Harvest Maturity Stage and Cold Storage Length Influence on Flavour Development in Peach Fruit
Alessandro Ceccarelli,
Brian Farneti,
Christine Frisina,
David Allen,
Irene Donati,
Antonio Cellini,
Guglielmo Costa,
Francesco Spinelli,
Dario Stefanelli
Affiliations
Alessandro Ceccarelli
Department of Agricultural Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, viale Fanin 46, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Brian Farneti
Genomics and Biology of Fruit Crops, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via Edmund Mach, 1, 38010 San Michele All’Adige, Trento, Italy
Christine Frisina
Agriculture Research Division, Plant Production Sciences, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, AgriBio Building, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
David Allen
Agriculture Research Division, Plant Production Sciences, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, AgriBio Building, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
Irene Donati
Department of Agricultural Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, viale Fanin 46, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Antonio Cellini
Department of Agricultural Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, viale Fanin 46, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Guglielmo Costa
Department of Agricultural Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, viale Fanin 46, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Francesco Spinelli
Department of Agricultural Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, viale Fanin 46, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Dario Stefanelli
Agriculture Research Division, Plant Production Sciences, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, AgriBio Building, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
Peach market is facing a constant decrease due to the poor fruit quality perceived at consumption that might be greatly affected by fruit ripening stage at harvest and by the post-harvest management. The present work aimed at clarifying the influence of maturity at harvest on the evolution of peach aroma and quality during shelf-life after prolonged cold storage. “August Flame” peaches were harvested at three maturity stages, determined based on IAD (index of absorption difference) and ethylene emission. Fruit quality traits (firmness, soluble solids, titratable acidity), ethylene and volatile organic compound (VOC) emission were monitored during for four weeks of cold storage (0 °C). Every week of cold storage was followed by 6 days of shelf-life (18 °C). Ripening segregation at harvest based on IAD was successful since each maturity classes significantly differed based on all quality traits. Cold storage enhanced the aroma development of ‘August Flame’ peach, primarily by increasing the emission of esters and lactones associated with pleasant aroma. Moreover, cold storage also reduced the differences in aroma between the maturity classes. The role of ethylene, which was also influenced by cold storage, in regulating the VOCs emission is discussed.
