Chronica Horticulturae volume 49 number 2 ... - Acta Horticulturae

The participants of Postharvest Unlimited 2008 in front of the main building of the Agricultural Faculty at Humboldt University to Berlin.
Lunch break and poster presentation took place in the Thaer Atrium.
New Zealand, presented his lecture about fruit
genomics and postharvest fruit quality. The
increasing availability of genomic data for
major fruit crops is supporting the drive to
develop new and novel fruit cultivars with consumer-driven
attributes. These are changing
from the traditional properties of taste and texture,
to those which have most appeal in international
markets, including human health
attributes, novelty, such as new colours and
appearance, and convenience, including properties
such as peelability and controlled ripening
(ready-to-eat).
S2: Postharvest physiology and metabolomics:
the interaction of postharvest
scenarios with biochemical and physiological
aspects and processes: Two invited lectures
were given in this session: “Effect of
postharvest conditions and treatments on
health-related quality of vegetables and fruits”
by Dr. Gunnar B. Bengtsson, Matforsk As,
Norway, and “Ripening regulation and postharvest
fruit quality” by Dr. Josef Streif, Kompetenzzentrum
für Obstbau Bodensee, Ravensburg,
Germany.
Bengtsson described that a large intake of vegetables
and fruits reduces the risk of several
chronic diseases. The health-promoting effects
could be due to physiologically active constituents
among the thousands of phytochemicals,
in addition to nutrients, that are present.
Experiments with cell cultures, animal models
and humans have revealed specific bioactivities.
A direct antioxidant effect in the body may be
insignificant for phytochemicals that are antioxidants
in vitro. Instead, health-promoting phytochemicals
can act by other mechanisms, e.g.
induce phase II enzymes in drug metabolism,
modulate intracellular signalling pathways,
inhibit tumour growth or initiate apoptosis in
cancer cells.
Dr. Streif showed that fruit ripening is a highly
regulated process with coordinated genetic and
metabolic events, leading to essential changes
in gene expression, physiology, biochemistry
and anatomy. These complex regulatory events
transform a physiologically mature but inedible
fruit into an edible, tasty product. Innovations
in CA technology like dynamic controlled
atmospheres (DCA) and/or the use of the chemical
ethylene inhibitor (1-MCP) are new tools for
the enhancement and preservation of quality
and health promoting components in climacteric
fruit. In future, postharvest researchers will
be challenged to meet consumer requirements
with fruit that is well flavoured and nutritious.
CHRONICA HORTICULTURAE •VOL 49 • NUMBER 2 • 2009 • 45