Production Practices and Quality Assessment of Food Crops

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-ix

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2. Application of Sensitive Trace Gas Detectors in Post-harvest Research

   • S. T. Persijn, J. Oomens, Qingxu Yu, F. J. M. Harren, Rofandi Hartanto, Suparmo et al.

   Pages 1-16

3. Radio Frequency Post-Harvest Quarantine and Phytosanitary Treatments to Control Insect Pest in Fruits and Nuts

   • Shaojin Wang, Juming Tang

   Pages 17-53

4. Calcium, Polyamine and Gibberellin Treatments to Improve Postharvest Fruit Quality

   • Maríia Serrano, Domingo Martínez-Romero, Mirna Zuzunaga, Fernando Riquelme, Daniel Valero

   Pages 55-68

5. Ionization of Fruits and Vegetables for Fresh Consumption

   • J. R. Martinez-Solano, P. Sanchez-Bel, E. Olmos, E. Hellin, F. Romojaro, M. C. Martinez-Madrid

   Pages 69-94

6. Treatments and Techniques to Minimise the Postharvest Losses of Perishable Food Crops

   • Elhadi M. Yahia, Catherine Barry-Ryan, Ramdane Dris

   Pages 95-133

7. Strategies for the Regulation of Postharvest Fruit Softening by Changing Cell Wall Enzyme Activity

   • Gabriel O. Sozzi

   Pages 135-172

8. Postharvest Treatment of Fruits

   • Etelka Kovácas

   Pages 173-212

9. Postharvest Treatments of Satsuma Mandarin (Citrus Unshiu Marc.) for the Improvement of Storage Life and Quality

   • Tomislav Jemriić, Nikola Pavičić

   Pages 213-227

10. Sprouting Radioinhibition: A Method to Extend the Storage of Edible Garlic Bulbs

    • G. A. Orioli, C. A. Croci, C. N. Pellegrini

    Pages 229-259

11. Post-Harvest Processing of Fruits and Vegetables by Ionizing Radiation

    • Arun Sharma

    Pages 261-265

12. Desinfestation of Fresh Horticultural Commodities by Using Hot Forced Air with Controlled Atmospheres

    • Lisa G. Neven

    Pages 297-315

We can not talk about commodity production without building up all the operations after harvest. It is possible to market the products just after harvest, but it is only possible in small quantities. Postharvest handling is the ultimate stage in the process of producing quality fresh fruits and vegetables, getting these unique packages of water (fresh commodities) to the supper table. Fresh fruits and vegetables are succeptible to a number of postharvest disease and disorders and the postharvest operations are predominately aimed at maintaining harvest quality. Every step in the handling chain can influence the extent of disease and quality of the stored product. From planting to consumption, there are many opportu- ties for bacteria, viruses, and parasites to contaminate produce or nutrient deficiency level causing physiological disorders. Most of the storage rots are diseases that have originated in the field and have carried over onto commodities after harvest. Physiological disorders also arise from poor handling between harvest, storage and marketing. Treatments have a direct effect on inactivating or outright killing germinating spores, thus minimising rots. Prestorage treatment appears to be a promising method of postharvest control of decay. Pre-or-postharvest treatments of commodities are considered as potentiel alternatives for reducing the incidence of diseases, disorders, desinfestation of quarantine pests and for preserving food quality. Postharvest treatments lead to an alteration of gene expression and fruit ripening can sometimes be either delayed or disrupted.

• Calcium
• Lipid
• atmosphere
• enzyme
• enzymes
• food
• processing

• World Food Ltd., Helsinki, Finland

  Ramdane Dris

• FAO/IAEA Joint Division, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria

  Shri Mohan Jain

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