"Ma & ccedil;a de Alcoba & ccedil;a" is a type of apple from the West coast of Portugal with Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). This study evaluated the influence of the orchard's fertilization and post-harvest storage time on the quality of "Ma & ccedil;a de Alcoba & ccedil;a", 'Gala' cultivar. Five orchards were studied for four years, using three fertilization treatments [Standard, twice Standard (2xStandard) and twice Standard including organic matter (2xStandard_OM)]. The fruits' volatile profile, emanation index, and quality parameters were determined in apples after harvest time (T0), three- (T3) and five months (T5) after storage. At T0, the intact apples volatiles were dominated by trans , trans-alpha-farnesene (48-79 %). trans,trans-alpha-Farnesene emanation index was larger in T0 apples independently of the orchard and fertilization treatment, and showed an accentuated decrease from T0 to T5. Fruits quality at T0 and T5, showed significant differences per orchard, but their average weight, TSS, and firmness, were not significantly altered with fertilization treatment. Storage did not significantly affect the fruits weight, but TSS and firmness always decreased regardless of the orchard or fertilization treatment. Among other things, the observed variations among orchards after fertilization treatments may relate to the cultural practices of each orchard as well as the fact that their ages and rootstocks varied.

Aquaculture is the fastest-growing sector in the food industry. To support this growth, approximately 53 million tonnes of aquafeed are produced each year. Traditionally supported by fishmeal and fish oil, the modern aquafeed industry searches actively for novel ingredients of high nutritional value, functionality and high sustainability performance. The adoption of circular production models with the re-introduction of food processing waste in aquafeed is a valuable strategy to improve aquaculture sustainable growth. The waste generated from the fruit and vegetable processing industry (F V by-products) arises as a source for ingredients of high nutritional and functional value. This review gathers the information available on: (i) the nutritional requirements of the most produced freshwater and marine fish species; (ii) on the production of crops that potentially originate valuable by-products for aquafeed. The nutritional and functional value of such by-products are revised as well as the routes to process and transform these by-products into aquafeed ingredients. More than 100 peer-reviewed papers were analysed to collect information on fish nutrition requirements, nutritional evaluation of F V by-products, their application in aquafeed, and the processing and transformation methods allowing its use. The by-products of olive oil and wine production hold high potential to replace fish meal and fish oil in aquafeed. On the other hand, the extracts of seeds and peels of several fruits and vegetables can be used as a source of functional compounds to improve fish welfare, even if they must constitute a minor component in the feed formulation. The use of F V by-products in aquafeed requires efficient processing methods to enhance their nutritional value, eliminate anti-nutritional substances, ensure feed safety, and optimise resource utilisation. Emerging technologies like high-pressure homogenization (HPH) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) are effective to add value to these by-products. However, constraints related to variable composition, scalability of technologies, regulations, market acceptance, sustainability, and waste management costs still halt their full use as ingredients in aquafeed.

With a characteristic flavour and aroma, “Maçã de Alcobaça” are apples produced in the western region of the mainland of Portugal. Given the known influence of pre-harvest cultural techniques and post-harvest conservation methods on fruit quality, this work evaluated the effect of cultural factors and conservation methods on the volatile profile of ‘Gala’ apples. Tests were carried out during four seasons (2018 to 2021) in two ‘Gala’ apple orchards (F and S) maintained with different irrigation rates and nitrogen fertilisation [normal irrigation and normal nitrogen (Control, NINN), normal irrigation and excess nitrogen (NIEN), excess irrigation and normal nitrogen (EINN), excess irrigation and excess nitrogen (EIEN)], and under three storage conditions [Controlled Atmosphere + 1-methylcyclopropene (CA+1-MCP), Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere (DCA) and DCA+1-MCP]. The intact fruit volatiles were isolated by headspace solid–phase microextraction (HS–SPME) and analysed by Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionisation Detection and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry at harvest (T0) and after 8 months of storage (T8). HS–SPME volatiles from ‘Gala’ apples, obtained at T0 in control conditions, were characterised by trans,trans-α-farnesene dominance (36–69%), followed by hexyl acetate (5–23%) and hexyl hexanoate (3–9%). The four irrigation and nitrogen treatments did not evidence main changes in the apple volatile profile. Instead, storage conditions changed the ratio between compounds; previously undetected compounds attained high percentages and decreased the intensity of the dominant compounds in the control conditions. Although all storage conditions tested changed the volatile profile and emanation intensity, the effect was more accentuated in storage for 8 months with DCA+1-MCP.

Fungal infections cause losses amounting to between 20 and 25% of the fruit industry's total outcome, with an escalating impact on agriculture in the last decades. As seaweeds have long demonstrated relevant antimicrobial properties against a wide variety of microorganisms, extracts from Asparagopsis armata, Codium sp., Fucus vesiculosus, and Sargassum muticum were used to find sustainable, ecofriendly, and safe solutions against Rocha pear postharvest fungal infections. Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, and Penicillium expansum mycelial growth and spore germination inhibition activities were tested in vitro with five different extracts of each seaweed (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, aqueous, ethanolic, and hydroethanolic). An in vivo assay was then performed using the aqueous extracts against B. cinerea and F. oxysporum in Rocha pear. The n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanolic extracts from A. armata showed the best in vitro inhibitory activity against B. cinerea, F. oxysporum, and P. expansum, and promising in vivo results against B. cinerea using S. muticum aqueous extract were also found. The present work highlights the contribution of seaweeds to tackle agricultural problems, namely postharvest phytopathogenic fungal diseases, contributing to a greener and more sustainable bioeconomy from the sea to the farm.

28 Codium tomentosum hydroethanolic extract was obtained using a pilot solid-liquid 29 extractor to validate the anti-browning functionality of the extract under industrial 30 conditions. Fresh-cut apple slices were coated by immersion in: 1) a seaweed extract 31 solution (0.5 % w/v) and 2) a commercial coating, and the two sets of samples were 32 compared with a control (immersion in water). Packaged samples were stored, under 33 ambient and modified atmosphere conditions at 4˚C. After 30 days of storage, the 34 samples which were coated with the seaweed extract and packaged under modified 35 atmosphere, demonstrated lower peroxidase activity and polyphenol oxidation when 36 compared with the samples treated with the commercial additive. These results confirm, 37 at pilot scale and under industrial production conditions, the efficacy of the seaweed 38 extract as a bio-based substitute for the synthetic coatings which are currently used to 39 prevent browning in fresh-cut apples. 40

Rocha is a Portuguese pear cultivar with high economic importance in the Portuguese Western Region. Degradative processes following its manipulation can quickly lead to product rejection, especially when sold as a freshcut product. The efficacy of a marine-based edible coating to inhibit superficial browning development in freshcut Rocha pear slices was investigated over a storage period of 15 days. The aqueous extract of Codium tomentosum, an edible green seaweed, was incorporated in an edible coating (0.5 g 100 mL(-1)) for fresh-cut Rocha pear. This novel treatment effect on the quality parameters of the pears was compared with a commercial coating currently used by industry and a control (dipping in deionised water). After 15 days storage at 4 degrees C, samples treated with the seaweed extract exhibited fewer colour changes and lower rates of superficial browning than control and commercial samples. Seaweed extract treatment was also observed to inhibit yeast and mould development, which may further contribute to shelf-life extension.