Chemical and sensory quality of fresh pomegranate fruits exposed to gamma radiation as quarantine treatment

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Agriculture in February 2012 approved the import of fresh pomegranates subjected to irradiation as a quarantine procedure with a minimum absorbed dose of 0.4 kGy against different pests. This study evaluated the application of different gamma-irradiation doses (0.4, 1, and 2 kGy) in fresh pomegranate fruits and their effect on the chemical and sensory characteristics. The total soluble solids, titratable acidity, and pH values remained unaffected up to 1 kGy treatment. Irradiation caused a significant decrease in the total anthocyanins and phenolic content. A strong positive correlation was observed among the antioxidant activities, total phenolics and anthocyanin contents. In general, a stronger preference was shown by sensory panelists for the juice from irradiated fruits. This study provides research-based information about the application of irradiation as a quarantine disinfestation treatment to enhance the marketing and consumer acceptance of pomegranates.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)312-318
Number of pages7
JournalFood Chemistry
Volume145
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Antioxidative capacity
  • Chemical properties
  • Gamma-irradiation
  • Pomegranates
  • Quarantine disinfestation treatment
  • Sensory profile

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Food Science

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