Preharvest culture systems and postharvest factors synergistically improved the antioxidant property of minimally processed corn salad (Valerianella olitoria L.) during cold storage

To maximize the initial quality going to storage and maintain the postharvest antioxidant property of the minimally processed corn salad, the synergistic effects of culture systems (traditional soil culture system [TCS] vs. soilless culture system [SCS]), washing practices (unwashed vs. washed), pac...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lijuan Zhan, Yamin Fan, Emanuela Fontana, Giorgio Tibaldi, Silvana Nicola
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1468986/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846091410792513536
author Lijuan Zhan
Yamin Fan
Emanuela Fontana
Giorgio Tibaldi
Silvana Nicola
author_facet Lijuan Zhan
Yamin Fan
Emanuela Fontana
Giorgio Tibaldi
Silvana Nicola
author_sort Lijuan Zhan
collection DOAJ
description To maximize the initial quality going to storage and maintain the postharvest antioxidant property of the minimally processed corn salad, the synergistic effects of culture systems (traditional soil culture system [TCS] vs. soilless culture system [SCS]), washing practices (unwashed vs. washed), packaging methods (flow pack bag [FPB] vs. flow pack tray [FPT]), and storage temperatures (4°C vs. 8°C) on the antioxidant property of minimally processed corn salad (Valerianella olitoria L.) was investigated during 7 days of storage. The results showed that SCS-grown corn salad contained significantly higher levels of total ascorbic acid (TAA) (25.6%), ascorbic acid (AA) (17.5%), total phenols (TP) (57.0%), and antioxidant capacity (AC) (67.0%), but lower levels of chlorophyll and carotenoid than TCS. TAA, AA, and TP were the main contributors to AC, with highly positive correlations between them. Washing practice induced a transient increase in AC value only on processing day (d0). The AC value was significantly higher in SCS-grown leaves than in TCS-grown leaves during the storage period. FPT packaging had a considerable impact on pigments preservation and DHA generation, which was highly culture system-depended. The storage temperature showed no significant influence on overall quality. Browning enzyme (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase [PAL], polyphenol oxidase [PPO], peroxidase [POD]) activities were significantly influenced by factors tested and changed over time. However, no visible browning spots were observed at the end of storage. After 7 days of storage, all leaves were still fresh and marketable with the largest fresh weight loss of 0.38%. Conclusively, the synergism of SCS, washing practice, and FPT favored obtaining high-quality raw material at harvest and maintaining the postharvest antioxidant property of minimally processed corn salad during storage. This unique finding not only offers an innovative and feasible strategy for the fresh-cut industry to produce higher-quality products that meet the growing expectations and demands of modern consumers, but also emphasizes the significance of integrating preharvest and postharvest factors within the fresh supply chain.
format Article
id doaj-art-156142e32b7f436fa63401915a8d4082
institution Kabale University
issn 2571-581X
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
spelling doaj-art-156142e32b7f436fa63401915a8d40822025-01-10T06:10:39ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2025-01-01810.3389/fsufs.2024.14689861468986Preharvest culture systems and postharvest factors synergistically improved the antioxidant property of minimally processed corn salad (Valerianella olitoria L.) during cold storageLijuan Zhan0Yamin Fan1Emanuela Fontana2Giorgio Tibaldi3Silvana Nicola4College of Food Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University (HAU), Zhengzhou, ChinaCollege of Food Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University (HAU), Zhengzhou, ChinaDepartment of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), University of Turin (UNITO), Grugliasco, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), University of Turin (UNITO), Grugliasco, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), University of Turin (UNITO), Grugliasco, ItalyTo maximize the initial quality going to storage and maintain the postharvest antioxidant property of the minimally processed corn salad, the synergistic effects of culture systems (traditional soil culture system [TCS] vs. soilless culture system [SCS]), washing practices (unwashed vs. washed), packaging methods (flow pack bag [FPB] vs. flow pack tray [FPT]), and storage temperatures (4°C vs. 8°C) on the antioxidant property of minimally processed corn salad (Valerianella olitoria L.) was investigated during 7 days of storage. The results showed that SCS-grown corn salad contained significantly higher levels of total ascorbic acid (TAA) (25.6%), ascorbic acid (AA) (17.5%), total phenols (TP) (57.0%), and antioxidant capacity (AC) (67.0%), but lower levels of chlorophyll and carotenoid than TCS. TAA, AA, and TP were the main contributors to AC, with highly positive correlations between them. Washing practice induced a transient increase in AC value only on processing day (d0). The AC value was significantly higher in SCS-grown leaves than in TCS-grown leaves during the storage period. FPT packaging had a considerable impact on pigments preservation and DHA generation, which was highly culture system-depended. The storage temperature showed no significant influence on overall quality. Browning enzyme (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase [PAL], polyphenol oxidase [PPO], peroxidase [POD]) activities were significantly influenced by factors tested and changed over time. However, no visible browning spots were observed at the end of storage. After 7 days of storage, all leaves were still fresh and marketable with the largest fresh weight loss of 0.38%. Conclusively, the synergism of SCS, washing practice, and FPT favored obtaining high-quality raw material at harvest and maintaining the postharvest antioxidant property of minimally processed corn salad during storage. This unique finding not only offers an innovative and feasible strategy for the fresh-cut industry to produce higher-quality products that meet the growing expectations and demands of modern consumers, but also emphasizes the significance of integrating preharvest and postharvest factors within the fresh supply chain.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1468986/fullculture systemfresh-cut chaintotal phenolsantioxidant capacityenzyme activityshelf-life
spellingShingle Lijuan Zhan
Yamin Fan
Emanuela Fontana
Giorgio Tibaldi
Silvana Nicola
Preharvest culture systems and postharvest factors synergistically improved the antioxidant property of minimally processed corn salad (Valerianella olitoria L.) during cold storage
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
culture system
fresh-cut chain
total phenols
antioxidant capacity
enzyme activity
shelf-life
title Preharvest culture systems and postharvest factors synergistically improved the antioxidant property of minimally processed corn salad (Valerianella olitoria L.) during cold storage
title_full Preharvest culture systems and postharvest factors synergistically improved the antioxidant property of minimally processed corn salad (Valerianella olitoria L.) during cold storage
title_fullStr Preharvest culture systems and postharvest factors synergistically improved the antioxidant property of minimally processed corn salad (Valerianella olitoria L.) during cold storage
title_full_unstemmed Preharvest culture systems and postharvest factors synergistically improved the antioxidant property of minimally processed corn salad (Valerianella olitoria L.) during cold storage
title_short Preharvest culture systems and postharvest factors synergistically improved the antioxidant property of minimally processed corn salad (Valerianella olitoria L.) during cold storage
title_sort preharvest culture systems and postharvest factors synergistically improved the antioxidant property of minimally processed corn salad valerianella olitoria l during cold storage
topic culture system
fresh-cut chain
total phenols
antioxidant capacity
enzyme activity
shelf-life
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1468986/full
work_keys_str_mv AT lijuanzhan preharvestculturesystemsandpostharvestfactorssynergisticallyimprovedtheantioxidantpropertyofminimallyprocessedcornsaladvalerianellaolitorialduringcoldstorage
AT yaminfan preharvestculturesystemsandpostharvestfactorssynergisticallyimprovedtheantioxidantpropertyofminimallyprocessedcornsaladvalerianellaolitorialduringcoldstorage
AT emanuelafontana preharvestculturesystemsandpostharvestfactorssynergisticallyimprovedtheantioxidantpropertyofminimallyprocessedcornsaladvalerianellaolitorialduringcoldstorage
AT giorgiotibaldi preharvestculturesystemsandpostharvestfactorssynergisticallyimprovedtheantioxidantpropertyofminimallyprocessedcornsaladvalerianellaolitorialduringcoldstorage
AT silvananicola preharvestculturesystemsandpostharvestfactorssynergisticallyimprovedtheantioxidantpropertyofminimallyprocessedcornsaladvalerianellaolitorialduringcoldstorage