Skip to main content

Heat treatment effects on chilling injury and disease incidence in sweet orange fruits stored at chilling and non-chilling temperatures

Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety volume 14, pages 365–375 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Citrus chilling injury causes 25% postharvest losses by shortening its storage life and lowers its market value in developed countries. In citrus fruits, chilling injury is characterized by increased moisture loss and disease susceptibility. The present study was conducted with the objective to evaluate the effects of pre-storage heat treatments (HTS: control, 5, 10, 15 and 20 min), heat treatment methods (HTM: wet heat treatment [WHT], vapor heat treatment [VHT]), and exposure temperatures (ET: chilled [2.5 °C], non-chilled [10 °C]) on citrus fruits (cv. Blood Red having sour orange rootstock) during 2015–2016 at the University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan. Sweet orange fruits and fruit discs of 10 mm diameter were simultaneously treated with WHT and VHT. The heat treated fruits and fruit discs were separated into two lots. One lot was held at non-chilling temperature (10 ± 1 °C), while the other lot was exposed to chilling temperature (2.5 ± 1 °C) for 75 days and packed in fiber board packages. The fruits and fruit discs after 75 days storage at both storage temperatures (10 ± 1 °C and 2.5 ± 1 °C) were incubated at ambient temperature for 7 days (simulated marketing time) and analyzed for different chilling injury parameters. Heat treatment periods (HTS), exposure temperature (ET) and their interactions (HTS × ET) showed significant (p ≤ 0.05) differences for the majority of the traits. The interaction of HTS × HTM was significant (p ≤ 0.05) for weight loss and surface pitting. However, heat treatment methods (HTM) and interaction of ET × HTM × HTS was significant for surface pitting and weight loss, respectively. The non-chilled (10 ± 1 °C) fruits revealed lower weight loss (6.80%), surface pitting (4.40%), disease incidence (7.07%), disease expansion (3.97 mm), ion leakage (15.77%) while the ascorbic acid increased (32.38 mg 100 g−1). However, chilling (2.5 °C) triggered the increase in weight loss (8.32%), surface pitting (16.13%), disease incidence (14.59%), lesion diameter (10.37 mm) and ion leakage (27.96%) in sweet orange. Heat treatments with WHT and VHT for 5–10 min resulted in reduced weight loss (6.07%), surface pitting (3.33%), disease incidence (2.00%), disease expansion (5.00 mm) and ion leakage (20.23%) in sweet oranges. Heat treatments with WHT and VHT for 15–20 min, accelerated the fruit senescence by increasing the weight loss (8.98%), surface pitting (15.67%), disease incidence (15.33%), disease expansion (8.33 mm) and ion leakage (23.62%). In comparison to heat treatment methods, highest weight loss (7.57%), surface pitting (11.53%), ion leakage (21.94%) and disease incidence (10.86%) were recorded in VHT, whereas WHT treatments had lowest weight loss (7.55%), surface pitting (9.00%), ions leakage (21.80%) and disease incidence (10.79%). Therefore, modest WHT pre-storage heat treatment (5–10 min) is recommended for storage of sweet orange.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Acosta RM, Neito AD, Mena NGV, Vaquera HH, Teliz OD, Nieto AR, Pichakum A (2000) Effect of post-harvest temperatures on the development of internal darkening in mango fruits (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Haden and their quality. Acta Hortic 509:401–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Obeed RS, Harhash MM (2006) Impact of postharvest treatments on storage life and quality of Mexican Lime. J Adv Agric Res 11:533–549

    Google Scholar 

  • Antonio AL, Takavoshi A, Tetsuya T (2004) Inhibition of chilling injury and quality changes in pineapple fruit with pre-storage heat treatment. J Food Agric Environ 2:81–86

    Google Scholar 

  • AOAC (1995) Official methods of analysis. Analytical chemist, 15th edn. AOAC, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Arendse E (2014) Determining optimum storage conditions for pomegranate fruit (cv. Wonderful). M.Sc thesis, Stellenbosch University, South Africa

  • Arpaia ML, Kader AA (2009) Orange: recommendation for maintaining quality. Postharvest Fact Sheet. University of California, Davis, Davis

    Google Scholar 

  • D’hallewin G, Schirra M (2000) Structural changes of epicuticular wax and storage response of ‘Marsh’ grapefruits after ethanol dips at 21 and 50 °C. In: Proceedings of the 4th international conference on postharvest, pp 441–442

  • Darshani W, Adikaram NKB (2005) Some biochemical factors underlying the differential susceptibility of two pineapple cultivars to internal browning disorder. Ceylon J Sci Biol Sci 34:7–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Erkan M, Pekmezci M, Wang CY (2005) Hot water and curing treatments reduce chilling injury and maintain post-harvest quality of ‘Valencia’ oranges. Int J Food Sci Technol 40:91–96

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghazvini RF, Moghaddam JF (2007) Citrus growing in Iran, 2nd edn. University of Guilan Press, Rasht, p 305

    Google Scholar 

  • Hassan ZH, Lesmayati S, Qomariah R, Hasbianto A (2014) Effect of wax coating applications and storage temperatures on the quality of tangerine citrus (Citrus reticulata L.) var. Siam Banjar. Int J Chem Biol Sci 5:67–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Joyce DC, Hockings PD, Mazucco RA, Shorter AJ, Brereton IM (2003) Heat treatment injury of mango fruit revealed by nondestructive magnetic resonance imaging. Postharvest Biol Technol 3:305–311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katsuhara M, Otsuka T, Ezaki B (2005) Salt stress-induced lipid peroxidation is reduced by glutathione S-transferase, but this reduction of lipid peroxides is not enough for a recovery of root growth in Arabidopsis. Plant Sci 169:369–373

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaul RK, Saini SPS (2000) Compositional changes during storage and concentration of kagzi lime juice. J Sci Ind Res 59:395–399

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan GA, Rab A, Sajid MS (2007) Effect of heat and cold treatments on post- harvest quality of sweet orange cv. Blood Red. Sarhad J Agric 1(23):39–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurets VK, Drozdov SN, Dembo EG, Khilkov NI, Trofimova SA (2003) Effect and after effects in respiration of intact plants. Russ J Plant Physiol 50:308–312

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ladaniya MS (2004) Citrus: postharvest cold chain. In: Dris R, Niskane R, Jain SM (eds) Crop management and postharvest handling of horticultural products. Fruits and vegetables, 2nd edn. Science Publishers Inc, Plymouth, pp 239–276

    Google Scholar 

  • Lafuente MT, Zacarias L, Sala JM, Sánchez-Ballesta MT, Gosalbes MT, Marcos JF, González-Candelas L (2005) Understanding the basis of chilling injury in citrus fruit. Acta Hortic 682:831–842

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lopez CJ, Corrales GJ, Terrazas ST, Colinas LT (2010) Effect of saturated air heat treatments on weight loss reduction and epicuticular changes in six varieties of cactus pear fruit (Opuntia spp.). J Prof Assoc Cactus Dev 12:37–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Mao L, Pang H, Wang G (2007) Phospholipase D and lipoxygenase activity of cucumber fruit in response to chilling stress. Postharvest Biol Technol 44:42–47

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maul P, McColluma G, Guy CL, Porat R (2011) Temperature conditioning alters transcript abundance of genes related to chilling stress in ‘Marsh’ grapefruit flavedo. Postharvest Biol Technol 60:177–185

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Monem F (2005) The Daily Nation, 11th January, 2005 Lahore, Pakistan

  • Perez-Tello GO, Martinez-tellez MA, Vargas-arispuro I, Gonzalez-Aguilar GA (2009) Chilling injury in mamey sapote fruit (Pouteria sapota): biochemical and physiological responses. Am J Agric Biol Sci 4:137–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • PHDEB (2008) Pre-feasibility study cold storage. In: Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board (PHDEB), Pakistan

  • Plaza P, Usall J, Torres R, Lamarca N, Asensio A, Vinas I (2003) Control of green and blue mould by curing on oranges during ambient and cold storage. Postharvest Biol Technol 28:195–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porat R, Pavoncello D, Peretz J, Ben-Yehoshua S, Lurie S (2000) Effect of various heat treatments on the induction of cold tolerance and on the postharvest qualities of Star Ruby grapefruit. Postharvest Biol Technol 18:159–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porat R, Vinokur V, Weiss B, Cohen L, Daus A, Goldschmidt EE, Droby S (2003) Induction of resistance to Penicillium digitatum in grapefruit by β-aminobutyric acid. Eur J Plant Pathol 109:901–907

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ritenour MA, John-Karuppiah KJ, Pelosi RR, Burton MS, McCollum TG, Brecht JK, Baldwin EA (2003) Response of Florida grapefruit to short duration heat treatments using vapor heat or hot water dips. Proc Fla State Hortic Soc 116:405–409

    Google Scholar 

  • Saltveit ME (1989) A kinetic examination of ion leakage from chilled tomato pericarp discs. Acta Hortic 258:617–622

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saltveit ME, Peiser G, Rab A (2004) Effect of acetaldehyde, arsenate, ethanol, and heat-shock on protein synthesis and chilling sensitivity of cucumber radicles. Physiol Plant 120:556–562

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sapitnitskaya M, Maul P, Mccollum GT, Guy CL, Weiss B, Samach A, Porat R (2006) Postharvest heat and conditioning treatments activate different molecular responses and prevent chilling injuries on grapefruit. J Exp Bot 57(12):2943–2953

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schirra M, Hallewin GD, Ben-Yehoshua S, Fallik E (2000) Host–pathogen interactions modulated by heat treatment. Postharvest Biol Technol 21:71–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steel RGD, Torrie JH, Dickey DA (1997) Principles and procedures of statistics, 3rd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Viachonasios KE, Kadyrzhanov DK, Dilley DR (2001) Heat treatment prevents chilling injury of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) fruits: heat shock genes and heat shock proteins in the resistance of tomato to low temperature. Acta Hortic 553:543–548

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang CY (2000) Post-harvest techniques for reducing low temperature injury in chilling sensitive commodities. In: Artés F, Gil MI, Conesa MA (eds) Improving postharvest technology of fruits, vegetables and ornamentals. IIR conference Murcia, Spain, pp 467–473

  • Wang CY, Bowen JE, Weir IE, Allan AC, Ferguson IB (2001) Heat-induced protection against death of suspension-cultured apple fruit cells exposed to low temperature. Plant Cell Environ 24:1199–1207

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Yuan X, Jin Z, Tian Y, Song H (2007) Free radical and reactive oxygen species scavenging activities of peanut skins extract. Food Chem 104:242–250

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wongsheree T, Ketsa S, Vandoorn WG (2009) The relationship between chilling injury and membrane damage in lemon basil (Ocimum × citriodorum) leaves. Postharvest Biol Technol 51:91–96

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Woolf AB, Wexler A, Prusky D, Kobiler E, Lurie S (2000) Direct sunlight influences postharvest temperature responses and ripening of five avocado cultivars. J Am Soc Hortic Sci 125:370–376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu JZ, Zhang ZQ (2001) Storage and process of fruits and vegetables. Chemical Industry Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang Q, Rao J, Yi S, Meng K, Wu J, Hou Y (2012) Antioxidant enzyme activity and chilling injury during low-temperature storage of kiwi fruit cv. Hongyang exposed to gradual postharvest cooling. Hortic Environ Biotechnol 53:505–512

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu JW, Xie QY, Li HY (2006) Occurrence of imazalil-resistant biotype of Penicillium digitatum in China and the resistant molecular mechanism. J Zhejiang Univ Sci A 7:362–365

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Haripur, Haripur, Pakistan

    Ijaz Hussain, Shah Masaud Khan, Naushad Ali, Muhammad Saeed, Sher Aslam Khan & Sardar Ali

  2. Department of Horticulture, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan

    Abdur Rab

  3. Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan

    Naqib Ullah Khan

  4. Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan

    Zarina Bibi

  5. Department of Botany, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan

    Ghulam Dastagir

  6. Department of Agriculture, Hazara University, Mansehra, Pakistan

    Muhammad Sajid

Authors
  1. Ijaz Hussain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Abdur Rab
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Naqib Ullah Khan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zarina Bibi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Shah Masaud Khan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Naushad Ali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Muhammad Saeed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Sher Aslam Khan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Sardar Ali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Ghulam Dastagir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Muhammad Sajid
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Naqib Ullah Khan.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hussain, I., Rab, A., Khan, N.U. et al. Heat treatment effects on chilling injury and disease incidence in sweet orange fruits stored at chilling and non-chilling temperatures. J Consum Prot Food Saf 14, 365–375 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00003-019-01230-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00003-019-01230-8

Keywords

  • Heat treatments and methods
  • Wet and vapor heat treatments
  • Chilling and non-chilling temperature
  • Chilling injury
  • Postharvest losses
  • Citrus sinensis L.