant. Stepwise multiple regression analysis further demonstrated that the factors were highly correlated with the decay index, with a partial correlation coefficient of 0.437 between the effective index and the decay index. Therefore, pericarp thickness, relative conductivity, pericarp laccase activity, and total soluble solids were significant indicators for the comprehensive evaluation of litchi browning and decay, and relative conductivity was the significant determinant causing fruit browning. These findings provide a new perspective on the sustainable development of the litchi industry.

Comprehensive Evaluation of Nutritional Qualities of Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis) Varieties Based on Multivariate Statistical Analysis

“…MLR can not only be used to establish the relationship between spectral VIs and the crop characteristics studied but also to select the most informative variables to estimate crop characteristics [26]. Previously published studies have reported that MLR is a widely used method to rapidly estimate leaf crop nitrogen concentrations [27,28] and grain yields [29,30], whereas PCA, HCA and MLR are also used as important indicators to evaluate lychee browning and rot [31].…”

Genome-Wide Development of Polymorphic SNP Markers and Evaluation of Genetic Diversity of Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.)

“…However, most cultivars ripen between mid-June and mid-July, leading to a centralized fruit maturation period [6,7]. Furthermore, pericarp browning and aril decay develop rapidly once the litchi fruit has been detached from the tree [8][9][10], resulting in an extremely short shelf life. Therefore, the breeding of novel litchi cultivars with more diverse fruit maturation periods (like extremely early or extremely late) and better storability after harvest, as well as improvement of other traits like fruit quality, disease resistance, adaptations to climate changes and etc., has become increasingly important for the sustainable development of the litchi industry in China [11].…”