The quality of leafy vegetables has to be guaranteed for consumers over the whole postharvest period, usually limited to 5-7 days. The analyses to evaluate the quality of vegetables are very time- and resource consuming, so the use of qualitative markers can be much useful. The aim of this work was to evaluate the use of thermoluminescence (TL) parameters as qualitative markers of fresh-cut leafy vegetables during the shelf life. TL is a technique consisting of a cooling, followed by the progressivewarming, of a preilluminated sample to reveal the different types of charge pairs as successive emissionbands, which are resolved better than the corresponding decay phases recorded at constant temperature. Experiments were performed on rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia L.) stored at 2 C for 7 days. During storage, several changes in TL glow curves were found. The position of the peaks showed a shift to higher temperature. The area of the peaks, relating to the photosystem II (20-65 C), grew up lightly;whereas in the temperature range that detects lipidic peroxidation (65-140 C), the TL emission became more than twice. These changes demonstrated that, during the shelf life, a progressive destabilization of PSII centres occurred and that lipid peroxidation products were accumulated in membranes. TL could be used to estimate the damages immediately after as well as during the storage period. Thisis the first time that TL was used to evaluate the quality of fresh-cut vegetables products during the shelf life.

The chemical characterization of phenolic ex- tracts of salad burnet (Sanguisorba minor Scop. s.l.) and broomrape (Orobanche crenata Forsk.) was performed. Active fractions were separated and characterized and, in the case of O. crenata, two phenolic compounds, verbascoside and is- overbascoside, were quantitatively extracted, purified and characterized. These compounds proved to be effective in reducing the growth of some important fungi responsible for the decay of fresh fruit and vegetables in postharvest. Ver- bascoside showed significant activity against Penicillium italicum, fairly inhibited Monilinia laxa, P. expansum, and Aspergillus carbonarius, and showed little activity against Botrytis cine- rea, M. fructicola and P. digitatum. Isoverbasco- side completely inhibited B. cinerea, P. digitatum, P. italicum, and P. expansum; it fairly inhibited M. laxa and A. carbonarius; while it showed to be less effective against M. fructicola. The obtained results support the possible use of some wild edible plants as a source of phenolic substances for the postharvest biological control of fresh fruit and vegetable rots.

Artichoke hybrids propagated by seed have been recently introduced on markets and often represent a valid alternative to traditional vegetatively propagated cultivars. This paper deals with the biochemical evaluation of five artichoke hybrids propagated by seed ('Opera', 'Opal', 'Symphony', 'Madrigal', and 'Romolo') compared to the rooted offshoot propagated 'Violetto di Provenza'. On the edible part of buds, picked in the first decade of March in each year, HPLC polyphenolic patterns, phenol and inulin content, and antioxidant activity were evaluated. 'Opera' and 'Opal' showed the highest total phenol content (about 700-800 mg 100 g-1 f.w.) and antioxidant activity values; whereas, 'Romolo' showed the lowest content (about 350 mg 100 g-1 fw), even compared to 'Violetto di Provenza' (about 380 mg 100 g-1 fw). 'Opera' and 'Opal' showed an inulin content (2.5 and 2.4 g 100 g-1 fw, respectively) significantly higher than other cultivars. Variations in the range ±10% were recorded for each cultivar between the two years. The obtained results could give useful indication on the suitability of the evaluated cultivars for different commercial uses, i.e., fresh consumption and/or processing.

Olive oil production generates large amounts of recalcitrant compounds, the olive oil mill wastewater (OMWW), which represent one of the most contaminating effluents among those produced by the agrofood industries. Nowadays, this view has changed to one that recognizes the waste as a lowcost starting material rich in bioactive compounds, particularly biophenols, that can be extracted and applied as natural antioxidants for the food and pharmaceutical industries. The data reported in this paper indicate that the OMWW extracts, besides low molecular weight antioxidant phenolics such as tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol, also contain phenolics with a molecular weight in the range of 600-5000 Da, which exhibit efficient scavenging activities against hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals. This group of phenolics includes, besides verbascoside, isoverbascoside, and an oxidized form of verbascoside, a number of higher molecular weight phenolics arising from oxidative polymerization of hydroxytyrosol and caffeic acid. Overall, these higher molecular weight phenolics prove to be, in some in vitro tests, more efficient scavengers of hydrophilic hydroxyl radicals than hydroxytyrosol, which could be used for industrial applications as natural nontoxic antioxidants.

The antioxidant and anticancer properties of polyphenols present in plants and several beverages (i.e red wine, green tea) have been largely explored in the literature. Within the framework of RiSaNA (Local Products with Healthy Properties to Obtain New Functional Foods) project, financed by the Italian National Research Council, we performed an in vitro analysis of polyphenolic extracts prepared from two Mediterranean cultivars: artichoke (Violetto di Provenza variety) and apple (Annurca variety) on human hepatoma cell line (HepG2). Polyphenolic content and antioxidant power of extracts were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu and FRAP assays. Using crystal violet staining, we showed that apple extract reduced cell viability up to 40% at a concentration of 500 µg/ml. In the case of artichoke extract, the strong reduction in cell viability (up to 60%) registered at the highest concentration tested (> 850 µg/ml) was partially attributable to the production of hydrogen peroxide in cell culture medium. In addition, we reported a slight reduction of intracellular ROS (reactive oxygen species) in HepG2 cells treated with apple extracts, suggesting their ability to interfere with ROS homeostasis in regulating cell death. In particular, following exposure of 250 ?g/ml of apple polyphenolic extract we observed morphological characteristic of type II cell death (autophagy), while lower concentrations (25-50 ?g/ml) were able to reduce clonogenic survival in HepG2 cells.

High water activity (aw) can affect maintenance and quality of semi-dry products during storage. In the present work, the evolution of physico-chemical, biochemical, and microbiological parameters of semi-dry tomato in different conditions of packaging and storage is reported. Tomato fruits, cv. Ikram, were washed with sodium hypochlorite 0.01% and cut into quarters; slices were sprinkled with a solution of 2% (w/v) ascorbic acid and 4% (w/v) sodium chloride. The semi-dry product was obtained using a heat pump dehydration system, up to 75% weight loss and 21.0±0.5% dry matter. Semi-dried tomato slices were packed in air or in modified atmosphere (MA, 30% CO2 + 70% N2), packed in PP trays with a OPA+PP/EVOH/PP cover film, and stored at 4 °C or 12 °C for 30 days. Every 10 days during storage, dry matter, aw, pH, colour, texture, content in sugars (glucose, fructose) and lycopene, polygalacturonase activity, and total microbial load were evaluated. As this latter, it was assessed to be much below the limit established for spoilage microorganisms in food products (5 log CFU/g FM). The semi-dry product stored in MA at 4 °C maintained the best quality characteristics and good microbiological stability. In particular, after 20 days of storage, a slight increase in the fungal component (i.e. Botrytis cinerea, Mucor spp., and Cladosporium spp.) compared to the starting level (from 3 to 4 log CFU/g FM) was observed. Moreover, the bacterial component remained on the initial levels (3 log CFU/g FM) during the whole storage period. The results showed that the used MA conditions are able to preserve quality and hygienic properties of the product for 20 days at 4 °C.

Efficient utilization of saline land for food cultivation can increase agricultural productivity and rural income. To obtain information on the salt tolerance/susceptibility of wild chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), the influence of salinity (0-260 mM NaCl) on chicory seed germination and that of two salinity levels of irrigation water (100 and 200 mM NaCl) on plant growth, antioxidative enzyme activity, and accumulation of proline and malondialdehyde (MDA) were investigated. The trials were performed outdoors, in pots placed under a protective glass covering, for two consecutive years. Seeds showed a high capacity to germinate in saline conditions. The use of 100 mM NaCl solution resulted in 81 % germination, whereas seed germinability decreased below 40 % using salt concentrations above 200 mM NaCl. Wild chicory showed tolerance to medium salinity (100 mM NaCl), whereas a drastic reduction in biomass was observed when 200 mM NaCl solution was used for irrigation. MDA, present in higher amounts in leaves than in roots, decreased in both tissues under increasing salinity. Proline content increased remarkably with the level of salt stress, more so in roots than in leaves. In salt stress conditions, the activity of antioxidant enzymes (APX, CAT, POD, SOD) was enhanced. The electrophoretic patterns of the studied enzymes showed that the salinity of irrigation water affected only the intensity of bands, but did not activate new isoforms. Our results suggest that wild chicory is able to grow in soil with moderate salinity by activating antioxidative responses both in roots and leaves.

The ability of packaging conditions to preserve the quality of intermediate moisture artichoke (IMA) during storage at different conditions was evaluated. In this aim, artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. subsp. scolymus (L.) Hayek, cv. Locale di Brindisi) heads were deprived of external bracts, cut in quarters, dipped in acid solution (0.5% citric acid and 0.05% ascorbic acid in water) for 30 minutes and blanched at 95 °C for 8 minutes in a 1% citric acid and 1% wine vinegar water solution. After this pretreatment, artichoke pieces were dried with heat pump technology equipment at 55 °C up to 40% weight loss and 22.4 ± 0.5% dry matter and then packed in polypropylene trays sealed with a composite covering plastic in air and active modified atmosphere (MA = 30% CO2 + 70% N2). In order to evaluate postharvest performance, differently packed IMAs were stored at 4 and 20 °C up to 28 days. After 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days in storage, visual and sensorial scores, water activity, sugars (glucose, fructose, and sucrose), total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and total microbial load were evaluated. The results showed that IMA storage in MA packaging conditions at 4 °C was the most effective to preserve physical, sensorial, biochemical and hygienic properties. This innovative "ready to use" product could be of great interest from a commercial point of view due to its excellent nutritional quality, good shelf-life and convenience.

Consumer interest in quick yet healthy food is increasing and the "ready-to-use" artichoke is a tasty, easy,food to prepare with excellent nutraceutical qualities. This study evaluated the postharvest performanceof semi-dried artichoke (SDA) hearts. The product was packaged in air, in modified atmosphere (MA), andin vacuum and stored at 4
C for 40 days. Sensorial, physical, biochemical, and microbiological parameterswere evaluated during that period. The results show that storage in the absence of O2 and in thepresence of a high CO2 percentage (30%) was the most effective method for preserving phytochemicalcontent, antioxidant capacity, and hygienic traits and that SDA packaged in MA could be stored for morethan 30 days. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the postharvest performance of SDA has beenstudied. The results indicate that this innovative product could have great market value due to thepossibility of preserving its qualitative and sensorial proprieties in refrigerated conditions for long periodsof time.

The postharvest performance of two intermediate moisture fruits, peach(Prunus persica (L.) Batsch 'Giallone') and prune (Prunus domestica L. 'Stanley'),was evaluated. Fruit were washed, cut (peach into slices, prune into halves), stoned,dipped in 2% (w/v in water) acid solutions (ascorbic acid for peach, citric acid forprune), and sonicated in ultrasonic bath with a 45%(w/v in water) fructose solution.After this pretreatment, fruit pieces were dried with heat pump technologyequipment. Semi-dried fruit pieces were packed in polypropylene trays sealed with acomposite covering plastic film with a partial vacuum (P=450 mm Hg) airatmosphere. In order to test postharvest performance in both refrigerated andunrefrigerated conditions, products were stored at 4±1 or 18±1°C for 60 days. After0, 20, 40, and 60 days in storage, visual and sensorial scores, colour, texture, aw,sugars, phenolic content, antioxidant activity, polygalacturonase activity, andmicrobial growth were evaluated. Peach and prune pieces stored in unrefrigeratedconditions showed serious decay symptoms already after 20 days in storage;whereas, semi-dried fruit pieces stored at 4°C preserved their physical, sensorial,biochemical, and microbiological properties until 40 days in storage. After 60 daysin storage, only peaches still maintained minimally acceptable quality; on thecontrary, prunes were unmarketable.

Grey mould diseases caused by Botrytis cinerea are one of the main factorsreducing table grapes postharvest quality. The effect of high CO2 concentrations onsome fruit biochemical parameters in the presence of a high disease pressure wasevaluated. Bunches of 'Italia' table grapes were artificially infected by spraying witha conidial suspension of B. cinerea, packed in polyamide/polyethylene bags in threedifferent initial modified atmosphere (MA) conditions and stored at 3°C for 18 days.Changes in phenolic compounds in both skin and flesh, glucose and fructose content,polygalacturonase (PG) activity, and the incidence of grey mould rots wereevaluated every 6 days during storage. The results showed that high CO2concentrations did not significantly affect PG activity which, on the contrary, wasfound higher in Botrytis-infected samples than in corresponding non-inoculatedsamples. Moreover, in artificially infected samples, a positive correlation betweenhigh CO2 levels associated to the lowest disease incidence and the high concentrationof caftaric acid (the most representative phenolic compound) in the skin, was found.Therefore, it can be assumed that high CO2 concentrations could contribute tomaintain high levels of phenolic compounds in the table grapes' skin, which, in turn,might be involved in counteracting the disease development.