Change in color and other fruit quality characteristics of tomato cultivars after hot-air drying at low final-moisture content.

The present study aimed to evaluate the drying quality of three tomato cultivars (Amoroso, Berlinto and Messina) at low final-moisture content. Tomatoes were cut into slices and hot-air-dried from 92% (wet basis) to 12% final moisture content at 55 degrees C, 65 degrees C and 75 degrees C at 1.5 m/sec air flow. Color, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA) and ascorbic acid (AA) content were measured in both fresh and dried tomatoes. Brightness of the dried tomato slices was significantly decreased, while intensity of the red and yellow colors and brightness of the red color (a*/b*) increased. Low overall color change (DeltaE) was obtained at the lowest drying temperature (55 degrees C). Messina and Amoroso showed a higher a* value and lower DeltaE, respectively. The TSS content was increased, while the TA and AA contents were decreased through drying. This study shows that it is possible to hot-air dry tomato slices to a final moisture content of 12% maintaining quality that is comparable with studies where the final-moisture content was higher (15% or more).

Two-phase flavonoid formation in developing strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) fruit.

Flavonoids are important secondary metabolites in strawberry as they fulfill a wide variety of physiological functions. In addition, they are beneficial for human health. Previous studies have shown for selected enzymes from the flavonoid pathway that flavonoid biosynthesis shows two peaks during fruit development. We provide optimized protocols for the determination of the activities of the key flavonoid enzymes: phenylalanine ammonia lyase, chalcone synthase/chalcone isomerase, flavanone 3-hydroxylase, dihydroflavonol 4-reductase, flavonol synthase, flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase, and flavonoid 7-O-glucosyltransferase. Using these protocols we were able to demonstrate two distinct activity peaks during fruit ripening at early and late developmental stages for all enzymes with the exception of flavonol synthase. The first activity peak corresponds to the formation of flavanols, while the second peak is clearly related to anthocyanin and flavonol accumulation. The results indicate that flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase activity is not essential for redirection from flavanol to anthocyanin formation in strawberry.