IONNY THE NEW INNOVATIVE STORAGE METHOD WITHOUT CHEMICAL TREATMENTS

Buglia L. , Fadanelli L. , Mattè P. , Pedrazzini A.

(1) Fruit Control Equipments, via R. Luxemburg 55, 20085 Locate di Triulzi (MI) Italy

(2) Centro di Trasferimento Tecnologico FEM-IASMA via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all'Adige (TN) Italy

INTRODUCTION

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSIONS

IONNY® showed superior performance in these comparative preservation tests;

The treatment of the air allowed to reduce the microbial load ensuring a lower presence of deteriorated fruit;

IONNY® has a positive impact on the fruit quality parameters;

The technique avoiding the use of chemical treatments during storage;

At the same time it extends the fruit shelf life, preserving value of the produce and lowering costs with economic benefits for the producer.

REFERENCES

Table n. 1: Species and times of control.

In 2012, this technique was further tested on berries by our company with the support of the Centro di Trasferimento Tecnologico FEM-IASMA Institute of S. Michele all'Adige (TN), on 6 differents species (Table n. 1). The Table n. 2 describes the storage techniques and the preservation parameters. Several storage techniques were compared and important ripening parameters: produce quality (RSR, total acidity, hardness, pH); weight loss; color (during the shelf life); disease incidence (Table n. 3) and air cleanliness (ethylene and CFU). The preservation strategies were statistically analyzed in order to identify significant difference between the two thesis: Thesis 1 IONNY® and Thesis 2 Not Treated (NT).

Table n. 2: Description of the thesis and storage parametres.

Table n. 3: Physio-pathological controls.

Figure n. 2: Disease incidence on blueberry.

Figure n. 3: Disease incidence control at the end of the storage.

Figure n. 4: Refractive index (°Brix) trend on raspberry.

Figure n. 5: Hardness trend (Kg/cm²) on strawberry.

The reults obteined in the 2012 (Figure n. 2), show in the Thesis 1 (IONNY®) a lower percentage of fruit subject to deteriorated and whitered fruit than Thesis 2 (Not Treated). IONNY® allows optimal resuts also during the physio-pathological controls (Figure n. 3) and the qualitative analysis (Figure n. 4 and n. 5). Infact, IONNY® presents a minimum decrease of refractive index. After 7 days of shelf life, the value of the hardness in the Thesis 1 with air treatment has presented a higher index than Thesis 2 with the only refrigeration.

Figure n. 6: Color control (brightness/brillance) on redcurrant.

Figure n. 7: Color control (brightness/brillance) on strawberry.

Figure n. 8: Acidity trend (ml NaOH) on blackberry.

Figure n. 9: Ripening index trend on blackberry.

Figure n. 1: Ionny® the new clean storage technique.

El Gaouth, A. 1997. Biologically based alternatives to synthetic fungicides for the control of postharvest diseases. Journal Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology 19:160-162.

Smulders, J.M. and Upmann, M. 2001. Reduction of microbial contamination. Fleischwirtshaft Int. 2:57-59.

The color analysis has provided more satisfactory results in the Thesis 1 with IONNY®: Figures n. 6 and n. 7 (redcurrant and strawberry). IONNY® showed superior performance also for the acidity trend (ml NaOH) with a minimum and costant decrease (Figure n. 8) during the preservation. Furthemore the graphic about the ripening index trend (Figure n. 9) represents other positive aspects about IONNY®: at the end of preservation period in these comparative tests the initial and final values differ slightly without significant statistical differences.

(1) (2) (1) (1)

Considering the increasing requirement to eat natural and residue-free fruits and vegetables and to limit the use of post-harvest chemical treatments, (El Ghaouth, 1997), FCE introduces into the market a new clean storage technique: IONNY®. The treatment of the air inside the storage room, which takes care to the produce by reducing the microbial load and by effectively keeping under control the main post-harvest dieseases and physiological disorders. The application is the subject of this research in order to assess their effectiveness in preservation of fruit characterized by a high perishability.

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