Quality attributes of pitaya (Stenocereus pruinosus) fruit handled in postharvest with and without thorns under refrigerated storage

Pitaya (Stenocereus pruinosus) is a columnar cactus that can be found in semi-arid regions. Fruit have deciduous thorns and shelf life is less than six days at ambient temperature, which limits commercialization. The objective of this study was to evaluate the postharvest behavior of pitaya fruit un...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Adrián Rosas-Benítez, Lucía Trujillo-Cárdenas, Salvador Valle-Guadarrama, Yolanda Salinas-Moreno, Leticia García-Cruz
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2016
País:México
Institución:Universidad Autónoma Chapingo
Repositorio:Redalyc-UACHP
OAI Identifier:oai:redalyc.org:60947915004
Acceso en línea:https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=60947915004
https://www.redalyc.org/journal/609/60947915004/
https://www.redalyc.org/journal/609/60947915004/html/
https://www.redalyc.org/journal/609/60947915004/60947915004.epub
https://www.redalyc.org/journal/609/60947915004/movil
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Agrociencias
phenols
betalains
postharvest life
antioxidant activity
Stenocereus pruinosus
Descripción
Sumario:Pitaya (Stenocereus pruinosus) is a columnar cactus that can be found in semi-arid regions. Fruit have deciduous thorns and shelf life is less than six days at ambient temperature, which limits commercialization. The objective of this study was to evaluate the postharvest behavior of pitaya fruit under refrigeration conditions and also to evaluate the effect of thorn removal on fruit quality attributes. Storage for 21 d at 12 °C was conducted with pitaya fruit of red and orange flesh, handled with or without thorns. Fruit weighed between 168.1 and 197.6 g, with respiration rate between 11.9 and 12.6 mL⋅kg‑1⋅h‑1, and with soft consistency, expressed through firmness in flesh less than 2 N. Color attributes, total soluble solids (TSS), betalains and total soluble phenols (TSP) contents, and antioxidant activity were different between variants. Hue angle, chroma, and lightness in flesh were 22.0-25.0°, 29.0-31.0, and 22.8-23.8, respectively, in red fruit, and 35.5-37.7°, 38.9-41.5, and 29.7-32.6, in orange fruit. The TSS/acidity ratio was higher in orange (152.8-157.0) than in red (115.5-132.0) fruit. Betalains and TSP had average values of 4.7-423.0 and 2.5-221.6 mg⋅kg‑1 in red and orange material, respectively, which caused higher antioxidant activity in the former. Betalains content remained constant over time, but TSP diminished and this caused a reduction in antioxidant activity. Thorn removal only affected weight loss and it was considered an advisable practice. Based on firmness modification and loss of antioxidant activity, shelf life was estimated to be 12-14 d.