Fecha de publicación: 05/10/2024 Fuente: ISHS (International Society for Horticultural Science) Post date: Saturday 5 October 2024
Author:
ISHS Secretariat

New varieties of red-fleshed kiwifruit have recently been introduced into the market and are widely appreciated by consumers. The use of LED lighting offers a novel opportunity to improve the postharvest quality during storage. The aim of this study was to determine if the postharvest application of exogenous light radiation affected the colorimetric characteristics of the fruit, fruit quality and postharvest biotic and abiotic disorders. After treatment under LED lights, all samples increased the amount of total soluble solids due to the dehydration of the fruit. LED treatment also showed a notable reduction in firmness, suggesting that extended exposure could accelerate the ripening process. The dry matter in LED-treated fruit decreased, supporting the theory that blue light can cause rapid sugar consumption during the ripening process. However, no significant differences were observed in the concentrations of chlorophyll A and B. In an analogous way, the total polyphenol and carotenoid concentrations remained statistically equal to the control. Each LED treatment also enhanced the red surface of the fruit but did not have a significant effect on colour intensity. In conclusion, LED lighting: i) accelerated the ripening process of the fruit and increased the sugar/water ratio; ii) the reduced dry matter percentage indicated that fruit sugars had been metabolised; iii) the colour assessment showed an increase in the pigmented surface percentage of the fruit but did not directly impact the colour intensity; iv) fruit softening was slowed down by UV-A, white and far-red radiation, but did not reduce physiological disorders. This study was funded by Zespri International Limited and European Union Next-Generation EU (Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza - PNRR).
Andrea Strano won the ISHS Young Minds Award for the best poster presentation at the XI International Symposium on Kiwifruit in New Zealand in February 2024.
Andrea Strano, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Bologna, Italy, e-mail: andrea.strano3@unibo.it
The article is available in Chronica HorticulturaeTags: LEDCategories: Young Minds Award Winners