U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Bai, Jinheitem
                                            WU, PINSHAN - CHINESE ACADEMY INSP QUARitem
                                            Manthey, Johnitem
                                            Goodner, Kevinitem
                                            Baldwin, Elizabeth

                                                         - *Liz*
  Submitted to: Postharvest Biology and Technology
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 7/10/2008
                                    Publication  Date: 1/1/2009
                                    Citation: Bai, J., Wu, P., Manthey, J., Goodner, K., Baldwin, E. 2009. Effect of harvest maturity on quality of fresh-cut pear salad. Postharvest Biology and Technology. 51:250-256.Interpretive Summary: Pear quality if problematic since if pears are harvested early enough to be firm, they lack flavor, but if harvested later, they are thought to be too soft for shipping and handling and especially for processing into a fresh-cut product. This research compares two harvest maturities, commercial and a later harvest where the pear is more ripe and soft, for the purpose of a fresh-cut product for a fruit salad. Results showed that the later harvested fresh-cut pear was preferred by panelists, despite being softer, due to its superior flavor.
                                Technical Abstract: Texture of an unripe pear is firm and crisp, similar to an apple. However, at the crisp stage, the flavor of pears is flat. This study evaluated the effect of harvest maturity on the quality of fresh-cut pear salad. Fruit were harvested at commercial maturity and one month delayed. After 2 and 5 months (1 and 4 months for delayed-harvest fruit) of storage at -1 °C, fruit were sliced  into 8-12 wedges per fruit, dipped in an anti-browning solution, packaged in zip-lock bags and stored at 1 °C for up to 21 days.  Delayed-harvest fruit were larger in size ( ̃ 20% increase in weight), had lower flesh firmness ( ̃ 17% decrease), lower titratable acidity content ( ̃ 20% decrease), and lower phenolic content ( ̃ 45 and 13% decreases in pulp and peel, respectively). There was no significant difference in soluble solids content. After 2 months of storage, ethylene production and respiration rate were initially lower in the slices from delayed-harvest fruit, but tended to become similar after 7 days in storage at 1 °C. Delayed-harvest fruit had lower hydroxycinnamic acids and flavanols, and higher ester, alcohol, and aldehyde volatile compounds after 2-5 months of storage. The results indicated that fruit salad produced with delayed-harvest pears has less browning potential and better flavor. Sensory evaluation results showed that about 80% of the panel liked slices from delayed-harvest fruit over commercial harvested, especially in terms of visual quality (65-85%), sweetness (75-95%), taste (70-80%), and overall quality (75-80%) during 21 days of storage at 1°C. The cut surface of slices appeared dry in delayed-harvest fruit when processed after 5 months in storage. However, sensory evaluation showed that panels still preferred the delayed-harvest fruit.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov