• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.14-22
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• 2013

The effects of the initial storage temperature and the PA film packaging on the extension of the shelf-life and the improvement of the postharvest storage quality of muskmelons were studied during their storage. Their storage quality was tested as follows: PA-film-wrapped muskmelons, stored at $2^{\circ}C$ or $7^{\circ}C$ for 30 days after their harvest, were kept at $10^{\circ}C$ for 27 days (total: 57 days). On the fifth day of storage at $10^{\circ}C$ (35th day overall), the weight loss reached 6.4% in the 7-control. However, the 2-PA showed the smallest loss of 2.2%. The soluble solids content and the acidity that were measured before the storage were $10.8^{\circ}Brix$ and 0.26% in all the groups. After 27 days of storage at $10^{\circ}C$ (on the 57th day overall), the values were highest in the 2-PA group with $9.7^{\circ}Brix$ and 0.15%, respectively. Microorganisms were not detected at first; but on the fifth day of storage at $10^{\circ}C$ (35th day overall), their values were 3.87 and 2.68 log CFU/g in the seven-control and the 2-PA, respectively. In other words, the 2-PA was found to be more effective in inhibiting microbial proliferation. In relation to sensory properties such as appearance, flavor, sweetness and chewiness, the 2-PA was superior to the other groups and was found to be most effective in improving the storability of muskmelons. In conclusion, it was found that low-temperature injury and fast storage quality deterioration did not occur in film-wrapped muskmelons that were stored at $2^{\circ}C$ for 30 days after they were harvested.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.84-90
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• 2015

The physicochemical properties and protease activities of spray-dried pineapple juice powders were investigated. The pH, soluble solids, and protease activity of the pineapple juice were pH 5.43, $12.8^{\circ}Brix$, and 4.82 unit/mL, respectively. The optimum pH and temperature of the protease activity from pineapple juice were pH 7.0 and $50^{\circ}C$, respectively. The microencapsulation of pineapple juice was achieved using maltodextrin and alginic acid through spray-drying. The L value and moisture content of the spray-dried powder were higher than those of the freeze-dried powder. The particle size of the freeze-dried powder ($501.57{\mu}m$) was higher than that of the spray-dried powder ($42.58-53.32{\mu}m$). The water absorption and water solubility of the powders were 0.41-0.87, and 90.45-99.76%, respectively. When compared, the protease activities were found to be in the following order : FD (1,297.47 unit/g) > SD-MA-1 (692.08 unit/g) > SD-MA-2 (664.66 unit/g) > SD-MA-3 (642.65 unit/g) > SD-M (633.51 unit/g). In the in vitro dissolution study measurements were conducted for 4 hr in pH 1.2 simulated gastric fluid and pH 6.8 simulated intestinal fluid, using a dissolution tester at $37^{\circ}C$ in 50 rpm. The protease survival of the 3.74-15.69% microencapsulated pineapple juice powders improved with an increase in the treatment concentration of alginic acid.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.1058-1064
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• 2016

This study investigated the correlation between physicochemical (color, soluble solids content (SSC), pH, titratable acidity (TA), and firmness) and sensory (appearance, taste, odor, and texture) characteristics of environment-friendly 'Campbell early' grapes to identify quality indices. For analysis, samples of similar-sized grapes were collected from five orchards. The results showed that the physicochemical characteristics of CIE $L^*$, CIE $a^*/b^*$, SSC, pH, TA, and firmness and the sensorial characteristics of color intensity, freshness of stem, odor, sourness, sweetness, and elasticity were different among groups. Correlation analysis results showed that an increase in sweetness and firmness and a decrease in sourness were associated with an increase in overall acceptance. Sourness and sweetness were positively correlated with CIE $L^*$ (r=0.88) and firmness (r=0.95), individually. In the principal component analysis results, component F1 and F2 explained 44.35% and 33.77%, respectively, of the total variance (78.12%). F1 represented firmness, sweetness, elasticity, hardness, grape odor, color intensity, sweet odor, sourness, and damage degree. F2 represented CIE $L^*$, TA, CIE $a^*$, CIE $a^*/b^*$, SSC/TA, SSC, and peel thickness. The results showed that consumer acceptance of 'Campbell early' grapes can be determined by assessing physicochemical attributes of firmness, CIE $L^*$, TA, CIE $a^*$, CIE $a^*/b^*$, SSC/TA, and SSC and various sensorial attributes including sweetness, fruit elasticity, fruit hardness, grape odor, and color intensity.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.675-686
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• 2015

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) needs proper post-harvest treatment to prolong its storage life. This study investigated the effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on the quality and storage life of asparagus. Fresh-harvested asparagus was treated with 1-MCP ($1mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$), CEPA($10mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$), and 1-MCP($1mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) + CEPA($10mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) and compared with an untreated control. The carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) production, ethylene production, and morphological characteristics of the preserved asparagus were observed. The flow-system and the static-type measurement methods for ethylene and $CO_2$ production (respiration rate) were used. Weight loss, respiration rate, degree of freshness, and ethylene production were monitored during storage at $7^{\circ}C$. The results further showed that CEPA (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) treatment had greater effects on $CO_2$ and ethylene production than using the 1-MCP process. The asparagus treated with CEPA or 1-MCP + CEPA had significantly increased the ethylene production rate compared to the control or using only 1-MCP during storage. There were no evident changes in the respiration rate of asparagus under 1-MCP treatment as compared with the control. Using the flow-system, slight differences in the rates of $CO_2$ and ethylene production were noted as compared to using the static type. Findings showed that in using the flow-system, asparagus manifested clearer results as compared with the static type. Weight loss in asparagus was significantly lower in control and 1-MCP treated samples than in those treated with CEPA. Likewise, the $CO_2$ and ethylene production of the CEPA treated samples significantly increased. The 1-MCP treatment reduced the effects of CEPA on weight loss, soluble solids content, and osmolality. The effect was not observed with exogenous ethylene as CEPA treatment had no visible effect as compared to the untreated group. Thus, 1-MCP treatment of asparagus could slightly reduce damage to the quality of asparagus during its distribution where ethylene gas is produced. Therefore, this study suggests that 1-MCP treatment can reduce the damage induced by ethylene gas on asparagus in poor distribution environments.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.447-453
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• 2019

In this study, the effect of supplying volume and frequency of a nutrient solution consisted with $NO_3-N$ 4.6, $NH_4-N$ 3.4, $PO_4-P$ 3, K 3, Ca 4.6 and Mg $2.2mmol{\cdot}L^{-1}$ on growth and fruit quality of 'Duke' blueberry was investigated. Three years old 'Duke' blueberry bushes cultivated in containers ($60{\times}80{\times}40cm$) filled with 130L peat moss and 40L pearlite (v/v) were selected for the experiment. The growth containers were mulched with sawdust. Two different volumes (4L and 8L) of nutrient solution was tested at three different supplying frequencies (one time, two times, and three times) per week and the drainage quality of nutrient solution and fruit quality of 'Duke' blueberry was evaluated. The optimal drainage rate for the vegetable cultivation is known to be 20-30%. The results revealed that the average drainage rates of 27% and 29% for the nutrient solution supplied in 'Duke' blueberry growth medium at 4L, 2 times/7 days and 4L, 3 times/7days, respectively. The highest shoot diameter (4.2mm) and shoot length (31cm) of 'Duke' blueberry was recorded with the 8L of nutrient solution supplied at 3 times per 7 days. According to the analysis of inorganic components in the drainage of nutrient solution, there was a tendency of absorbing nitrogen at the early stage of growth. The supplying volume and frequency of nutrient solution was not significantly affected on 'Duke' blueberry fruit weight, soluble solids content, and titratable acidity. The highest yield per bush (2.7kg) was recorded for the nutrient solution supplied with 4L at three times per 7 days, while the 4L nutrient solution supplied at one time per 7 days resulted the lowest yield of 1.4kg per bush. Consequently, the tested nutrient solution can be applied for the 'Duke' blueberry bushes with the volume of 4L at three times per week for the better crop growth.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.166-172
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• 2019

BACKGROUND: Increase in the ratio of small berries in blueberry production decreases the farmers' profits due to weakening market competitiveness and lowering harvest efficiency. One of the reasons for increased small berries is over fruit-load. For improving productivity and competitiveness of blueberry in Korea, hand-thinning can be applied to increase fruit quality before the developing adequate chemical thinning methods. This study was conducted to investigate the proper timing and methods for floral buds thinning in rabbiteye blueberry. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eight years old bushes of rabbiteye bluberries 'Brightwell' as a primary cultivar and 'Powderblue' as a pollinizer were used for this study. Fruit size distribution by leaf-to-fruit ratio was investigated by counting the number of leaves and fruits in canes of 127 'Brightwell' plants whose fruit set varied. Fifty percent of flowers/floral buds were removed in four different floral buds stages such as bud swell, late pink bud, full bloom, and petal fall, and the consumed time for thinning and fruit characteristics were recorded to investigate the effect and proper timing of floral buds thinning. Fruit weight and soluble solids content tended to increase in proportion to leaf-to-fruit ratio and the production of the number of fruits less than 13 mm in diameter decreased when leaf-to-fruit ratio was more than 2.5. Manual floral buds thinning by hands was fastest in full bloom stage and slowest in bud swelling stage. In all cultivars, fruit size was significantly smaller in non-thinning treatment than thinning, and there was, however, no significant difference in total fruit yield. The number of fruits less than 13 mm in diameter increased in both cultivars as floral buds thinning was delayed. Consumed time for picking 90% berries out of total berries per bush was shortest in full bloom stage thinning in 'Brightwell' and bud swelling, full bloom thinning in 'Powderblue'. These were 25 and 20 days faster than no thinning, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although the effect of floral buds thinning varied depending on the cultivars, our results confirmed that floral buds thinning was effective for the early intensive harvesting and the increase of the large fruit ratio and the harvesting productivity. Also, in order to increase thinning efficiency, it is recommended to remove the flower buds before the full bloom stage.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.78-87
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• 2023

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) concentrations on fruit quality of small-sized RubyS apples during cold storage. After harvesting, the fruits were treated with 1-MCP at 0.5 or 1 µL/L concentrations and, subsequently, stored at 0℃ for 6 months. After 6 months, the flesh firmness of untreated fruits, which was 85.4 N at harvest, had gradually decreased to 46.5 N; however, that of 1-MCP-treated fruits was maintained at 59.1 and 59.5 N. Titratable acidity (TA) of untreated fruits had also decreased from 0.42 to 0.24%, whereas that of 1-MCP-treated fruits was maintained at 0.26 and 0.27%. Soluble solids content (SSC) did not differ in all fruits. However, the 1-MCP-treated fruits had lower levels of SSC/TA ratio than untreated fruits. Moreover, after 6 months, the ethylene production had increased to 47.0 µL/kg/h in the untreated fruits, whereas 1-MCP blocked the ethylene production at 1.4 and 1.7 µL/kg/h. The weight loss and peel color variables remained unaffected by 1-MCP treatments. Thus, these results indicated that, for RubyS apples, the storability was only 2 months at 0℃ without treatment, which can be extended to 6 months with 1-MCP treatments. The application of 1-MCP at 0.5 µL/L concentration is effectively and economically sufficient to maintain the quality of RubyS apples.