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Advances in Postharvest Preservation and Quality of Fruits and Vegetables

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A Special Issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524) belonging to the section "Postharvest Biology, Quality, Safety, and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 10748

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Editors

Dr. Younes Noutfia

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Fruit and Vegetable Storage and Processing Department, The National Institute of Horticultural Research, Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3, 96-100 Skierniewice, Poland
Interests: food technology; postharvest handling; physicochemical quality; storage; preservation; image analysis

Prof. Dr. Ewa Ropelewska

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Guest Editor

Fruit and Vegetable Storage and Processing Department, The National Institute of Horticultural Research, Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3, 96-100 Skierniewice, Poland
Interests: agricultural engineering; cereals; fruit; vegetables; drying; fruit quality; horticulture; machine learning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Monika Mieszczakowska-Frąc

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Guest Editor

Fruit and Vegetable Storage and Processing Department, The National Institute of Horticultural Research, Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3, 96-100 Skierniewice, Poland
Interests: fruit quality; postharvest biology; food analysis; chromatography; food processing; food composition; horticulture research

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The total quality of agricultural products is dependent on several factors, starting from technical operations at the orchard to post-harvest handling at the scale of processing and storage facilities. For the “post-harvest dimension”, personalized treatments should be applied to fruit and vegetables based on their initial quality and the needs of consumers and markets. Currently, such treatments are based on maintaining and improving the sensory and biochemical quality of fresh and processed crops using thermal, chemical, and physical operations such as sorting, grading, coating, drying, blanching, storage, etc.

Through this Special Issue, a focus will be given on the following:

Conventional and advanced techniques carried out during the post-harvest supply chain.
Modern strategies to attenuate post-harvest losses.
Selected cases of post-harvest quality assessment using destructive and non-destructive analyses.
All relevant insights dealing with post-harvest processing and preservation.

Dr. Younes Noutfia
Prof. Dr. Ewa Ropelewska
Prof. Dr. Monika Mieszczakowska-Frąc
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 submissions that pass pre-check are 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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae 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 2400 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

post-harvest handling
ripening
fruit
vegetables
quality
processing
food losses
valorisation
preservation
non-destructive analyses
artificial intelligence

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 3790 KB

Open AccessArticle

Agronomic Performance and Quality of SM2828-28, the First Industrial Cassava Variety Suitable for Extended Harvest in the Humid and Dry Caribbean of Colombia

by Hernando Araujo-Vasquez, Amparo Rosero, Carina Cordero, Adriana Tofiño, Rommel León, Martha Montes, Alfonso Orozco, Nilson Osorio, Jorge García, Laura Restrepo, Hernán Ceballos, Jhon Larry Moreno, Christian Salazar and Luis Londoño

Horticulturae 2026, 12(9), 1115; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12091115 - 4 Sep 2026

Viewed by 187

Abstract

Cassava is a crop of major socioeconomic and cultural importance in Colombia. One of the main challenges is production seasonality, driven by climatic conditions that constrain planting and harvesting periods. Currently, cultivated varieties exhibit a substantial reduction in root dry matter content (DMC) following the onset of the rains. This study evaluated the agronomic performance of genotype SM2828-28 under semi-commercial field conditions in the departments of Cesar, Bolívar, and Magdalena in the Colombian Caribbean region. This genotype exhibited greater stability and productivity, outperforming commercial checks. The genotype also showed high and stable DMC. Root quality and starch functional properties were also assessed. Starch from SM2828-28 exhibited numerically lower setback values and a relatively consistent rheological profile across harvest ages, indicating greater gel stability during cooling—an attribute desirable for industrial applications requiring consistent textural properties. The genetic progress achieved for key industrial traits highlights the potential of SM2828-28 for extended-harvest systems aimed at reducing seasonality in raw material supply for the cassava starch industry. These results suggest that genetic factors contribute to the stability of DMC under extended-harvest conditions and support the inclusion of this trait as a target in cassava breeding programs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Postharvest Preservation and Quality of Fruits and Vegetables)

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17 pages, 4724 KB

Open AccessArticle

Postharvest Storage Quality and Tissue-Specific Ginsenoside Distribution of Field-Sorted Fresh Ginseng as Affected by Packaging Film and Post-Wash Peracetic Acid During Subzero Storage

by Do-Gyun Park, Nayeong Kwon, Sooyeon Lim, Jinhee Lee, Yeon Jin Jang, Yeo Eun Yun, Jinsu Lee, Dong-Shin Kim and Jae-Han Cho

Horticulturae 2026, 12(8), 940; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12080940 - 31 Jul 2026

Viewed by 506

Abstract

Fresh ginseng is a high-value medicinal root crop whose postharvest quality is affected by field heterogeneity, washing, packaging, and storage. This study evaluated two packaging films—50 µm polyethylene (PE50) and a 30 µm polyethylene/30 µm oriented polypropylene laminate (PE30/OPP30)—and a post-wash 80 ppm peracetic acid (PAA) spray applied at 20 °C at approximately 60 mL kg⁻¹ fresh root mass. Field-sorted six-year-old roots from one commercial ridge were stored at −2 °C for 14 weeks. The primary factorial design comprised film and PAA treatment, while farmer grade class was retained as a stratification factor and tissue position as a within-root factor for destructive analyses. Package atmosphere, post-storage ambient CO₂ evolution, cumulative weight loss, tissue moisture, color and visual marketability, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, total phenolic content (TPC), and targeted liquid chromatography (LC) quantification of Rg1 and Rb1 were evaluated using three independent biological replicates. PE30/OPP30 generated lower O₂ and higher CO₂ than PE50 and reduced cumulative weight loss; however, O₂ reached 0.63% and CO₂ reached 14.04% at 4 weeks, indicating potentially hypoxic conditions. PAA did not consistently improve the measured physicochemical traits, and microbial efficacy was not evaluated. Fine roots showed the lowest moisture status but the highest Rg1 and Rb1 contents. These findings provide a single-field baseline for integrating packaging response, tissue water status, and chemical markers, but require validation across production sites, seasons, and packaging-film types before broad commercial application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Postharvest Preservation and Quality of Fruits and Vegetables)

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17 pages, 308 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Impact of Postharvest Overripening on Carotenoid and Tocopherol Content of New Spice Red Pepper Genotypes Cultivated with Different Modes

by Péter Tóth Horgosi, Hussein G. Daood, Leith Alhassani, Flórián Kovács, Zoltán Timár and Lajos Helyes

Horticulturae 2026, 12(6), 730; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12060730 - 15 Jun 2026

Viewed by 950

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate recently developed pungent and unpungent red pepper varieties for paprika production with respect to carotenoid and tocopherol composition and content. Varieties with outstanding traits were cultivated using various methods to determine the optimal conditions for maximizing bioactive component levels. The biologically ripe fruits of these varieties were stored under ambient conditions to initiate postharvest overripening. Carotenoids and tocopherols were analyzed using recent HPLC methods. The different varieties of pungent pepper differed significantly in the levels of carotenoid groups and tocopherols. Among pungent breeds, Hetényi Triász (HET-T), CF5, and Uniring (UNIR) showed the highest levels of total carotenoids (1967.39 ± 260.35, 1642.72 ± 67.41, and 1609.07 ± 524.52 µg g⁻¹, respectively). The highest amounts of provitamin A (187.60 ± 8.19 µg g⁻¹) were recorded in the CF5 variety. As regards tocopherols, the highest concentration (547.09 ± 44.20 µg g⁻¹) was recorded for CF5, with no significant differences among the studied varieties. However, the content of vitamin E was significantly higher in CF1 and CF5 than in HET-T and UNIR. Notably, under organic farming conditions, the carotenoid content in UNIR was significantly lower than in the direct-sowing and seedling-transplantation modes. Organic farming of UNIR resulted in lower levels of all carotenoid groups compared with other cultivation modes, particularly conventional seedling transplantation. The indoor cultivation of the unpungent Borbási genotype did not significantly improve the carotenoid content, particularly the total red xanthophylls. Ambient postharvest overripening led to a substantial increase, up to 3-fold, in carotenoid group content in both pungent and non-pungent genotypes. The average value for the total carotenoid content increased from 5005.7 to 8208.3 µg g⁻¹ in unpungent varieties and from 1896.4 to 3426.8 µg g⁻¹ in pungent varieties. For tocopherols, overripening had a slightly positive effect on total tocopherol (from 1375.3 to 1594.7 µg g⁻¹) and esterified forms of vitamin E in pungent breeds with a significantly high increase from 532.0 to 823.7 µg g⁻¹. In conclusion, postharvest overripening is indispensable for obtaining paprika products with an outstanding content of bioactive compounds, particularly red carotenoid diesters. Based on carotenoid content and response to overripening of red and total carotenoids, the UNIR and Borbási varieties are superior to other pungent and unpungent genotypes, respectively. The positive impact of postharvest overripening on carotenoid and tocopherol levels depended mainly on genetic factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Postharvest Preservation and Quality of Fruits and Vegetables)

12 pages, 1340 KB

Open AccessArticle

Mass Modeling of Six Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) Varieties for Post-Harvest Grading Based on Physical Attributes

by Giovanni Gugliuzza, Mark Massaad, Giuseppe Tomasino and Vittorio Farina

Horticulturae 2025, 11(12), 1445; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11121445 - 28 Nov 2025

Viewed by 1138

Abstract

Loquat fruit is valued for its pleasant taste and favorable ripening period. However, its delicate texture and high perishability make it highly vulnerable to damage during packaging, so the fruit is usually packed by hand. Developing a fruit-sizing machine could increase commercial market opportunities. Automated mass detection reduces manual sorting errors and labor requirements. Overall, it enhances grading accuracy, speed, and uniformity in loquat processing. It also helps distinguish between ripe, underripe, and overripe fruits through subtle mass differences. Mass modeling has proven to be an effective baseline approach for the development and optimization of grading machines, and its efficiency has been demonstrated across different fruit types. Here, we present a comparative analysis of various models for mass modeling of six international and Italian loquat varieties (“Algerie,” “Peluche,” “Golden Nugget,” “Virticchiara,” “Nespolone di Trabia,” and “Claudia”) cultivated in southern Italy. On fifty fruits per variety, singular mass and spatial diameters [longitudinal (DL), maximum transverse (DT1), and minimum transverse (DT2) were measured. Linear and non-linear regression analyses, including quadratic, polynomial, and cubic models, were applied to both the complete dataset and individual varieties. A set of predictors was used, including DL (length), DT1 (width), and DT2 (thickness), ellipsoid and oblate spheroid volume. Model performance was evaluated based on higher R² values, and lower RMSE and MBE values. The best general model was obtained using an ellipsoidal volume (R² = 0.97, RMSE = 2.76). Both linear and cubic models demonstrated high suitability across all varieties, with ellipsoidal volume emerging as the most effective predictor. Conversely, (DL) based models were the least suitable, yielding the lowest (R² = 0.41) values in “Virticchiara.” The developed general and specific-variety models and equations provide a solid foundation for establishing high-performance systems for mass and size estimation, which can be effectively integrated into a fruit sizer machine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Postharvest Preservation and Quality of Fruits and Vegetables)

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16 pages, 6123 KB

Open AccessArticle

Functional Analysis of Penicillium expansum Glucose Oxidase-Encoding Gene, GOX2, and Its Expression Responses to Multiple Environmental Factors

by Yongcheng Yuan, Yutong Ru, Xiaohe Yuan, Shuqi Huang, Dan Yuan, Maorun Fu and Wenxiao Jiao

Horticulturae 2025, 11(7), 860; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11070860 - 21 Jul 2025

Viewed by 1302

Abstract

Penicillium expansum is an acidogenic fungal species that belongs to the phylum Ascomycota. During the infection and colonization of host fruits, P. expansum can efficiently express glucose oxidase (GOX) and oxidize β-D-glucose to generate gluconic acid (GLA). In this study, the bioinformatics analysis method was employed to predict and analyze the function of the GOX protein. In addition, a comprehensive assessment was conducted on the P. expansum GOX coding gene GOX2, and the expression response rules of GOX2 under different external stress environments were explored. The results show that GOX is an unstable hydrophilic protein. It is either an integrated membrane protein (such as a receptor or channel) that is directly anchored to the membrane through a transmembrane structure or a non-classical secreted protein that is secreted extracellularly. RNA-seq data analysis shows that the GOX2 gene is regulated by multiple environmental factors, including pH, temperature, carbon base, and chemical fungicides. The expression level of GOX2 reaches its maximum value under alkaline conditions (pH 8–10) and at approximately 10 °C. Using starch as the carbon source and adding sodium propionate or potassium sorbate has the effect of inhibiting the expression of the GOX2 gene. The analysis of the function of the GOX protein and the characteristics of the GOX2 gene in P. expansum provides new insights into the glucose oxidase-encoding gene GOX2. The research results provide significant value for the subsequent development of new disease resistance strategies by targeting the GOX2 gene and reducing post-harvest disease losses in fruits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Postharvest Preservation and Quality of Fruits and Vegetables)

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16 pages, 3711 KB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Prolonged Frozen Storage on ‘Mejhoul’ Date Palm Cultivar Based on Selected Qualitative Characteristics

by Younes Noutfia, Ewa Ropelewska, Justyna Szwejda-Grzybowska, Zbigniew Jóźwiak, Monika Mieszczakowska-Frąc and Krzysztof P. Rutkowski

Horticulturae 2025, 11(7), 731; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11070731 - 24 Jun 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1491

Abstract

In contrast to previous studies investigating the effect of freezing at low temperatures, this work aimed to evaluate the quality of ‘Mejhoul’ during the long-term storage of 8 months under freezing at −10 °C and −18 °C. Based on numerous physicochemical attributes and image features, the behavior of ‘Mejhoul’ was assessed at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 months of frozen storage. The quality characteristics examined included polyphenols, sugars, color parameters, hardness, water loss, defects, and image features. The results exhibited a significant increase in water activity after eight months of frozen storage. pH increased in a similar way for both storage conditions, while titratable acidity decreased significantly. All color attributes (L*, a*, and b*) were not influenced by frozen storage, while hardness decreased significantly after eight months. Phenolic acids decreased significantly at the end of frozen storage for both freezing temperatures. However, total polyphenols, flavonoids, total sugars, glucose, and fructose were not affected by the prolonged frozen storage. Furthermore, this investigation showed a slight water gain at both storage temperatures, with a pronounced occurrence rate of skin separation for ‘Mejhoul’ stored at −18 °C. Finally, the clustering analysis exhibited a high linkage distance between the examined groups at frozen storage at −10 °C compared to −18 °C. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Postharvest Preservation and Quality of Fruits and Vegetables)

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15 pages, 1720 KB

Open AccessArticle

Timing Matters, Not Just the Treatment: Phenological-Stage-Specific Effects of Seaweed and Ethanol Applications on Postharvest Quality of ‘Tarsus Beyazı’ Grapes

by Güzin Tarım, Sinem Karakus, Nurhan Keskin, Harlene Hatterman-Valenti and Ozkan Kaya

Horticulturae 2025, 11(6), 656; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060656 - 10 Jun 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1355

Abstract

In the context of increasing consumer demand for high-quality, residue-free fruits and the growing emphasis on sustainable postharvest technologies, identifying effective, eco-friendly treatments to maintain grape quality during storage has become a critical focus in modern viticulture. Over the course of this study, we examined the influence of seaweed extract (derived from Ascophyllum nodosum) and ethanol-based postharvest treatments on the postharvest quality of the ‘Tarsus Beyazı’ grape. The seaweed extract was applied at six specific phenological stages according to the BBCH scale: BBCH 13 (3rd–4th leaf stage, 0.40%), BBCH 60 (first flower sheath opening, 0.50%), BBCH 71 (fruit set, 0.50%), BBCH 75 (chickpea-sized berries, 0.50%), BBCH 81 (start of ripening, 0.60%), and BBCH 89 (harvest maturity, 0.60%). After harvest, grape clusters were subjected to four different postharvest treatments: untreated control, control + ethanol (20% ethanol immersion for 10 s), seaweed extract alone (preharvest applications only), and seaweed extract + ethanol (combining both preharvest and postharvest treatments). Grapes were stored at 0–1 °C and 90–95% RH for three weeks, followed by a shelf-life evaluation period of three days at 20 °C and 60–65% RH. The findings revealed that seaweed treatments, especially when applied during cluster formation and berry development, effectively mitigated physiological deterioration, preserving stem turgidity and enhancing berry firmness. In contrast, ethanol showed variable responses, occasionally exerting negative effects, with only marginal benefits observed when applied at optimal developmental stages. Both the type and timing of application emerged as critical determinants of key quality attributes such as weight loss, decay incidence, and must properties (TSS, pH, TA). Correlation and heat map analyses indicated the interrelationships among these parameters and the differential impacts of treatments. These results suggest that phenological-stage-specific seaweed applications hold significant potential as a sustainable strategy to extend the storage life and maintain the market quality of ‘Tarsus Beyazı’ grapes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Postharvest Preservation and Quality of Fruits and Vegetables)

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15 pages, 2200 KB

Open AccessArticle

Moringa-Based Coating Preserves Organic Acids and Antioxidant Compounds of ‘Ester’ Granadilla Fruit Exocarps During Storage

by Yaone C. Moseki, Nkanyiso J. Sithole, Sbulelo Mwelase, Bonga L. Ngcobo and Khayelihle Ncama

Horticulturae 2025, 11(4), 363; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11040363 - 27 Mar 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2620

Abstract

The marketability of fresh granadilla (Passiflora edulis) fruit is significantly reduced by oxidation reactions occurring in its exocarp, which is not directly linked to the organoleptic quality of its arils. However, organic means of mitigating this are not topical in research. This study investigated the potency of moringa (Moringa oleifera)-based coating to preserve antioxidant compounds in granadilla. Physiologically mature fruit of equal size were assigned to a completely randomized design experiment at the North-West University Farm Laboratory. The fruit samples were coated with 2% xanthan gum (commercial coating), 2% moringa, or 2% rosemary coating and kept at shelf-life conditions (25 ± 2 °C; 40 ± 5%RH) for 5 weeks while sampling at weekly intervals. Correlations between the measured parameters were confirmed prior to regression analysis. Significant (p < 0.05) differences were observed in weekly changes in the exocarp pH, total antioxidant compounds (TAO), tartaric acid (TA), malic acid (MA), and citric acid (CA). At the end of storage, the moringa- and xanthan-coated fruit had the highest exocarp pH (7.8) and TAO (0.87 mg/g). Moringa-coated fruit had higher TA and MA (6.0 and 5.36 µg/g, respectively) as well as a significantly higher CA (0.51 µg/g) preserved than the other coatings. Strong correlations between MA and TAO (r > 0.82), as well as TA and TAO (r > 0.86), indicated the potency of developing TAO estimation models using multivariate data from the organic acids. Pre-processed data regression models were developed but were limited by the amount of data collected. Models developed similarly can be used for sustainable TAO assessment as a latent variable to minimize toxic waste that results from wet chemistry analyses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Postharvest Preservation and Quality of Fruits and Vegetables)

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