Special Issue "Alternatives to Chemicals in Fruits and Vegetables Production and Storage"

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Horticultural and Floricultural Crops".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2021.

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Elazar Fallik
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
ARO-the Volcani Center, Department of Postharvest Science of Fresh Produce, 68 HaMakkabbim Road, P.O. Box 15159, Rishon LeZiyyon 7505101, Israel
Interests: postharvest physiology; pathology; sensory and biochemistry issues; fruit; vegetables
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Zoran Ilic
E-Mail
Guest Editor
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Pristina, Serbia, Piština, 38219 Lešak, Serbia
Interests: organic vegetables production and quality; postharvest physiology of vegetables; preharvest factors effect on qualiy (especially shadow nets and grafting)
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fruits and vegetables have always been an important component of the human diet; similarly, losses in produce have always been a limitation for modern agriculture. Losses include any damage or change in the quantity or quality of produce from harvest to consumption. The magnitude of postharvest losses in fresh produce is estimated to be 5 to 25% in developed countries and 25 to 50% in developing countries. Attempts to control the loss caused by fungi and insects are generally carried out by the application of synthetic fungicides and pesticides before and/or after harvest. However, the growing health and safety concerns regarding the residues of synthetic fungicides and pesticides, due to their carcinogenic and toxicity to humans and potential contamination of the environment, have led to alternative, nonchemical approaches to preserve the quality of fresh produce during prolonged storage and marketing. In addition, the continued mass use of fungicides and excessive levels of chemical residues have resulted in the development and proliferation of fungal resistance. Due to these growing concerns, many countries have banned the application of synthetic chemicals to fresh produce after harvest.

This Special Issue aims to summarize original scientific papers, mini reviews or review articles dealing with the use of alternative treatments to synthetic chemicals, before and/or after harvest, in maintaining the overall quality of fresh produce during prolonged storage and marketing.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Horticulturae.

Prof. Dr. Elazar Fallik
Prof. Dr. Zoran Ilic
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • anoxia
  • biocontrol
  • fruits
  • grafting
  • GRAS (pre and postharvest application)
  • modified and controlled atmosphere
  • physical treatments
  • preharvest
  • postharvest
  • vegetables

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

Article
The Effect of Treating String Bean Pods with Modified Atmosphere Packaging and UV-C Irradiation on Their Storage Life
Agronomy 2021, 11(9), 1747; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11091747 - 30 Aug 2021
Viewed by 141
Abstract
The aim of the experiment was to determine the optimal treatment of string bean pods, prolonging their storage life. To this end, the effect of modified atmosphere packaging in Xtend® bags (CH-49) and UV-C radiation on the quality of string beans ‘Unidor’ [...] Read more.
The aim of the experiment was to determine the optimal treatment of string bean pods, prolonging their storage life. To this end, the effect of modified atmosphere packaging in Xtend® bags (CH-49) and UV-C radiation on the quality of string beans ‘Unidor’ in cold storage was studied. Observations of the pods and their measurements were made after 14 and 28 days and chemical analyses 14 days after irradiation exposure and storage at 2–4°C. The tests were conducted in laboratory conditions in a completely randomized design. Storing bean pods in Xtend® bags significantly increased the weight and umber of pods fit for consumption, compared to those stored in bulk. However, the content of dry matter, total sugars, and protein in pods stored in Xtend® bags decreased. Irradiation, regardless of the exposure time and the distance of lamps from the surface, contributed to an increase in the weight and number of pods suitable for consumption after 14 and 28 days. After 14 days irradiated pods contained more dry matter, L-ascorbic acid, polyphenols and flavonoids. After UV-C irradiation for 600 seconds with lamps at a height of 40 cm pods in Xtend® bags responded with the most favorable protein content. Full article
Communication
Hot Water Rinsing and Brushing of Fresh Produce as an Alternative to Chemical Treatment after Harvest—The Story behind the Technology
Agronomy 2021, 11(8), 1653; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11081653 - 19 Aug 2021
Viewed by 235
Abstract
For decades, heat treatments have been known to reduce or eliminate decay-causing agents and slow the physiological deterioration of freshly harvested fruits and vegetables. For years, fungicides and pesticides have been used to control fungi on freshly harvested fruits and vegetables. However, these [...] Read more.
For decades, heat treatments have been known to reduce or eliminate decay-causing agents and slow the physiological deterioration of freshly harvested fruits and vegetables. For years, fungicides and pesticides have been used to control fungi on freshly harvested fruits and vegetables. However, these chemicals can contaminate the environment and be hazardous to those who consume fresh produce. Therefore, heat treatments, lasting only minutes or up to several days, have been developed to control insects and pathogenic fungi on fresh produce after harvest. In the 1990s, hot water rinsing and brushing (HWRB) technology to clean and disinfect fresh produce at relatively high temperatures (50 to 62 °C) for seconds (12–20 s) was developed at the Volcani Institute in Israel. This technology has been improved over time and is currently used commercially on several crops in Israel and elsewhere. This article discusses the development of this prestorage technology, from 1996 to 2006, and describes the effects of HWRB on the internal and external characteristics of fruits and vegetables, as well as the possible mode of action of this technology, as examined in the literature published since 1996. Full article
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Article
Efficiency of Basil Essential Oil Antimicrobial Agents under Different Shading Treatments and Harvest Times
Agronomy 2021, 11(8), 1574; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11081574 - 06 Aug 2021
Viewed by 335
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activity of essential oils obtained from sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L. cv. ‘Genovese’) cultivated in the open field under different shading conditions (red, blue, and pearl nets with a shade index of [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial activity of essential oils obtained from sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L. cv. ‘Genovese’) cultivated in the open field under different shading conditions (red, blue, and pearl nets with a shade index of 50% and full sunlight exposure (control plants)), harvested at different times. The antimicrobial activity of basil essential oils (BEOs) obtained from all samples was determined for four microorganisms, while determinations for an additional five microorganisms included samples from non-shaded plants, plants grown under red and pearl nets, and second harvest of plants grown under blue net. Basil essential oil exhibited antimicrobial activity surpassing the activity of relevant commercial antibiotics regardless of growing conditions in the case of B. cereus, K. pneumoniae and C. albicans, while superior antimicrobial activity was exhibited in the case of essential oils from plants grown under blue nets in the case of S. aureus, E. coli and P. vulgaris. The influence of the application of colored shading nets was highly significant (p < 0.01) in the cases of all analyzed microorganisms except C. albicans and P. aeruginosa, while the influence of harvest time was proven in the cases of all microorganisms except K. pneumoniae. ANOVA proved that antimicrobial activities are highly dependent on the methods of plant production, shading treatment, and harvest time. Obtained results are discussed in relation to previously determined composition and yield of essential oils from basil grown under shade nets and harvested in different periods. Full article
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Hot water rinsing and brushing treatment for fresh produce as alternative to chemicals after harvest – the story behind the technology
Authors: Elazar Fallik, Sharon Alkalai-Tuvia and Daniel Chalupowicz
Affiliation: Agricultural Research Organization, the Volcani Institute, Department of Postharvest Science, Rishon LeZiy-yon, Israel 7505101
Abstract: Abstract: For many decades, heat treatments have been known to reduce or eliminate decay-causing agents, as well as physiological deterioration in fresh harvested fruits and vegetables. For years, fungicides and pesticides have been used to control fungi on fresh harvested fruits and veg-etables. However, these chemicals are hazardous to fresh produce’s consumers and can contami-nate the environment. Therefore, heat treatments, for minutes and up to several days have been developed to control these pathogenic fungi and insects on fresh produce after harvest. In the 1990s a hot water rinse brushing (HWRB) technology to clean and disinfect fresh produce, at rela-tive high temperatures (50 to 62°C) for seconds (12-20 s) was developed in Volcani Institute in Is-rael. This technology has been upgraded and improved during a decade, and is used commercial-ly on several crops in Israel and elsewhere. This communication is aimed to discuss the develop-ment of this prestorage technology, between 1996 to 2006, and to describe the use of HWRB on fruits and vegetables external and internal qualities and possible mode-of-action of this technology since 1996 until today.

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