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Fruit quality of new blue honeysuckle berry cultivars after short-term storage under different conditions
Lonicera caerulea L. (blue honeysuckle) is an edible species cultivated for the health properties of its fruit; however, fresh fruit has a short shelf life after harvest. Therefore, the present study aimed to extend the post-harvest shelf life of fresh honeysuckle fruits under controlled storage conditions. The quality of three Canadian blue honeysuckle cultivars was assessed after 7 and 14 days of storage in a controlled atmosphere (20% CO2 and 5% O2) (CA), modified atmosphere (MAP) in Xtend bags and air atmosphere (AA). The duration of storage conditions significantly affected the quality traits of blue honeysuckle berries. Extended storage time (14 days) generally had a negative effect on the quality of the tested fruit, especially when stored in air atmosphere. The berries stored in a controlled atmosphere showed the best quality, as evidenced by the highest firmness, the lowest weight loss, and the smallest percentage of rotten berries. The effect of storage conditions on the value of parameters such as soluble solids (SSC), titratable acidity (TA) or the SSC/TA ratio were often not observed. The respiration rate of fruits was usually independent of both the cultivar and storage conditions. Compared to other cultivars, Boreal Beauty fruits were characterized by a lower content of SSC, higher TA and a lower SSC/TA ratio, and lower polyphenol content. Fruits of the Boreal Blizzard showed the highest susceptibility to rot.
The Effect of the Method of Plant Protection on the Quality of Remontant Strawberry Cultivars Grown in a Gutter System under Covers
To maintain a constant supply of fresh fruit from May to November, producers increase the area of strawberry cultivation under shelters and grow strawberries that repeat fruiting. An additional problem is the reduction of available pesticides caused by the recommendations of the European Green Deal. For these reasons, the authors undertook to compare cultivars to determine which had the best quality fruits and whichplant wasmost resistant to the most dangerous pests.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the method of plant protection on the health and quality of the fruit yield of three remontant strawberry cultivars grown in a soilless medium. This study evaluated fruit yield and fruit quality as well as the contribution of pathogens to yield losses. For this purpose, standard phytopathological methods were used to identify the causes of disease symptoms on the fruit. At the same time, laboratory tests were carried out on the quality of the harvested strawberries, i.e., firmness and acidity of the fruit, soluble solids content, and respiration rate. The applied protection methods had little effect on the marketable yield and fruit size but had a significant impact on reducing fruit losses caused by the most common diseases. The effectiveness of individual protection methods inreducing the incidence of the tested pathogens and the effect on fruit quality parameters depended on the cultivar and growing season.