Quality changes of pomegranate arils throughout shelf life affected by deficit irrigation and pre-processing storage

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of sustained deficit irrigation (SDI, 78% less water supply than the reference evapotranspiration, ET0) compared to a control (100% ET0) on the physicochemical and sensory qualities and health-promoting compounds of pomegranate arils stored for 14days at 5°C. Prior to processing, the fruits were stored for 0, 30, 60 or 90days at 5°C. The effect of the pre-processing storage duration was also examined. Physicochemical and sensory qualities were kept during the storage period. Arils from SDI fruit had lower punicalagin-α and ellagic acid losses than the control (13% vs 50%). However, the anthocyanin content decreased during the shelf-life (72%) regardless of the treatment. The ascorbic acid slight decreased. Arils from SDI experienced glucose/fructose ratio loss (19%) lower than that of the control (35%). In general, arils from SDI showed better quality and health attributes during the shelf-life than did the control samples.

Keywords: Anthocyanins; Antioxidants; Ascorbic acid (PUbChem CID: 54670067); Chlorogenic acid (PUbChem CID: 1794427); Cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside (PUbChem CID: 441688); Cyanidin 3-O-glucoside (PUbChem CID: 441667); Dehydroascorbic acid (PUbChem CID: 440667); Delphinidin-3,5-diglucoside (PUbChem CID: 10100906); Delphinidin-3-O-glucoside (PUbChem CID: 443650); Minimally processed; P-coumaric acid (PUbChem CID: 1549106); Pelargonidin-3,5-di glucoside (PUbChem CID: 441772); Pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside (PUbChem CID: 443648); Phenolics; Sugars; Vitamin C.