How Does the Agro-Ecological Conditions Grown Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) Affect the Fruit Quality Traits and Bioactive Compounds during Shelf Life?

Abstract

The kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa cv. 'Hayward'), which shows climacteric characteristics, continues to ripen after harvest. In this process, quality losses occur in fruits, and this causes economic losses. The post-harvest storage conditions are essential in preventing these losses. The main purpose of this study was to assess the effect of agro-ecological conditions on quality traits and bioactive compounds of the kiwifruit throughout the shelf life. In this study, kiwifruit grown in 5 different locations (Ordu, Giresun, Rize, Samsun, and Yalova) constituted the plant material of the study. The fruits treated with modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) were stored at 0 +/- 0.5 C-degrees and 90 +/- 5% relative humidity (RH) for 150 days in cold storage. For shelf life measurements, fruits were kept at 20 +/- 1 C-degrees and 65 +/- 5% RH for 5 d. Quality analysis was performed at monthly intervals (at harvest, 30th, 60th, 90th, 120th, and 150th d). In this study, the lowest respiration rate at the end of the shelf life was measured in kiwifruit grown in Yalova. Flesh firmness was higher in kiwifruit grown in Rize, Ordu, and Giresun than Samsun. In all periods, Yalova's L* value in flesh was higher than that of Ordu. The opposite situation was observed for the hue angle. The soluble solids content (SSC) values measured in Samsun and Yalova were higher than in Ordu and Rize. In the last four measurements, higher vitamin C was detected in Yalova than in Ordu, Rize and Giresun. In all periods, the highest total phenolics and antioxidant activity (in DPPH assay) were obtained in kiwifruit grown in Yalova. On the contrary, the highest flavonoids were measured in kiwifruit grown in Ordu. As a result, it was revealed that agro-ecological conditions may affect the quality traits and bioactive compounds of kiwifruit.