BACKGROUND The postharvest quality and shelf life of spinach are greatly influenced by cultural practices. Reduced spinach shelf life is a common quandary in the Salinas Valley, California, where current agronomic practices depend on high nitrogen (N) rates. This study aimed to describe the postharvest fracture properties of spinach leaves in relation to N fertilization, leaf age and spinach cu...

The postharvest control of arthropod pests is a challenge that the California citrus industry must overcome when exporting fruit overseas. Currently, methyl bromide fumigation is used to control postharvest pests on exported citrus, but it may soon be unavailable because of use restrictions and cost of this health-hazard ozone-depleting chemical. Ethyl formate is a natural plant volatile and po...

Calcium is thought to be the most important mineral element determining fruit quality. It seems to be especially important in apples where it has been shown to reduce metabolic disorders. Calcium in adequate amounts helps to maintain apple fruit firmness and decreases the incidence of physiological disorders such as water core, bitter pit and internal breakdown. Postharvest decay may also be re...

A study was conducted to standardize production and postharvest handling of lily (Lilium longifolium L. cv. Mero Star). In production trial, three plant densities viz.10, 20 and 30 cm between plants in 60 cm spaced rows and two planting depths viz.7.5 and 15 cm were compared. Increased plant growth, yield and quality was recorded when plants were grown at a close spacing of 10 cm with 15 cm pla...

Seaweeds are rich sources of bioactive natural products, which have been considered as potential biotic agents. Ulva flexuosa Wulfen is a species of seaweed which is endemic to the Persian Gulf. In this study, the effect of different concentrations of U. flexuosa extract on  the  antioxidant activity of Washington Navel orange (Citrus sinensis L. cv. Washington Navel)...

Standard colour measurements can pose a serious problem for interpretation. For tomatoes the maturity at harvest does affect the colour that can maximally be obtained during postharvest storage. For more mature fruit up to 2 units (compared to 18 units tops) were found. This effect was ascribed to the level of a precursor produced during growth. More mature fruit also exhibit a more pronounced ...

watercress is a leafy vegetable of the family brassicaceae that grows in and around water, it has a short shelf life (approximately seven days) and it is consumed raw or steamed. the objective of this work was to study the effect of packaging film and different storage temperature on the postharvest quality of watercress minimally processed. treatments were: packed with plain film (pd961ez, 31m...

A postharvest treatment with hot air (48 C during 3 h) was applied to fresh-cut broccoli to investigate its effect on quality and senescence during storage at 0 C. The treatment delayed yellowing as evidenced by lower decrease of Hue values during storage. After 21 days of storage, treated broccoli had chlorophyll content approximately 40% higher than controls. The treatment did not affect eith...

BACKGROUND Postharvest application of fungicide prochloraz and hot-water dip are commercially practiced to control postharvest diseases in mangoes. Owing to the increasing consumer demand for organically produced fruit, the search for natural environmentally friendly alternative products and processes has become important for the fruit industry. This study evaluated the combined effect of 1-met...