title: Characterisation and functionality of fructo-oligosaccharides affecting water status of strawberry fruit (Fragraria vesca cv. Mara de Bois) during postharvest storage.
abstract: Water status and analyses of free sugars, sugar-alcohols and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) were carried out in Fragaria x vesca treated with different high CO(2) concentrations applied to minimise damage caused by storage at 0°C. The thermodynamic parameters such as the amount of unfrozen water (U(w)), T(g), T(g)('), and peak position of the O-H stretching vibration were determined in various saccharides including FOS (1-kestose, nystose and kestopentaose) by infrared spectroscopy studies and differential scanning calorimetry. Beneficial high CO(2) treatment (20%) avoided the reduction of unfreezable water fraction and increased endogenous FOS levels, in contrast to that observed in air-stored and in those exposed to higher CO(2) levels (40%). The direct FOS-water interaction, possibly within the hydrogen-bond network of cellular structures, could explain the maintenance of water status, cell integrity and the low water leakage levels in 20% CO(2)-treated fruit at values similar to those found in freshly harvested fruit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Characterization, Quality and Security, Institute of Food Science Technology and Nutrition (ICTAN-CSIC), Jose Antonio Novais 10, Madrid 28040, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blanch
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Goñi
authors.forename: María T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Ballesta
authors.forename: María I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Escribano
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Merodio
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D005519:Food Preservation; D061353:Food Storage; D031985:Fragaria / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000378:metabolism*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D009844:Oligosaccharides; D014867:Water; D002245:Carbon Dioxide