Native to the southeastern United States, the muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia Michx.) is commonly grown for its unique flavor, high nutraceutical content, and pest and disease resistance, which is often a limiting factor in the production of bunch grapes (Vitis spp.) (Conner, 2009; Silva et al., 1994; Striegler et al., 2005; Walker et al., 2001). This native grape is currently grown in small commercial vineyards and home plantings, ranging from North Carolina and Florida to eastern Oklahoma and Texas. The recent recognition that the muscadine berries are important sources of beneficial antioxidants has increased consumer demand (Perkins-Veazie et al., 2012; Striegler et al., 2005). Additionally, alternative crops, including muscadines, are being explored by growers in the South as a means of increasing profits or diversifying farm operations (Conner, 2009). Three of the major limiting factors on fresh-market production of muscadines are uneven ripening, short harvest season, and high perishability of the fruit (James et al., 1999; Morris, 1980; Perkins-Veazie et al., 2012).
Many variables contribute to muscadine storability, including berry maturity, texture (crispness), weight loss, decay, shriveling, browning, leakage, and amount of dry stem scars. Muscadines harvested at physiologically ripe maturity have been shown to successfully store for 2 to 3 weeks (Perkins-Veazie et al., 2012; Takeda et al., 1982). To maintain adequate quality, muscadines should be stored from 1 to 5 °C with 85% to 95% relative humidity (RH) (Lutz, 1938; Silva et al., 1994; Takeda et al., 1983; Walker et al., 2001). The use of sulfur dioxide storage treatment on the quality of bunch grapes is cultivar-specific and with muscadines not reliably beneficial (Ballinger and Nesbitt, 1982a, 1982b; Conner and Maclean, 2012; James et al., 1997, 1999; Lane, 1978; Lane and Flora, 1980; MacLean et al., 2009; Morris et al., 1992; Smit et al., 1971).
Although it is well known that fungicide applications benefit other fruits and vegetables, including other Vitis species, little is known about the effect of field fungicide applications on storability and nutraceutical content of muscadines (Smith, 2013). It has been shown that field fungicide applications improved the shelf life of ‘Doreen’, ‘Hunt’, ‘Magnolia’, ‘Nevermiss’, and ‘Summit’ muscadine grapes, but ‘Cowart’ was unaffected (Lane, 1978; Smith and Magee, 2002). Additionally, fungicide pre-storage treatment was ineffective in managing decay during storage, although microbial spoilage was the major factor contributing to postharvest deterioration (Takeda et al., 1982). Field fungicide applications have been shown to increase resveratrol concentrations in V. vinifera wine grapes but reduce resveratrol concentrations in muscadines (Jeandet et al., 1995; Magee et al., 2002). The effects of field fungicide applications on other nutraceutical compounds in muscadines are unknown.
Muscadine grapes contain phenolic acids, flavonols, anthocyanins, ellagic acid, and numerous ellagic-acid derivatives (Boyle and Hsu, 1990; Huang et al., 2009; Lee et al., 2005; Pastrana-Bonilla et al., 2003; Stringer et al., 2009; Talcott and Lee, 2002). Ellagic acid and other antioxidants have been shown to demonstrate anticarcinogenic activity in the colon, lungs, and liver as well as a reduction of birth defects in rats and mice and two forms of colon cancer in humans (Ector, 2001; Yi et al., 2005). Polyphenolic concentrations usually increase in muscadines as fruit ripens (Lee et al., 2005) and are higher in wine than in unfermented juices extracted from berries with identical fruit pressing procedures (Musingo et al., 2001; Talcott and Lee, 2002). Research has shown that muscadine grapes possess one of the highest antioxidant levels among fruit crops (Greenspan et al., 2005). Some of these components of muscadines have been shown to have anticancer, antimutagen, and anti-inflammatory properties and to reduce levels of glucose, insulin, and glycated hemoglobin in people with diabetes (Banini et al., 2006; Bralley et al., 2007; God et al., 2007; Greenspan et al., 2005; Yi et al., 2005).
Since the implementation of a muscadine breeding program at the University of Arkansas in 2005, selections have been made based on flower type, fruit size, time of ripening, hardiness, improved texture, and dry stem scar. Although increased crispiness and a greater percentage of dry stem scars have been observed, it is unknown whether there has been a true improvement in postharvest quality of muscadines. Nutraceutical levels in muscadines vary among genotypes (breeding selections and cultivars) (Marshall et al., 2012), but no information has been collected on the nutraceutical content of the University of Arkansas breeding selections.
The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of field applications of fungicides on the storage performance, physicochemical attributes, and nutraceutical concentrations of muscadine grapes and to develop a postharvest evaluation protocol for Arkansas muscadine genotypes for potential commercial use.
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