Foods (Apr 2023)

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

  • Kan Huang,
  • Danwen Fu,
  • Yonghua Jiang,
  • Hailun Liu,
  • Fachao Shi,
  • Yingjie Wen,
  • Changhe Cai,
  • Jiezhen Chen,
  • Liangxi Ou,
  • Qian Yan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12081725
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 8
p. 1725

Abstract

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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.

Keywords