Thesis
INFLUENCE OF CULTIVATION PRACTICES AND STORAGE CONDITIONS ON POLYPHENOL CONTENT AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY IN APPLES
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
07/2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000007040
Abstract
Polyphenols, bioactive compounds widely present in fresh produce, including apples, offer significant health benefits such as gut modulatory, anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidant effects, and weight management. As global obesity rates rise, their prominence in fruits and vegetables makes them ideal targets for weight management interventions. Apples are the most consumed fruit in the U.S. and serve as a primary source of dietary polyphenols. However, environmental influences, agricultural practices, and post-harvest storage can influence polyphenol content in apples. Given that apples undergo storage for several months before reaching consumers, preserving their quality and nutritional value is crucial. This research aimed to assess the impact of cultivation practices and long-term commercial storage conditions, including refrigerated air and controlled atmosphere, on polyphenol contents in three apple varieties: ‘Granny Smith,’ ‘Cripps Pink,’ and ‘WA 38’. The results reveal that apple peels consistently exhibit higher levels of total polyphenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity compared to the flesh across all cultivars, both before and after 24 weeks of storage. The levels of TPC were influenced by apple cultivar, cultivation practices (organic vs. conventional production systems), and storage conditions. Notably, ‘Granny Smith’ apples maintain stable TPC levels in both flesh and peels during storage, while TPC levels in ‘WA 38’ and ‘Cripps Pink’ apple peels experience declines with storage. Furthermore, conventionally grown apples generally exhibit better preservation of phytochemicals during storage than their organic counterparts. These findings offer valuable insights into how cultivation practices and storage conditions influence apple polyphenols, providing potential strategies for enhancing the nutritional quality of apples and optimizing fruit preservation techniques.
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Details
- Title
- INFLUENCE OF CULTIVATION PRACTICES AND STORAGE CONDITIONS ON POLYPHENOL CONTENT AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY IN APPLES
- Creators
- Daniella Cara du Toit
- Contributors
- Meijun Zhu (Chair)Franck Carbonero (Committee Member)Carolyn F Ross (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- School of Food Science
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 96
- Identifiers
- 99901152438401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis