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Impact of Preharvest Ethephon Foliar Spray on the Postharvest Fatty Acid Profile and Dietary Indicators of Macadamia Nuts

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  • Noluthando Noxolo Aruwajoye

    (Discipline of Crop and Horticultural Science, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa)

  • Asanda Mditshwa

    (Discipline of Crop and Horticultural Science, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa)

  • Lembe Samukelo Magwaza

    (Discipline of Crop and Horticultural Science, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa)

  • Mjabuliseni Simon Cloapas Ngidi

    (Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Resource Management, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3201, South Africa
    Centre for Transformative Agricultural and Food Systems, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3201, South Africa)

  • Samson Zeray Tesfay

    (Discipline of Crop and Horticultural Science, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa)

Abstract

The use of ethephon, designed to stimulate nut detachment, initiates the release of ethylene, a well-established regulator of postharvest shelf-life in various agricultural products. This study aimed to assess the impact of ethephon application on individual fatty acids and dietary indicators in two macadamia nut cultivars, namely ‘788’ and ‘Beaumont,’ during postharvest storage. Nuts that naturally abscised and those detached through ethephon treatment were divided into two groups: the ethylene-treated group (ED) and the control group (CD). Nuts were stored at 25 °C and sampled at 0, 36, and 72 days for fatty profile analysis. Our findings indicated a significant increase in stearic acid content in ED nuts (24,622 µg/g) compared to CD nuts (16,764 µg/g) at the end of the storage period for the ‘Beaumont’ cultivar. Additionally, unsaturated fatty acids (USFAs), such as eicosatrienoic acid + erucic acid (C20:3n 3 + C22:1) and eicosatrienoic acid + alpha-linolenic acid (C20:1 + C18:3n 3 ), were notably reduced. Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed positive correlations between ethylene treatment and saturated fatty acids (SFAs) in both ‘Beaumont’ (0.78) and ‘788’ (0.80) cultivars. This also coincided with an increase in atherogenic indices, thrombogenic index, and saturation index and a decrease in the hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio and arachidonic acid (C20:4n 6 ) within the ED group of the ‘Beaumont’ cultivar, collectively potentially impacting nutritional quality negatively. Furthermore, our findings indicated that the PUFA:SFA ratio was higher in CD (0.51) compared to ED (0.45) on day 72 for the ‘Beaumont’ cultivar, revealing differences in fatty acid compositions between the two treatment groups. Conversely, for ‘788’, both ED and CD had a PUFA:SFA ratio below 0.45, indicating an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. These results suggest that ethephon treatment increases SFA levels and reduces USFA levels in the ‘Beaumont’ cultivar, while the response to ethylene varies between the two cultivars. Thus, the study provides insight into the significant role of modifying ethephon treatment methods and careful cultivar selection in the attainment of optimal nutritional value and shelf-life of macadamia nuts.

Suggested Citation

  • Noluthando Noxolo Aruwajoye & Asanda Mditshwa & Lembe Samukelo Magwaza & Mjabuliseni Simon Cloapas Ngidi & Samson Zeray Tesfay, 2023. "Impact of Preharvest Ethephon Foliar Spray on the Postharvest Fatty Acid Profile and Dietary Indicators of Macadamia Nuts," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-18, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:13:y:2023:i:10:p:1898-:d:1249358
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    1. José Pino-Ortega & Daniel Rojas-Valverde & Carlos D. Gómez-Carmona & Markel Rico-González, 2021. "Training Design, Performance Analysis, and Talent Identification—A Systematic Review about the Most Relevant Variables through the Principal Component Analysis in Soccer, Basketball, and Rugby," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-19, March.
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