Kyriacou M C, Emmanouilidou M G, Soteriou G A
Postharvest Technology Laboratory, Agricultural Research Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Fruit Trees Department, Agricultural Research Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Food Chem. 2016 Nov 15;211:598-607. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.05.113. Epub 2016 May 17.
Physicochemical and physiological ripening events in cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) fruit of cultivars 'Ntopia' and 'Hercules' were profiled against skin coloration from mature-green (S1) to over-mature (S5). Fructose and glucose accumulation were linear in 'Ntopia' but peaked near S3 in 'Hercules' synchronously to the appearance of sucrose. Betalains increased steadily in 'Ntopia' (103.2mg/l) but peaked before full skin coloration in 'Hercules' (49.7mg/l); whereas phenolic content remained invariable and ascorbate content peaked near S5 in both 'Ntopia' (108.6μg/g) and 'Hercules' (163.1μg/g). Cell wall material diminished with maturity though textural changes with ripening appeared not related to pectin solubilization but to weakening of glycan bonding and loss of neutral sugars. Fruit firmness rather was correlated to seed weight (r=0.89) and seed-to-pulp ratio (r=0.73). Cultivar differences highlighted in the chronology of ripening events are critical for defining optimum harvest maturity and postharvest handling protocols for premium quality cactus pear fruit.
针对‘Ntopia’和‘Hercules’品种仙人掌梨（Opuntia ficus-indica）果实从成熟绿色（S1）到过熟（S5）的果皮着色情况，对其物理化学和生理成熟事件进行了分析。在‘Ntopia’中，果糖和葡萄糖积累呈线性，但在‘Hercules’中，果糖和葡萄糖积累在S3附近达到峰值，与蔗糖出现同步。在‘Ntopia’中，甜菜色素稳步增加（103.2mg/l），但在‘Hercules’中，甜菜色素在果皮完全着色前达到峰值（49.7mg/l）；而在‘Ntopia’（108.6μg/g）和‘Hercules’（163.1μg/g）中，酚类物质含量保持不变，抗坏血酸含量在S5附近达到峰值。细胞壁物质随成熟度降低，尽管成熟过程中的质地变化似乎与果胶溶解无关，而是与聚糖键的减弱和中性糖的损失有关。果实硬度反而与种子重量（r = 0.89）和种子与果肉比例（r = 0.73）相关。成熟事件时间顺序中突出的品种差异对于确定优质仙人掌梨果实的最佳采收成熟度和采后处理方案至关重要。
