Postharvest Physiology and Quality Improvement of Fruit Crops

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Fruit Production Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 January 2026 | Viewed by 1560

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Tropical Semi-Arid Embrapa, Petrolina 56302-970, PE, Brazil
Interests: postharvest physiology; fruit quality; fruit science; antioxidant compounds; experimental statistics; multivariate analysis; fruit breeding; biodegradable packaging; controlled atmosphere storage; tropical fruits

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Tropical Semi-Arid Embrapa, Petrolina 56302-970, PE, Brazil
Interests: postharvest physiology; fruit quality; fruit science; antioxidant compounds; physiological disorders; fruit breeding; biodegradable packaging; controlled atmosphere storage; tropical fruits; near infrared spectroscopy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ensuring fruit quality from harvest to consumption remains a central challenge in horticultural science. The postharvest period plays a crucial role in determining the final quality, nutritional value, and marketability of fruit crops. As global demand for high-quality fresh produce increases, understanding the physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms involved in fruit development, ripening, and senescence has become more important than ever.

The Special Issue “Postharvest Physiology and Quality Improvement of Fruit Crops” aims to gather original research and comprehensive reviews focused on innovations in postharvest biology, handling technologies, storage methods, and treatments that extend shelf life, reduce losses, and enhance fruit quality. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, physiological responses to storage conditions, postharvest treatments (chemical, physical, or biological), and genetic or biotechnological approaches to enhance shelf life, preserve nutritional and sensory attributes, and reduce postharvest losses. Contributions exploring preharvest factors affecting postharvest behavior, novel monitoring, packaging and handling technologies, natural or synthetic postharvest treatments, and quality assessment methods are particularly welcome. This Special Issue seeks to provide valuable insights for researchers, producers, and supply chain stakeholders striving to improve fruit quality and extend their marketability in a sustainable manner.

Dr. João Claudio Vilvert
Dr. Sergio Tonetto de Freitas
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • postharvest physiology
  • fruit quality
  • fruit ripening
  • shelf-life extension
  • postharvest treatments
  • ripening and senescence
  • storage methods
  • quality assessment
  • preharvest factors

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 2112 KB  
Article
Effect of Plastic MAH Storage, 1-MCP, and Coating on Fruit Storability of ‘Sweet Gold’ and ‘Goldone’ Kiwifruit
by Seok-Kyu Jung, Hye-Won Bang, Hyeon-Ji Hwang and Hyun-Sug Choi
Horticulturae 2025, 11(10), 1152; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11101152 - 25 Sep 2025
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Abstract
We examined the modulation of ‘Sweet Gold’ and ‘Goldone’ kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) ripening using modified atmosphere and humidity (MAH), 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), and edible coating treatments up to 35 days after storage (DAS) at room temperature. The 1-MCP and coating treatments decreased [CO [...] Read more.
We examined the modulation of ‘Sweet Gold’ and ‘Goldone’ kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) ripening using modified atmosphere and humidity (MAH), 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), and edible coating treatments up to 35 days after storage (DAS) at room temperature. The 1-MCP and coating treatments decreased [CO2] in both cultivars, whereas MAH treatment rapidly increased or decreased [CO2]. Use of 1-MCP highly preserved firmness in both cultivars, followed by coating. MAH sharply reduced approximately 17% of ‘Goldone’ fruit firmness at 7 DAS compared to other treatments. MAH, 1-MCP, and coating reduced weight loss in ‘Sweet Gold’ kiwifruits from 14 to 35 DAS. Coating prevented approximately 14% of weight loss in ‘Goldone’ fruits during storage by strong adherence to the fruit surface. The flesh of control and MAH-treated fruits of both cultivars exhibited reduced acidity during storage, increasing the soluble solids content to acidity ratio. The use of 1-MCP delayed a reduction in L* values of the peel color of ‘Sweet Gold’ kiwifruits, while reduced L* values of flesh color were mostly observed with control and MAH treatment in both fruit cultivars. The use of 1-MCP, coating, and MAH maintained high total phenolics, ABTS, and vitamin C levels in both cultivars at 14 and 28 DAS. Fruit ripening was delayed by coating and promoted by MAH treatment, while maintaining the quality and functional substances of the fruit. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Postharvest Physiology and Quality Improvement of Fruit Crops)
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16 pages, 3710 KB  
Article
How Many Acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) Fruit Are Required for Reliable Postharvest Quality Assessment?
by João Claudio Vilvert, Cristiane Martins Veloso, Flávio de França Souza and Sérgio Tonetto de Freitas
Horticulturae 2025, 11(8), 941; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11080941 - 9 Aug 2025
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Abstract
Acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) is a tropical fruit known for its high vitamin C (ascorbic acid) content. This study aimed to determine the optimal sample size (OSS) required to reliably estimate postharvest quality traits in acerola. A total of 50 red-ripe fruit [...] Read more.
Acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) is a tropical fruit known for its high vitamin C (ascorbic acid) content. This study aimed to determine the optimal sample size (OSS) required to reliably estimate postharvest quality traits in acerola. A total of 50 red-ripe fruit from four cultivars (BRS Rubra, Cabocla, Costa Rica, and Junko) were evaluated individually for their physical (weight, diameter, length, color, and firmness) and chemical (soluble solids content [SSC], titratable acidity [TA], SSC/TA ratio, and vitamin C) attributes. Bootstrap resampling and nonlinear power models were used to model the relationships between sample sizes and the width of 95% confidence intervals (CI95%). Three methods were applied to determine the maximum curvature point (MCP): general, perpendicular distance (PD), and linear response plateau (LRP). The PD and LRP methods led to consistent and conservative OSS estimates, which ranged from 12 to 28 fruit depending on the trait and cultivar. A sample size of 20 fruit was identified as a practical and reliable reference. Chemical traits showed greater variability and required larger samples. Cultivar comparisons indicated that ‘BRS Rubra’, ‘Cabocla’, and ‘Costa Rica’ are suitable for fresh consumption, while ‘Junko’ is ideal for vitamin C extraction. These results provide statistical support for experimental planning in acerola postharvest research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Postharvest Physiology and Quality Improvement of Fruit Crops)
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