title: Postharvest evaluation of soilless-grown table grape during storage in modified atmosphere.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Soilless growth systems, developed mainly for vegetables and ornamental crops, have also been used recently as an alternative to soil culture for table grape in order to achieve optimal production performance. In this study, sensory, physical and chemical parameters were analysed in table grapes obtained from soil and soilless growth systems at harvest and during storage in air or modified atmosphere.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At harvest, soilless-grown berries were 30% firmer than those grown in soil. Moreover, they showed 60% higher antioxidant activity and total phenol content than soil-grown fruits. Modified atmosphere storage resulted in a better quality of table grapes compared with those stored in air. Furthermore, soilless growth was more suitable than soil growth for preserving visual quality and controlling rachis browning and weight loss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since the soilless system produces berries that are cleaner and of higher quality than those grown in soil, the implementation of soilless growth for the production of health-promoting and convenience fruits is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sciences of Food Production, CNR-National Research Council of Italy, Via G. Amendola 122/O, I-70126 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cefola
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pace
authors.forename: Donato
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buttaro
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Santamaria
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Serio
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000032:analysis; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D005511:Food Handling; D018857:Food Packaging; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000382:microbiology; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018527:Hydroponics; D007558:Italy; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D010858:Pigmentation; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D011786:Quality Control; D012677:Sensation; D027843:Vitis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D010636:Phenols; D002734:Chlorophyll