Environmental Sustainability

Browse

Browsing Environmental Sustainability by Subject "3008 Horticultural Production"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Insights into Alternaria in apple fruit causing mouldy core, external infection and mycotoxin production under retail and storage conditions
    (Elsevier, 2025-08-02) Pavicich, María Agustina; Maldonado, María Luisa; Nguyen, Truong Nhat; De Boevre, Marthe; De Saeger, Sarah; Patriarca, Andrea
    Apple fruit is widely consumed worldwide, but fungal contamination in the postharvest stage presents a significant food safety concern. This study evaluates the production and accumulation of Alternaria mycotoxins, including alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl-ether (AME), and the modified forms (AOH-3-S, AME-3-S, AOH-3-G, AME-3-G), altenuene (ALT), tenuazonic acid (TeA), tentoxin (TEN), altertoxin I and II (ATX[sbnd]I, ATX-II), in Red Delicious apples under simulated retail and post-harvest conditions. Three Alternaria tenuissima strains (isolates 02, 31 and 36) were inoculated in apple fruit at two sites separately (core and exterior) and incubated at two temperatures (25 °C and 4 °C) for 1 and 9 months. Mycotoxin production was quantified using LC-MS/MS, revealing significant variability across strains and conditions. Isolates 02 and 36 exhibited significant temperature and site-dependent variability in mycotoxin production. Higher levels of AOH, AME, ALT, and ATX-I were produced at 25 °C and in the core. Long-term cold storage delayed fungal growth but did not prevent mycotoxin accumulation, raising concerns about the safety of processed apple products. These findings highlight the need for stricter monitoring of mycotoxins during post-harvest storage to mitigate health risks. The findings provide insights into their toxigenic capacity in vivo and highlight potential risks for food safety.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Investigation on the protection ability of two commonly packaging methods to apples during express transportation
    (Elsevier, 2025-03-01) Yu, Jincheng; Qiang, Hongli; Shi, Mingwei; Li, Zhiguo; Fadiji, Tobi; Wani, Ali Abas; Burgeon, Clément
    Packaging plays a vital role in the post-harvest sales process of apples. This study conducted express transportation tests to evaluate the protective effectiveness of two commonly used packaging methods for apples. Key parameters assessed included real-time changes in temperature, humidity, vibration load, and CO₂ levels inside the packaging boxes during transit, as well as the storage quality of apples after transportation. Results showed significant variations in load distribution within corrugated partition-based cardboard boxes (CP combination packaging). Conversely, foam holder-based cardboard boxes (FP combination packaging) exhibited CO₂ accumulation. Furthermore, mechanical damage was predominantly localized to the fruit belly. Compared to CP combination packaging box, FP combination packaging box provided more stable shock resistance at lower vibration forces (< 10 N) across transit routes, likely due to its EPS foam design, which restricted fruit movement and absorbed external vibrations. Post-storage analysis showed that damaged apples experienced a 0.16 % increase in mass loss, a 0.83 % rise in soluble solids content (SSC), and a 0.19 MPa reduction in firmness compared to undamaged controls. These findings provide valuable insights into optimizing packaging design to minimize transport-induced damage and enhance apple preservation.