Nectarines, a popular pit fruit closely related to peaches, are renowned for their nutritional value and associated health benefits. However, challenges arise in maintaining optimal organoleptic properties during harvest and handling, eventually leading to production waste and heterogeneous quality in the fruit that arrives to the consumer. This study investigates the impact of nectarine position on trees during the whole ripening process using non-destructive near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Nectarines exposed to more sunlight mature faster and this influences sugar content and acidity, emphasising the significance of considering height, prominence and orientation in ripening dynamics of the fruit. Different data unfolding strategies were compared, using ANOVA-Simultaneous Component Analysis (ASCA) to reveal the significance of in-tree position factors at different ripening stages, and observing high significance at harvest. This underscores the necessity for growers and handlers to consider these factors for reducing waste. NIR spectroscopy, with adequate data analysis, is a valuable tool for the holistic analysis of fruit ripening, providing crucial insights for maintaining optimal fruit organoleptic properties from harvest to consumer.
Programa Estatal de Generación de Conocimiento y Fortalecimiento Científico y Tecnológico del Sistema de I+D+i y de I+D+i Orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad. Proyectos de I+D+i Retos Investigación 2017-2020
Funding program action:
Ciencias y tecnologías de alimentos
Acronym:
ALLFRUIT4ALL
Project code:
PID2019-104269RR-C33 and PID2019-104269RR-C31 / MICIU / AEI / 10.13039/501100011033
Founding program 2:
Secretaria d'Universitats i Recerca del Departament d'Empresa i Coneixement de la Generalitat de Catalunya
Project code 2:
2020 FISDU 00221
Founding program 3:
Contratos de personal investigador predoctoral en formación
Founding program action 3:
Universitat Rovira i Virgili - Banco Santander
Project code 3:
2021PMF-BS-12
Description:
Nectarines, a popular pit fruit closely related to peaches, are renowned for their nutritional value and associated health benefits. However, challenges arise in maintaining optimal organoleptic properties during harvest and handling, eventually leading to production waste and heterogeneous quality in the fruit that arrives to the consumer. This study investigates the impact of nectarine position on trees during the whole ripening process using non-destructive near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Nectarines exposed to more sunlight mature faster and this influences sugar content and acidity, emphasising the significance of considering height, prominence and orientation in ripening dynamics of the fruit. Different data unfolding strategies were compared, using ANOVA-Simultaneous Component Analysis (ASCA) to reveal the significance of in-tree position factors at different ripening stages, and observing high significance at harvest. This underscores the necessity for growers and handlers to consider these factors for reducing waste. NIR spectroscopy, with adequate data analysis, is a valuable tool for the holistic analysis of fruit ripening, providing crucial insights for maintaining optimal fruit organoleptic properties from harvest to consumer.