F. Şen’s research while affiliated with Ege University and other places

Background Plant growth regulators have been widely used to extend the cold storage period of fruits and preserve quality. These phytohormones help mulberry fruit in maintaining its postharvest quality and soft texture, prevent from spoiling during cold. For this purpose, mulberry fruit were stored in cold for 5, 10 and 15 day (0.5 °C and 90% RH) and the impacts of melatonin (1.0 mM) and putrescine (1.0 mM) on quality parameters, phenolic compounds (gallic, protocatechuic, catechin, syringic, p-coumaric, chlorogenic, o-coumaric, ferulic, phloridzin, rutin and quercetin) and organic acids (malic, citric, succinic, oxalic, tartaric, fumaric and ascorbic) were investigated. Results The combined application of putrescine and melatonin maintained the weight loss (4.35%), decay rate (9.48%) and 29.89% lower respiration rate (6.07 mg CO2 kg− 1 h− 1) in mulberry fruits stored for 15 d as compared to the control. Phenolic compounds (especially rutin) and organic acids were found to be more affected by melatonin and putrescine applications compared to other findings in this study. However, melatonin treatment is more effective in maintaining the level of organic acids and phenolic compounds in mulberry fruit during storage than the putrescine. It was determined that soluble solids content, weight loss, decay rate and pH values had a positive relationship with each other. Also, it was also seen that phenolic compounds and organic acids had a linear relationship. Conclusion The combined application of melatonin and putrescine was found more effective in maintaining the quality parameters of mulberry fruits during cold storage.

To manage anaerobic digestion residues (digestate) sustainably, it is important to determine their agricultural properties. In the present study, the effects of two digestate fractions (solid and liquid) on processing tomato yield parameters, quality traits, health-related compounds and some fruit physiological disorders were evaluated. The solid and liquid digestate fractions were compared with chemically fertilized and unfertilized control to evaluate the potential of the digestate as a fertilizer. A 2-year experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design, with three replications and using two tomato varieties: cv. ‘Arte F 1 ’ and cv. ‘Zeplin F 1 ’. The results indicated that (1) compared with chemical fertilizer, the solid digestate produced equal or even better results in terms of fruit size, yield parameters (solid digestate treatment increased the total fruit weight per plant by an average of 30.7, 8.2 and 22.4% in 2019 and 25.3, 14.2 and 17.9% in 2022 compared with control, chemical fertilizer and liquid treatments, respectively) and percentage of fruit affected by sunscald and blossom-end rot in both years; (2) use of liquid digestate led to similar or significantly higher fruit size, yield parameters and percentage of fruit affected by sunscald and blossom-end rot than control in both years and (3) use of both solid and liquid digestate fractions significantly maintained or improved fruit quality in terms of colour traits, pericarp thickness, dry matter content, total soluble solid content, titratable acidity, pH, vitamin C and antioxidant activity. However, the effects of solid and liquid digestate fractions varied with year and variety.

Background Owing to its high perishability, the market life of nectarine fruit is very short. Cold storage is a principal approach to limit post-harvest quality loss in nectarines. The objective of this research was to evaluate the impact of postharvest methyl jasmonate (MeJA), salicylic acid (SA) and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on quality properties of nectarine fruit, specifically weight loss, firmness, phenolics and antioxidant activity, following cold storage and subsequent shelf life. Fruit immersed in water were considered as control. The fruit were stored at 0 ± 0.5 °C and 90 ± 5% RH for 56 d, then kept at 20 ± 0.5 °C and 70 ± 5% RH for 2 d in shelf life. Results The results demonstrated that single or combined treatments of MeJA, SA and 1-MCP were effective on quality characteristics. During cold storage, fruit treated with MeJA + 1-MCP (3.66%) and SA + 1-MCP (3.54%) exhibited lower weight loss than the control (4.08%). In the final two measurements of storage, the flesh firmness of fruit treated with SA + 1-MCP (54.5 and 54.06 N, respectively) was higher than that of the control. At the end of cold storage, the SA + 1-MCP treatment (17.4%) exhibited higher soluble solids than the control (15.37%) and SA (15.20%) treatments. However, the total phenolics content was found to be higher in nectarine fruit treated with single SA than in the control, as well as in fruit treated with SA + 1-MCP and single 1-MCP. Wooliness in fruit treated with 1-MCP, SA and MeJA was found to be lower than in the control, while fruit had higher acceptance. Conclusions As a result, the SA + 1-MCP and MeJA + 1-MCP treatments were more efficacious in retarding the weight and firmness decline of nectarine fruit during storage. Also, it was revealed that 1-MCP, SA and MeJA could be employed as efficacious instruments in nectarine fruit with respect to wooliness and acceptance, which influence consumer preferences.

Bu çalışmada, modifiye atmosfer paketleme (MAP) ve 1-metilsiklopropen (1-MCP) ‘Farfia’ kayısı çeşidi meyvelerinin hasat sonrası dayanımlarına etkilerinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışma; a) Kontrol, b) MAP, c) 1-MCP, d) MAP + 1-MCP, e) RipeLock™ MAP ambalaj + 1-MCP olacak şekilde beş farklı uygulama gerçekleştirilmiştir. 1-MCP, 24 saat 625 ppb olarak uygulanmıştır. ‘Farfia’ kayısı çeşidine ait meyveler 8 hafta süreyle 0°C’de %90 nemde depolanmıştır. Depolama öncesi ve süresince 2 haftalık periyotlarla alınan örneklerde ambalajların ağzı açılarak 2 gün raf ömründe (20°C) bekletildikten sonra ağırlık kaybı, renk, meyve eti sertliği, suda çözünür kuru madde miktarı, asitlik, pH, toplam fenol miktarı, antioksidan aktivitesi, solunum hızı, etilen salınımı, duyusal değerlendirme ve çürüklük gelişimi belirlenmiştir. MAP’ın yer aldığı uygulamalar, kayısı meyvelerinin ağırlık kaybını depolama ve raf ömrü süresince önemli derecede azalttığı görülmüştür. Meyve eti sertliğinin korunmasında, MAP ile 1-MCP’nin birlikte uygulamaları etkili olmuştur. MAP’ın yer aldığı uygulamalarda meyvelerin solunum hızları daha düşük bulunmuştur. MAP ve 1-MCP’nin teksel ve birlikte uygulanmaları kayısı meyvelerinin etilen salınımını yavaşlatmıştır. Çalışma sonucunda MAP ile 1-MCP’nin birlikte yapıldığı uygulamalardaki ‘Farfia’ kayısı meyvelerinin 42 gün başarıyla saklanabileceği saptanmıştır.

Background Post-harvest losses cause significant product losses in the world, which leads to food waste. Therefore, it is of great importance for people to have access to sufficient amounts of products by increasing the storage period of fruits with applications such as post-harvest calcium chloride (CaCl2). In this study, the effect of calcium chloride (CaCl2) on physical quality parameters and bioactive contents of stored strawberry fruit (Albion cv.) was investigated. Accordingly, strawberries were treated with 2%, 4% and 6% CaCl2 before storage and stored for 15 days (0 ± 0.5 °C and 90 ± 5% RH). Analyses and measurements were conducted every 5 days during the storage period.Weight loss, decay rate, soluble solids content (SSC), acidity, pH, respiration rate, organic acids (malic, citric, ascorbic, fumaric, oxalic, succinic and tartaric) and phenolic compounds (catechin, chlorogenic, ferulic, gallic, o-coumaric, p-coumaric, protocatechuic, quercetin, rutin and syringic) were analyzed as quality parameters during storage. Results In the study, in general, the best values were observed in 6% CaCl2-treated fruits in terms of weight loss, SSC, TA, decay and respiration rates, although they varied according to different storage periods. Similarly, in terms of phenolic compounds, organic acids and vitamin C, 6% CaCl2-treated fruits had significantly better prevention of quality losses. In addition, the most common phenolic compound of strawberry fruits was gallic acid, followed by chlorogenic acid and catechin, respectively. On the other hand, the predominant organic acid observed in the fruits was malic acid, followed by citric acid, succinic acid and oxalic acid, respectively. Conclusions In this study, it was observed that CaCl2 applications more effectively prevented weight loss and decay rate by reducing the respiration rate compared to the control group at the end of the storage period (15th day). It was concluded that, particularly, the 6% CaCl2 dose can be used as an important treatment to extend storage life by preserving fruit quality and biochemical changes.

In this study, the effectiveness of two organomineral formulations (OMF I and OMF II) on the growth, yield, kernel quality and health-related compounds of sweet corn were evaluated. OMFs were compared with chemically fertilized and unfertilized control to evaluate their effects as a basic fertilizer source. Field experiments were conducted using a randomised complete block design, with three replications over 2 years. Two cultivars (cv. ‘Sentinel’ and cv. ‘Khan’) were used as plant material. The results indicated that (1) compared to control, the application of organomineral and chemical fertilizers resulted in improvements in most growth, yield and quality traits of sweet corn in both cultivars; (2) use of organomineral fertilizers led to similar or significantly higher than chemical fertilizer in plant height, leaf number per plant, ear size, ear weight, ear yield (husked and de-husked) and total soluble solids. However, these effects showed responses that varied with type of organomineral fertilizer or cultivar; (3) use of OMF I treatment with cv. ‘Khan’ significantly improved ear size, ear weight, ear yield (husked and de-husked), colour traits, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity compared to other treatments.

Blackberry deteriorates rapidly after harvest due to its sensitive structure, limiting their storage time to about a week and resulting in significant economic losses. The study was conducted to determine the effects of salicylic acid applications on postharvest fruit quality in blackberries, the harvested fruit was immersed in salicylic acid solutions prepared at concentrations of 0.5, 1, and 1.5 mM for 15 min. Measurements and analyses such as weight loss, decay rate, soluble solids contents (SSC), pH, acidity, respiration rate, vitamin C, organic acids, and phenolic compounds were performed on fruits stored for 12 days with intervals of 4 days. Applying salicylic acid to fruits resulted in significantly less weight loss and decay rate. Salicylic acid application was effective in increasing SSC rate and decreasing titratable acidity with increasing storage time, and lower SSC and higher titratable acidity were measured with this application. Salicylic acid maintained organic acids and vitamin C postharvest. The decreases in individual phenolic compound levels occurred with extended storage time. Salicylic acid application generally was effective in maintaining concentrations of phenolic compounds during storage, and it was found to be effective on fruit quality, with effectiveness varying depending on application dosage. The study identified 1.5 mM as the most effective dosage of salicylic acid, which could be utilized to maintain postharvest quality and extend cold storage in blackberries.

Bu çalışmada, hasat öncesi dönemde sanayi tipi fasulyelerde yapraktan yapılan biyostimülant uygulamalarının (tek başına veya kalsiyum ile birlikte), bakla verimi, ıskarta oranı ve bakla kalitesine etkilerinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Fasulye bitkilerine yapraktan biyostimülant (Enza Nutri Activ; NA) uygulaması hasattan 2 ve/veya 1 hafta önce (2H; 2 hafta, 1H; 1 hafta, 2+1 H; 2 ve 1 hafta) tek başına veya kalsiyum ile kombine edilerek (NA 2H, NA 1H, NA 2+1H, NA+Ca 2H, NA+Ca 1H, NA+Ca 2+1H ve Ca) yedi farklı uygulama yapılmıştır. Uygulama yapılmayan fasulye bitkileri kontrol olarak kabul edilmiştir. Hasat edilen fasulyelerde bitki başına bakla sayısı, bakla ağırlığı, verim, ıskarta oranı, baklanın fiziksel özellikleri, rengi, klorofil miktarı ve duyusal özellikleri belirlenmiştir. Hasatta NA+Ca 2+1H ve NA 2H uygulamaları toplam ve işlenebilir verimi kontrole göre sırasıyla ortalama %22.66 ve %22.10 oranında arttırmıştır. Uygulamaların baklanın rengine, klorofil miktarı ve bazı fiziksel özelliklerine önemli bir etkisi olmamıştır. Hasattan 2 hafta önce tek uygulama ile hasattan 2 ve 1 hafta önce iki kez yapılan uygulama arasında verim bakımından belirgin bir farklılık olmamıştır. Bu nedenle, uygulama kolaylığı ve ekonomik olmasından dolayı tek uygulama tercih edilmelidir. Sonuç olarak sanayi tipi fasulyelerde hasattan 2 hafta önce biyostimülantın tek başına veya Ca ile birlikte uygulanması toplam ve işlenebilir verimi arttırdığı için önerilmektedir.

In this study, it was aimed to impact the effect of different post-harvest treatments on the shelf life of banana fruits of 'Dwarf Cavendish' banana cultivar after storage and ripening. 1) Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), 2) 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) + MAP, 3) Three different treatments (MAP + ethylene absorbent (EA)) were applied and only those using macro-aperture PE packaging were considered as control. Banana fruits were stored at 13°C and 90% RH for 30 days. Quality analyses were performed on samples taken at 10-day intervals. After 30 days of storage, the banana fruits were ripened to the ripeness level of No.3 and quality changes were determined after 4 days of shelf life. The treatments significantly limited the color change, softening of the peel and flesh, increased total soluble solids (TSS), ethylene secretion and respiration rate, especially in the last period of storage compared to the control. Green bananas treated with 1-MCP + MAP showed the best results during storage, but ripening problems were experienced. MAP + EA treatment delayed the coloration of banana fruits, softening of the flesh and increases in the TSS content during shelf life. MAP + EA treatment gave the best results both in terms of storage of banana fruits at green maturity and their resistance after ripening.

Bu araştırmada, ‘Alphonse Lavallée’ üzüm çeşidinin depolanmasında kullanılan ambalajlardaki farklı orandaki açıklıkların muhafaza süresince üzümlerin kalitesine, kükürt dioksit (SO2) zararı, patolojik ve fizyolojik bozuklukları etkilerinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Hasat yapılan üzümler ‰0, ‰0.5, ‰1 ve ‰2 açıklık olan ambalajlara yerleştirilerek ön soğutması yapılmış, SO2 jenaratörleri yerleştirilerek ağızları kapatılmıştır. Üzümler 0±0.5°C sıcaklık ve %90-95 oransal nemde 4 ay süreyle depolanmış, aylık alınan örneklerde; ambalaj içi SO2 konsantrasyonu ve bazı kalite değişimleri belirlenmiştir. Depolama sonunda ‰0, ‰0.5, ‰1 ve ‰2 açıklık olan ambalajlardaki üzüm tanelerinde SO2 miktarı sırasıyla 24.83, 20.00, 6.00 ve 0.00 mg kg-1 olarak saptanmıştır. Açıklık bulunmayan (‰0) ambalajdaki üzüm tanelerinde, özellikle depolamanın sonunda SO2 miktarında artışa bağlı olarak SO2 zararında artış, renk değişikliği, yumuşama, beğeni puanları ve fenol miktarında azalışlar gözlenmiştir. ‰2 açıklık bulunan ambalajlardaki üzümlerinde ise salkım esmerleşme puanları daha yüksek bulunmuştur. Sonuçlar, ‘Alphonse Lavallée’ üzüm çeşidinin uzun süreli depolamada ‰1 açıklığa sahip ambalajlarda daha başarılı bir şekilde depolanabileceğini göstermiştir.