阅读说明：本技术 通过可食用涂层处理和控制水果采后生理病害的方法 (Method for treating and controlling postharvest physiological disease of fruit through edible coating ) 是由 恩里克·戈麦斯赫尔南德斯 索海尔·阿克特尔 于 2018-09-11 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明描述了用于处理和控制在水果的采后过程中引起的生理病害的方法,所述方法包括施用作为可食用涂料的水性溶液,并且所述涂料包含至少一种磷脂或至少一种聚山梨醇酯或至少一种失水山梨醇酯或至少一种脂肪酸的蔗糖酯或至少一种脂肪酸的蔗糖甘油酯或其组合,所述施用在所述采后过程到它们的运输和在它们的最终目的地的销售的任一阶段中进行。(The present invention describes a method for treating and controlling physiological diseases caused in the post-harvest processes of fruit, said method comprising applying an aqueous solution as an edible coating and said coating comprising at least one phospholipid or at least one polysorbate or at least one sorbitan ester or at least one sucrose ester of a fatty acid or at least one sucrose glyceride of a fatty acid or a combination thereof, said applying being carried out in any stage of said post-harvest processes to their transportation and sale at their final destination.)

1. A method of post-harvest treatment of fruit, characterized in that the method comprises administering an edible aqueous formulation comprising at least one phospholipid or at least one polysorbate or at least one sorbitan ester or at least one sucrose ester of a fatty acid or at least one sucrose glyceride of a fatty acid or a combination thereof, the administration being performed in any stage of the post-harvest period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the aqueous formulation is diluted in water at a concentration of 0.1% to 10% (v/v).

3. The method of any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the aqueous formulation is in a liquid state and is applied by a sprayer, basin, unloader, or preparation water line.

4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the aqueous formulation is in aerosol form and is applied by spraying, dusting or fumigation.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the method further comprises applying at least one chemical antifungal agent or at least one anti-browning compound or at least one antioxidant or at least one biocide or at least one disinfectant or a combination thereof.

6. Aqueous formulation for the postharvest treatment of fruit, characterized in that it comprises from 1 to 30% by weight of phospholipids or from 0.1 to 20% by weight of polysorbates or from 0.1 to 20% by weight of sorbitan esters or from 0.1 to 20% by weight of sucrose esters of fatty acids or from 0.1 to 20% by weight of sucrose glycerides of fatty acids or a combination thereof, relative to the weight of the formulation, and wherein the sum of the amounts of all components is equal to 100%.

7. The aqueous formulation of claim 6, wherein the aqueous formulation further comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of: glycols, alcohols, cellulose derivatives, antifoaming agents, antioxidants, fungicides, anti-browning compounds, or combinations thereof.

8. The aqueous formulation of any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the aqueous formulation is in liquid or aerosol form.

9. The aqueous formulation of any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the phospholipid is a lecithin of animal or vegetable origin.

10. The aqueous formulation of claim 9, wherein the phospholipid is a lecithin from egg yolk, sunflower, soybean, rapeseed, cotton, corn, or milk.

11. The aqueous formulation of any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the glycol is selected from the group consisting of: glycerin, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, or combinations thereof.

12. The aqueous formulation according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the cellulose derivative is selected from the group consisting of: methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, or polymers of said cellulose derivatives, and combinations thereof, wherein the polymers mentioned in this group of compounds are polymers of said cellulose derivatives.

13. A dilution comprising the aqueous formulation of claim 6 diluted in water at a concentration of 0.1% to 10% (v/v).

Technical Field

The present invention belongs to the field of chemical industry, more specifically to the field of agricultural chemistry and horticulture.

The present invention describes a method for treating fruits and vegetables (more specifically pome fruits such as apples, pears and kiwis; tropical fruits such as avocados, mangoes and papayas; and stone fruits such as peaches, plums, cherries, nectarines; etc.) during storage, after storage and/or during transport to the final destination, said method comprising applying an aqueous formulation as an edible coating and said coating comprising at least one phospholipid or at least one polysorbate or at least one sorbitan ester or at least one sucrose ester of a fatty acid or at least one sucrolactone of a fatty acid or a combination thereof.

Background

Fruits and vegetables, in particular citrus fruits, but also pome fruits such as apples, pears, peaches, and even tropical fruits, must be preserved for a long time, including the time elapsed from their picking until they reach the consumer, especially after their harvesting and during the post-harvest or post-harvest period. The most common process that fruits and vegetables undergo is refrigeration.

However, in the period of time that includes all the stages from harvesting the fruit to their sale and transportation at the final destination, the fruit tends to suffer from different types of physiological damage, such as browning in the case of pome fruit such as apples and pears, characterized by irregular patches on the peel.

These plaques are caused by the oxidative effects of volatile substances produced by the fruit itself, which are involved in its metabolic pathways in ethylene, or by the breakdown of tissues caused by the self-senescence of fruit, which also causes a type of browning caused by the effects of various enzymes that cause tissue oxidation. These browning effects that occur in storage chambers have traditionally been addressed by various anti-browning treatments, notably the use of chemicals such as Diphenylamine (DPA) and ethoxyquinolines. Their antioxidant effect is so strong that it controls browning caused by both volatile substances and enzymatic oxidation, as it inhibits their effects. However, these processes have not been authorized in many countries.

Another way to control browning is to use chemical agents that inhibit ethylene, which as mentioned above is part of the metabolic pathway that produces volatile substances. These chemicals are usually cyclic short chain hydrocarbons, most commonly 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP).

In parallel with these chemical treatments, improvements have been made to the refrigeration process. Maintaining the fruit at low temperatures results in a slowing of the metabolism of the fruit, which in addition to delaying ageing reduces respiration and hence the breathing jump, thereby reducing the production of ethylene. This reduces the generation of volatile substances that cause browning. In addition, hypothermia also has an effect by delaying tissue breakdown by enzymatic action.

Over the past 40 years, the refrigeration process has improved with the commercial introduction of refrigeration in Controlled Atmosphere (CA) chambers, which consist of sealed chambers with specific gas conditions: low oxygen concentration and high carbon dioxide concentration. These conditions slow the metabolism of the fruit to an even greater extent, reducing physiological damage and senescence or ripening even more. This enables an extended shelf life while maintaining suitable organoleptic properties.

Subsequently, with the aim of improving these preservation processes, the operating parameters of said Controlled Atmosphere have been optimized for many years, so that there have appeared other types of cold storage focused on reducing the browning, such as Ultra-low Oxygen (Ultra L ow Oxygen, U L O) and dynamically Controlled atmospheres (Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere, DCA. these methods, which can be classified as physical preservation methods, also keep reducing physiological lesions, but are less effective in certain climates than in others, and they are also very expensive preservation processes.

In addition, during handling and preparation, fruit, whether harvested directly from the field or obtained in the preparation room, may be damaged by friction due to the sensitivity of its skin, which is known as frictional browning. This type of browning is manifested as a similar browning of the epidermis to the physiological browning caused during refrigeration or post-storage, although this difference can be easily identified by the person skilled in the art. These plaques on the epidermis greatly reduce its commercial value.

Furthermore, it must be noted that fruit may also suffer decay by microorganisms during the post-harvest process. These processes are characterized by softening of the fruit tissue and color changes. This phenomenon, if it occurs simultaneously with browning, contributes to deterioration of the fruit and loss of organoleptic quality.

It is worth emphasizing the fact that this control of browning is capable of keeping physiological lesions and the reduction of organoleptic quality to a certain extent while the fruit is inside the refrigeration compartment, this is especially true if the refrigeration compartment is operated with Controlled Atmosphere (CA), U L O or DCA technology.

However, when this preservation process is over, the fruit must often remain in the bin with a Normal Atmosphere (NA) for a long time during preparation, handling, sale and transport to the final destination, and must remain for even longer if the final destination is so far that transport takes weeks.

The end and change of the controlled atmosphere to preservation in a normal atmosphere causes stress in the fruit, resulting in an acceleration of metabolism and physiological effects already slowed down during cold storage. This, together with the fact that the above-described side effects of antioxidants and coatings have lost their preservative activity, means that browning problems are very common during this period, and moreover the acceleration of fruit senescence also makes it more susceptible to frictional browning. Furthermore, these browning effects are greatly increased if the shelf life in normal atmosphere is increased to more than 6 months. Above all, if one considers the long-distance transport of the product, this transport time may be similar to the increase in preservation time, and if it is after a controlled atmosphere, this increase in preservation time under the conditions stated necessarily leads to an increase in browning and ageing problems, especially when the conditions are not suitable.

The last unwanted and related effect is that once refrigeration is complete, the fruit over ripens during the preparation process and transport.

Based on the above, it would be desirable to have an effective method for treating and preventing physiological diseases caused during the post-harvest process.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an effective method of treatment in the post-harvest stage by applying an edible coating which reduces damage caused by physiological and frictional browning in the case of pome fruit, and retards fruit aging after removal from the refrigeration compartment and/or during handling, preparation and transport to the final destination, and also controls physiological or physical diseases characteristic of each crop occurring during the post-harvest stage in the case of other crops, the method comprising applying an aqueous formulation as an edible coating and the coating comprising at least one phospholipid or at least one polysorbate or at least one sorbitan ester or at least one sucrose ester of a fatty acid or at least one sucrose glyceride of a fatty acid or a combination thereof.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention describes a method for treating and controlling physiological disease caused by fruit in a post-harvest process comprising applying an aqueous formulation as described in this document. Another object of the invention is a treatment method for delaying the ageing of fruit after it has been taken out of the refrigeration compartment. The aqueous formulation comprising at least one phospholipid or at least one polysorbate or at least one sorbitan ester or at least one sucrose ester of a fatty acid or at least one sucrose glyceride of a fatty acid or a combination thereof for treating harvested fruit as described in the present application is also an object of the present invention. Preferably, the aqueous formulation is applied in a post-harvest process of the fruit to treat and control physiological diseases caused in the post-harvest process.

In the context of the present invention, the term "post-harvest process" is a process that may comprise a number of stages from harvesting of the fruit to its final destination, i.e. picking, handling, preparing and transporting to its final destination.

The method of applying the aqueous formulation may occur in a post-harvest period, which encompasses all stages from harvesting of the fruit to their sale, such as harvesting, handling, storage under a controlled or normal atmosphere, processing, packaging, shipping and sale.

In the context of this document, aqueous formulations are also referred to as coatings.

As such, the present invention is suitable for treating pome fruit such as apples and pears with showers, soaks, showers or sprays prior to placement in the refrigerated compartment to retard browning of the fruit and retard ripening, aging and weight loss during the refrigeration process.

The invention is also beneficial for increasing or prolonging the post-harvest life of other crops, for example, crops such as stone fruit like plum, peach, nectarine or kiwi, avocado also known as avocado.

In all cases, the formulation of the present invention is an aqueous formulation comprising at least one phospholipid or at least one polysorbate or at least one sorbitan ester or at least one sucrose ester of a fatty acid or at least one sucrose glyceride of a fatty acid or a combination thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, as an alternative to the use of chemical antioxidants and ethylene blockers, this document describes a method of applying the coating which surprisingly retards the decomposition and therefore ageing of the tissue and also retards the browning problem, using the internal atmosphere created in the fruit. The coating comprises at least one phospholipid, preferably lecithin, at least one sucrose ester or sucrose glyceride of a fatty acid, and additionally comprises other agents authorized for use in fruit coatings. The aqueous composition may or may not be fortified with food grade antioxidants to improve performance in physiological disease control and may be combined with fungicides for rot control.

By controlling the physiological or physical disease characteristic of each crop that occurs during the post-harvest process, the present invention is beneficial to increasing or extending the post-harvest life of other crops, for example, crops of stone fruit such as plum, peach, nectarine or kiwi, avocado, also known as avocados, and the like.

Detailed Description

The present invention describes a method for treating and controlling physiological damage caused by fruit during post-harvest including pome, stone and tropical fruits, comprising applying a dilution of an aqueous solution comprising at least one phospholipid or at least one polysorbate or at least one sorbitan ester or at least one sucrose ester of a fatty acid or at least one sucrose glyceride of a fatty acid or a combination thereof, said application being performed at any stage of the fruit handling, preparation and transportation process.

In the context of the present application, the methods described in this document include applying an aqueous formulation, also referred to as a coating. Due to their composition, the aqueous formulations of the present invention are edible coatings, which are extremely valuable properties of the aqueous formulations and are distinguished from other types of coatings commonly used in the agricultural industry, such as waxes.

This document proposes a method comprising the application of an aqueous solution that acts by creating an internal atmosphere in the fruit, delaying the decomposition and therefore the aging of the tissue and delaying the browning. In a preferred embodiment, the coating described in this document comprises at least one phospholipid, preferably lecithin. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the applied aqueous formulation comprises a compound of the sucrose ester or sucrose glyceride family of fatty acids, and other agents authorized for use in fruit coatings in different regulations, such as Cfr21 of the us FDA, the us GRAS regulation or the european union regulation 1338/2008. These treatments may or may not be enhanced with food grade antioxidants to improve browning control. In this connection, a preferred embodiment of the method, which is the object of the present invention, also comprises the application of at least one anti-browning compound of the chemical type, such as diphenylamine, ethoxyquinoline, Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), Butylhydroxyanisole (BHA), tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) and the like. In other embodiments, these anti-browning compounds may be mixed with the coating, forming part of the aqueous formulation, in order to also obtain its beneficial effect in controlling physiological disorders.

Due to its long shelf life, fruit can be affected by fungal or bacterial infections. In these cases, a preferred embodiment of the method, object of the present invention, also comprises the application of at least one fungicide selected from the group consisting of imazalil, thiabendazole, pyrimethanil, fludioxonil, benzimidazoles, imidazoles, strobilurins, phthalimides, iprodione, vinclozolin, carboximides and combinations of the above. In other preferred embodiments, the fungicide is a fungal inhibiting food additive such as a fungal inhibiting food additive derived from sorbic acid, e.g., potassium sorbate, sodium sorbate, calcium sorbate, sorbic acid. Benzoates, carbonates and bicarbonates, and the like, are also non-limiting examples of antifungal agents. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the antifungal agent is a natural extract or active ingredient of a natural extract, such as cinnamon, clove, citrus, mint and eucalyptus extracts, citronella oil, eugenol, cinnamaldehyde, thymol, the like, or combinations of the above.

In a preferred embodiment, the method, object of the present invention, comprises the application of at least one antifungal agent as described above, but additionally, in other embodiments, these antifungal agents may be mixed with the coating, forming part of the aqueous formulation, in order to control decay in addition to obtaining its beneficial effects in controlling physiological diseases and extending the life of the goods.

In all embodiments of the invention, the method comprises applying the aqueous solution in combination or mixture with other additional components by fumigation with a shower, dip washer or by a coater. Likewise, these coatings can be combined with a subsequent application in the cold room by means of a fumigant container, cold fumigation, hot coating, hot fogging after the fruit has been subjected to a previous application of the coating of the invention while it is placed in the cold room.

Furthermore, the formulation can be applied before preservation or inside the refrigerated compartment, in combination (in a mixture or separately) with fumigant or aerosol means or another similar type, with a product inhibiting fungi or a natural fungicidal product such as a natural extract or food additive or an alkaline substance, which is a phytosanitary certified product, consisting of a product having a function different from that of phytosanitary but which has shown its safety and phytosanitary effectiveness. An example of an alkaline substance is sodium bicarbonate.

Furthermore, a preferred embodiment of the method, which is the object of the present invention, also comprises the application of at least one biocide or disinfectant. Further, the method may comprise applying an aqueous formulation in admixture with a biocide or disinfectant, wherein the aqueous formulation comprises at least one biocide or disinfectant in its composition.

The present invention does not act as an antioxidant per se, although it does work well in retarding browning appearance and other oxidative damage, thus meaning that it is capable of maintaining the organoleptic and commercial appearance of fruit for a sufficient period of time to accomplish normal refrigeration.

By applying the formulation of the invention, the aim of the method described in this document is to prolong the commercial life of the fruit as a function of each crop, which is equivalent to reducing the physiological damage mentioned in the previous part of this document, such as maintaining the firmness of the fruit, also known as the puncture hardness, reducing the weight loss, delaying or reducing the oxidation of the tissue or improving the appearance of the fruit as a whole.

The method, object of the present invention, comprises the application of said formulation in the post-harvest phase, which includes all stages from harvesting of the fruits to their sale, such as harvesting, handling, storage in a controlled or normal atmosphere, processing, packaging,And (5) transportation and sale. In a preferred embodiment, in the case of pome fruit, the method, which is the object of the present invention, comprises the application of the formulation during the storage period before changing from Controlled Atmosphere (CA) to normal refrigeration. Furthermore, "normal refrigeration" is understood as the low temperature conditions to which the picked fruit is subjected and the atmospheric conditions that occur in nature, without altering the concentration of its main elements, i.e. oxygen and CO₂Approximately 21% and 78% concentration, respectively.

After the harvesting process, the fruit may be stored in a refrigerated chamber with specific gas conditions, which is called a Controlled Atmosphere (CA) chamber. The gas conditions are characterized in that they have a low oxygen concentration and a high carbon dioxide concentration. The gas conditions depend on the type of fruit and its variety and are determined by approved forms. For example, for Blancya pears, these tables recommend oxygen concentrations of 3 to 3.5%, CO₂The concentration was 1.5%. Another example is the yellow-green apple, and the controlled atmosphere conditions recommended by the table for this fruit are 2% oxygen and 1.5% CO₂The concentration of (c).

As an example of gas temperature and concentration ranges, we have obtained the following table (Graell, Horticultura172, October 2003)

TABLE 1 recommended conditions for the preservation of main varieties of apples and pears under controlled atmosphere

In another preferred embodiment, the application of the aqueous formulation, object of the present invention, can be applied at the end of the refrigeration process and before the fruit is handled, prepared and transported.

In another preferred embodiment, the application of the aqueous formulation, object of the present invention, can be applied immediately after harvesting in the factory or in the preparation line before its handling and/or sale and/or transport.

Furthermore, in the context of the present application, a "post-harvest physiological disease" is understood to be any damage in the fruit caused by physiological browning, frictional browning, oxidation (browning), weight loss, softening and ageing during the post-harvest process.

In a preferred embodiment of the present application, a post-harvest treatment method is understood to be a treatment method comprising the application of a dilution of the aqueous solution and which has the beneficial effect of treating and controlling physiological diseases caused in the post-harvest process as well as treating and delaying the ageing or ripening of the fruit.

In one embodiment of the invention, the method, object of the invention, comprises applying an effective concentration of the aqueous formulation described in the present application on the fruit to be treated.

In one embodiment of the invention, when the objective is to preserve the fruit, retard the onset of browning, and maintain the fruit in a better condition, the application is performed before the fruit is placed in a refrigerated compartment (including normal refrigeration and controlled atmosphere).

In a preferred embodiment, the method, object of the present invention, comprises the administration of said aqueous formulation diluted in water at a concentration ranging between 0.1% and 10% (v/v). More preferably, the concentration of the diluted aqueous formulation is a concentration in the range between 0.1% to 5% (v/v). In an even more preferred embodiment, the aqueous formulation is diluted at a concentration in the range between 0.1% and 2% (v/v).

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, when applying the aqueous formulation, object of the present invention, to pome fruit, after a change from preservation under controlled atmosphere to normal atmosphere, or after picking when the fruit is directly produced in the preparation line, or when the fruit is sent to the final destination, or when a combination of some of the above mentioned post-picking steps are performed, the method comprises applying the aqueous formulation diluted in water to a concentration in the range between 0.1% and 1% (v/v). More preferably, the concentration of the diluted aqueous formulation is a concentration comprised in the range between 0.15% and 0.5% (v/v). In an even more preferred embodiment, the aqueous formulation is diluted to a concentration comprised in the range between 0.2% and 0.4% (v/v).

When the formulation, object of the present invention, is applied to other types of fruit, such as stone fruit or tropical fruits, such as plum, avocado or kiwi, the method comprises applying an aqueous formulation diluted in water to a concentration comprised between 1% and 10% (v/v). More preferably, the concentration of the diluted aqueous formulation is a concentration comprised in the range between 1% and 5% (v/v). In an even more preferred embodiment, such concentration is comprised between 2% and 5% (v/v). In these cases, the application of the formulation can be carried out before the fruit is placed in a cold room or before it is sold or before it is transported to its final destination under both normal refrigeration and controlled atmosphere conditions, in order to improve the condition of the fruit, maintain firmness, reduce weight loss and prevent browning of the peel or pulp or dehydration of the fruit.

Dilutions of aqueous formulations administered in the methods that are the object of the present invention can be formulated as liquids, including aerosols. In a preferred embodiment of the method, which is the object of the present invention, said diluted aqueous formulation in liquid form is administered in one of the following systems: showers, basins, dumpers, or preparation water lines, also known in the art as pickling machines.

In another preferred embodiment of the method, object of the present invention, the dilution of the aqueous formulation is in the form of an aerosol and is applied on the fruit by one of the following systems: spraying, pulverizing or fumigating.

The method which is the object of the present invention may be combined with treatment methods commonly used in post-harvest treatments, such as anti-browning and/or anti-fungal treatments derived from food additives and natural extracts. Furthermore, the treatment method may comprise applying a diluted aqueous formulation fortified with an antioxidant, which is added prior to dilution of the aqueous formulation, or mixing the antioxidant directly with the diluted aqueous formulation.

The anti-browning treatments that can be combined with the method that is the object of the present invention are based on the application of anti-browning agents of the chemical type, such as diphenylamine, ethoxyquinoline, Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), etc.

Likewise, the antifungal treatment which can be combined with the method which is the object of the present invention is based on the application of a fungicide selected from the group consisting of imazalil, thiabendazole, pyrimethanil, fludioxonil, benzimidazoles, imidazoles, strobilurins, phthalimides, iprodione, vinclozolins, carboximides and combinations of the above. Likewise, the fungicide treatment may be based on the application of an antifungal agent made from a food additive that inhibits fungi, for example an antifungal agent derived from sorbic acid such as potassium sorbate, sodium sorbate, calcium sorbate or sorbic acid. Benzoates, carbonates or bicarbonates, and the like, are also non-limiting examples of antifungal agents. Additionally, these antifungal treatments may be based on the administration of natural extracts or active ingredients of natural extracts, such as cinnamon, clove, citrus, mint and eucalyptus extracts, citronella oil, eugenol, cinnamaldehyde, thymol, and the like, or combinations of the above.

Aqueous formulations comprising at least one phospholipid or at least one polysorbate or at least one sorbitan ester or at least one sucrose ester of a fatty acid or at least one sucrose glyceride of a fatty acid or combinations thereof are also an object of the present invention. The aqueous formulation may additionally comprise other compounds that improve the physicochemical properties of the aqueous formulation.

Furthermore, an object of the present invention is a dilution of said aqueous formulation, wherein said formulation is diluted in water to a concentration comprised between 0.1% and 10% (v/v).

Preferably, the aqueous formulation is applied to pome fruit and other crops in a post-harvest process for the treatment and control of physiological diseases caused in the post-harvest process described in this document. Surprising results were obtained after treating the fruit with the aqueous formulation described, as can be seen in examples 1, 2 and 3 of this document.

The formulation of the invention comprises at least one phospholipid or at least one polysorbate or at least one sorbitan ester or at least one sucrose ester of a fatty acid or at least one sucrose glyceride of a fatty acid or a combination thereof and water, the sum of all amounts of said components being equal to 100%.

Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the formulation which is the object of the present invention may comprise further additives which improve the physicochemical properties of the formulation, it being understood that the sum of the amounts of all the components forming the aqueous formulation is always 100%. That is, the fact that the total composition of the formulation is made up to 100% with water is not meant to exclude the incorporation of additives in amounts deemed necessary.

As a result of the process described in this application, surprising results were noted in plums, as the commodity life was increased, controlling dehydration and improving appearance after long term storage, as shown in example 4 of this document.

In the case of avocados, the application of the formulation, object of the present invention, reduces the weight loss, improves the internal and external appearance and also considerably increases the commercial life, as described in example 5.

In the case of applying the aqueous formulation to kiwifruit, it showed great effectiveness in maintaining firmness and controlling weight loss, as described in example 6.

In a preferred embodiment, the aqueous formulation which is the object of the present invention may comprise a phospholipid or a mixture of phospholipids, at least one emulsifier suitable for the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (H L B) of said phospholipid, at least one preservative and at least one antifoaming agent.

In a preferred embodiment, the aqueous formulation may further comprise a coating or film forming agent (a coating or film-forming agent).

Taking into account the fact that the aqueous formulation may comprise phospholipids as active ingredients and that it may in turn be combined with film-forming components and other additives, the emulsifier used in the preparation of the formulation object of the present invention must be suitable for obtaining the H L B required for emulsifying the phospholipids that are sparingly soluble in water.

The formulations which are the object of the present invention comprise one or several phospholipids as active ingredients. A non-limiting example of a phospholipid which a formulation which is the object of the present invention may comprise is phosphatidylcholine, which is more commonly known as lecithin, and may be of animal or vegetable origin. In a preferred embodiment, the plant-derived lecithin may be sunflower or soybean lecithin, even more preferably sunflower lecithin, which is less allergenic, although other plant sources such as cotton, corn, rapeseed, etc. are present. In another preferred embodiment, the lecithin may be of animal origin, even more preferably lecithin derived from egg yolk, although it may have other animal origin such as milk.

Within the scope of the present application, phospholipids have the following beneficial effects:

form part of the cell wall and may contribute to cell regeneration and tissue turnover resulting therefrom

Increase the cohesion of the pericarp cells, making the pericarp more sensitive

Maintenance of tissue elasticity due to its phosphorus and vitamin A and E content, favouring their hydration and thus delaying their aging

The effect of an antioxidant is favoured, since by enhancing the phospholipid reserve of the cell wall's coat, the tissue is preserved and is more resistant to oxidation

Reduce tissue dehydration and protect them from damage caused by friction.

In one embodiment of the invention, the formulation which is the object of the invention may comprise the following composition in w/w ratio:

TABLE 2 embodiments of the formulations of the present invention

Within the scope of the present invention, the formulation object of the present invention comprises water in an amount necessary to make the sum of the amounts of the components equal to 100% (w/w).

Furthermore, the amount of antifoaming agent is determined by the amount of foam generated during the preparation of the formulation which is the object of the present invention, said amount of antifoaming agent being comprised in the range of 0-0.4%, and in a preferred embodiment between 0.1 and 0.2%.

The presence of polysorbates, sorbitan esters or combinations thereof in the formulations object of the present invention must produce H L B suitable for emulsification of the substances required in the formulations.

In the context of the present invention, sucrose esters of fatty acids and sucrose glycerides of fatty acids are film formers, which due to their lipid nature can be used as edible coatings, regulating gas exchange, and thus can help retard aging by reducing respiration through the peel, and help avoid moisture loss, achieving weight loss control.

In a preferred embodiment, when the formulation, object of the present invention, comprises at least one said film-forming agent, said sucrose ester of a fatty acid or sucrose glyceride of a fatty acid or a combination thereof is comprised in an amount between 0.1 and 20% (w/w). In a more preferred embodiment, the sucrose ester of a fatty acid or the sucrose glyceride of a fatty acid or a combination thereof is comprised in an amount between 3 and 10% (w/w).

In other preferred embodiments, the formulation may comprise as a further film-forming agent an additive which is at least one cellulose derivative. In the context of the present invention, such cellulose derivatives may be comprised in the formulation in combination with sucrose esters of the fatty acids or sucrose glycerides of fatty acids or combinations thereof. In other preferred embodiments, the cellulose derivative may be contained separately in the formulation. In both cases, the at least one cellulose derivative is comprised in the formulation in an amount between 0 and 20% (w/w), and in a more preferred embodiment the cellulose derivative is comprised in an amount between 2 and 5% (w/w). The cellulose derivative that may be included in the formulation of the present invention is selected from the group consisting of methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose or polymers of said cellulose derivatives and combinations thereof, wherein the polymers mentioned in this group of compounds are polymers of said cellulose derivatives.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the formulation which is the object of the invention may comprise lecithin as the phospholipid, said formulation having a composition with a w/w ratio as described below:

TABLE 3 embodiments of the formulations of the present invention

In other preferred embodiments, the aqueous formulation, referred to as formulation 1, which is the object of the present invention, may comprise the following formulation w/w:

TABLE 4 preferred embodiment of the present invention, referred to herein as formulation 1

In particular embodiments, soybean lecithin may be replaced with sunflower lecithin or any other phospholipid having antioxidant or cell wall forming properties. On this basis, a particular embodiment of said aqueous formulation with sunflower lecithin, referred to as formulation 2, may comprise the following composition w/w:

TABLE 5 preferred embodiment of the present invention, referred to herein as formulation 2

The aqueous formulation may comprise both types of lecithin as described above, namely sunflower lecithin and soybean lecithin. Two lecithins are used interchangeably in different embodiments of the aqueous formulation, the only difference between the two being their texture.

As mentioned in the use of the combination of polysorbate and sorbitan ester present in the formulation object of the present invention, they must be in the appropriate proportions to obtain the H L B of the lecithin.

In a preferred embodiment, the aqueous formulation of the present application may comprise at least one glycol. The glycol acts as a plasticizer in the present invention. The glycol may be selected from glycerol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, or combinations thereof.

In another preferred embodiment, the aqueous formulation is applied to crops such as pome, kiwi, avocado and stone fruit, with another type of film former such as sucrose esters of fatty acids, sucrose glycerides or cellulose, referred to as formulation 3, resulting in the following formulation:

TABLE 6 preferred embodiment of the present invention, referred to herein as formulation 3

Sucrose esters or sucrose glycerides or

Furthermore, in a more preferred embodiment, the aqueous formulation is applied to a crop of melons and the like, which is referred to as formulation 4, resulting in the following formulation:

TABLE 7 preferred embodiment of the present invention, referred to herein as formulation 4

Likewise, the aqueous formulations which are the object of the present invention may also comprise antioxidants, anti-browning agents, antifungal agents or combinations of the above.

The antioxidants that may be included in the aqueous formulation may in turn be of natural or chemical origin. The purpose of adding an antioxidant to the aqueous formulation is to combine the protective effect of the aqueous formulation with the effect of the antioxidant, promoting a synergistic protective effect of the formulation, and also delaying the senescence of fruit. In this regard, suitable, but non-limiting examples of naturally-derived antioxidants that may be included in the aqueous formulation are citric acid, ascorbic acid, Butyl Hydroxyanisole (BHA), Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), lactic acid, citric acid, tartrates, propyl gallate, 6-O-palmitoyl ascorbic acid, food additives, or combinations of the foregoing. Further, non-limiting examples of chemically-derived antioxidants that may be included in the aqueous formulation are diphenylamine, methyldiphenylamine, ethoxyquinoline, or combinations of the foregoing.

As mentioned previously, the formulation which is the object of the present invention may also comprise chemical anti-browning agents in its composition. In this regard, the aqueous formulation may comprise a chemical anti-browning agent as already described above in the present application.

Furthermore, the aqueous formulations which are the object of the present invention may comprise fungicides which have already been described above in the present application.

The purpose of all the above combinations is to obtain a synergistic effect in the alleviation of physiological diseases (preferably, browning) and, additionally, depending on the type of crop, in the case of the combination of the aqueous formulation with a fungicide substance, in order to obtain an additional antifungal effect in the aqueous formulation described in this application.

Taking into account what is described in this document, the process and the aqueous formulation, object of the present invention, enable to reduce the occurrence of:

1. physiological browning during storage

2. Physiological browning caused by ending Controlled Atmosphere (CA) preservation and changing to normal refrigeration

3. Physiological browning in normal cold storage caused by prolonged storage beyond the length of time recommended for the breed in question

4. Physiological browning during transport

4. Physiological browning due to ageing

6. After preservation, frictional browning during handling, preparation and transport

7. Excessive maturation or loss of organoleptic properties

Drawings

Figure 1 fruit after application treatment, before preparation and after changing from Controlled Atmosphere (CA) to Normal Atmosphere (NA) and removal from the NA chamber. When removed from NA, the fruit had a healthy appearance and no physiological browning symptoms.

Figure 2. detail photograph of fruit after removal from normal atmosphere.

Figure 3. photograph of fruit batch after preparation for sale. The scrap resulting from the frictional browning is virtually absent, showing the effectiveness of the treatment which is the object of the present invention. The fruit is shiny and healthy, making it marketable.

Figure 4 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the process, object of the present invention, as described in example 1 of this document. The shaded bar represents the percentage of fruit that is affected by superficial browning after 6 months of storage in CA at a temperature of 0 ℃ and 95% RH. Each bar represents a different save process. Further, each shade of the bar represents the following information: the dot shading corresponds to >12, 50% of the fruit whose surface is affected by browning. Diagonal shading corresponds to 12, 50% of the fruit whose surface is affected by browning. Finally, the cross-hatched squares correspond to fruits with an incipient browning on the surface.

Figure 5 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the process, object of the present invention, as described in example 1 of this document. The shaded bar represents the percentage of fruit that is affected by superficial browning after 6 months of storage in CA at a temperature of 0 ℃ and 95% RH. Each bar represents a different save process. Further, each shade of the bar represents the following information: the dot shading corresponds to >12, 50% of the fruit whose surface is affected by browning. Diagonal shading corresponds to 12, 50% of the fruit whose surface is affected by browning. Finally, the cross-hatched squares correspond to fruits with an incipient browning on the surface.

Figure 6 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the process, object of the present invention, as described in example 1 of this document. Figure 6.1 shows the appearance of fruit 6 months after treatment with "formulation 3". Figure 6.2 shows the appearance of fruit 6 months after treatment with "formulation 3". Figure 6.3 shows the appearance of fruit 6 months after not having undergone any preservation treatment. Figure 6.4 shows the appearance of fruit 6 months after treatment with DPA.

Figure 7 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the process, object of the present invention, as described in example 4 of this document. This figure shows the results of weight loss of fruit after the shelf life. Weight loss of plums was evaluated in two groups of fruits subjected to different physical conditions. The weight loss of the first group of fruits was evaluated after 30 days of storage at 0 ℃ and then 7 days at room temperature (RT °). The weight loss of the second group of fruits was assessed after 55 days of storage at 0 ℃ and subsequent 7 days at room temperature (RT °).

Figure 8. expression of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the method as object of the invention as described in example 4 of this document. images of fruits evaluated after 30 days of preservation at 0. figure 8.1 shows fruits not subjected to any preservation treatment figure 8.2 shows fruits treated with D L255 figure 8.3 shows fruits treated with 2% "preparation 3", figure 8.4 shows fruits treated with 5% "preparation 3", figure 8.5 shows cross sections of fruits not subjected to any preservation treatment figure 8.6 shows cross sections of fruits treated with D L255 figure 8.7 shows cross sections of fruits treated with 2% "preparation 3", figure 8.8 shows cross sections of fruits treated with 5% "preparation 3".

Figure 9. expression of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the method as object of the present invention as described in example 4 of this document. images of fruits evaluated after first 30 days at 0 ℃ and then 7 days of storage at room temperature (RT °).figure 9.1 shows fruits that have not undergone any preservation treatment figure 9.2 shows fruits treated with D L255 figure 9.3 shows fruits treated with 2% "formulation 3" figure 9.4 shows fruits treated with 5% "formulation 3".

Figure 10. expression of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the method as object of the invention as described in example 4 of this document. images of the stem area of fruit evaluated after first 30 days at 0 ℃ and then 7 days of storage at room temperature (RT °).figure 10.1 shows fruit that has not undergone any preservation treatment figure 10.2 shows fruit treated with D L255. figure 10.3 shows fruit treated with 2% "formulation 3" figure 10.4 shows fruit treated with 5% "formulation 3".

Figure 11. expression of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the method as object of the invention, as described in example 4 of this document. image of the external appearance of fruit evaluated after 55 days of preservation at 0. figure 11.1 shows fruit that has not undergone any preservation treatment figure 11.2 shows fruit treated with D L255 figure 11.3 shows fruit treated with 2% "formulation 3" figure 11.4 shows fruit treated with 5% "formulation 3".

Figure 12. expression of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the method as object of the invention as described in example 4 of this document. images of the external appearance of fruit evaluated after first being subjected to 55 days at 0 ℃ and then being stored for 7 days at room temperature (RT °). figure 12.1 shows fruit that has not undergone any preservation treatment figure 12.2 shows fruit treated with D L255 figure 12.3 shows fruit treated with 2% "formulation 3" figure 12.4 shows fruit treated with 5% "formulation 3".

Figure 13. expression of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the method as object of the invention as described in example 4 of this document. images of the stem regions of fruit evaluated after first having been subjected to 55 days at 0 ℃ and then stored for 7 days at room temperature (RT °). figure 13.1 shows fruit that has not undergone any preservation treatment figure 13.2 shows fruit treated with D L255. figure 13.3 shows fruit treated with 2% "formulation 3" figure 13.4 shows fruit treated with 5% "formulation 3".

Figure 14. expression of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the method as object of the invention as described in example 4 of this document. images of cross sections of fruit evaluated after first being subjected to 55 days at 0 ℃ and then being stored for 7 days at room temperature (RT °). figure 14.1 shows fruit that has not undergone any preservation treatment figure 14.2 shows fruit treated with D L255 figure 14.3 shows fruit treated with 2% "formulation 3" figure 14.4 shows fruit treated with 5% "formulation 3".

Figure 15 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the process, object of the present invention, as described in example 5 of this document. The figure shows the weight loss of the fruit throughout preservation: a) 15 days at 5 ℃, b) 30 days at 5 ℃, c) 30 days at 5 ℃ and 4 days at 20 ℃, and d) 30 days at 5 ℃ and 7 days at 20 ℃.

Figure 16 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the process, object of the present invention, as described in example 5 of this document. The graph shows the ripeness of the fruit after 31 days of shelf life at 5 ℃ and subsequent 1-10 days of storage at 20 ℃.

Figure 17 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the method as object of the invention as described in example 5 of this document, this figure shows the colour change of the fruit after preservation phase column "a" represents the control group, which is the fruit not subjected to any preservation treatment column "B" represents the fruit treated with D L255 column "C" represents the fruit treated with D L255 and formulation 3 column "D" represents the fruit treated with formulation 3 this figure shows the results of 31 days shelf life at 5 ℃, 30 days at 5 ℃ and 4 days at RT ° and 7 days at 5 ℃.

Figure 18. expression of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the formulation, object of the present invention, as described in example 5 of this document.image of a cross section of a group of fruits subjected to 31 days at 5. figure 18.1 shows fruits that have not undergone any preservation treatment.figure 18.2 shows fruits treated with D L255 figure 18.3 shows fruits treated with D L255 and 2% "formulation 3" figure 18.4 shows fruits treated with 2% "formulation 3".

Figure 19. expression of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the method as object of the invention as described in example 5 of this document figure 19.1 shows the external appearance of the fruit subjected to 31 days at 5 ℃ and 7 days at RT ° (S L.) figure 19.2 shows the cross section of the fruit subjected to 31 days at 5 ℃ and 7 days at RT ° (S L.) as can be seen in both images 19.1 and 19.2, the fruits are divided into 4 groups, identified as T0 as the fruit without any preservation treatment applied to them, as T1 as the fruit treated with D L255, as T2 as the fruit treated with D L255 and 2% "formulation 3", and as T3 as the fruit treated with 2% "formulation 3".

Figure 20 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the process, object of the present invention, as described in example 5 of this document. This figure shows the weight loss of the fruit throughout preservation: a) 15 days at 5 ℃, b) 44 days at 5 ℃, and c) 44 days at 5 ℃ and 5 days at 20 ℃.

Figure 21 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the process, object of the present invention, as described in example 5 of this document. This figure shows the ripeness of the fruit after a shelf life of 34 days at 5 ℃ and subsequent storage for 1-10 days at 20 ℃.

Figure 22. expression of the results of the study of the effectiveness of the method as object of the invention as described in example 5 of this document column "a" represents the control group, which is fruit not subjected to any preservation treatment column "B" represents fruit treated with D L255 column "C" represents fruit treated with D L255 and formulation 3 column "D" represents fruit treated with formulation 3 this figure shows the colour change of fruit subjected to different treatments after preservation period this figure shows the results of shelf life of 44 days at 5 ℃, 44 days at 5 ℃ and 2 days at RT ° and 30 days at 5 ℃ and 5 days at RTo.

Figure 23. expression of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the method as object of the invention as described in example 5 of this document.image of the external appearance of a group of fruits evaluated after preservation at 5 ℃ for 44 days.figure 23.1 shows fruits that have not undergone any preservation treatment.figure 23.2 shows fruits treated with D L255 figure 23.3 shows fruits treated with D L255 and 2% "preparation 3" figure 23.4 shows fruits treated with 2% "preparation 3".

Figure 24. expression of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the method as object of the invention as described in example 5 of this document.images of the external appearance of a group of fruits stored at 5 ℃ for 44 days and evaluated after a storage period of 5 days at RTo.24.1 shows fruits that have not undergone any storage treatment.24.2 shows fruits treated with D L255 255.24.3 shows fruits treated with D L255 and 2% "preparation 3", figure 24.4 shows fruits treated with 2% "preparation 3".

Figure 25 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the process, object of the present invention, as described in example 6 of this document. This figure shows the flesh firmness of three different groups of fruits: t0 is a fruit to which no preservation treatment has been applied; t1 is fruit treated with 2% "formulation 3"; t2 is fruit treated with 5% "formulation 3". The firmness was evaluated after 30 days of storage at 0 ℃.

Figure 26 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the process, object of the present invention, as described in example 6 of this document. This figure shows the flesh firmness of three different groups of fruits: t0 is fruit to which no preservation treatment was applied; t1 is fruit treated with 2% "formulation 3"; t2 is fruit treated with 5% "formulation 3". The firmness was assessed after 30 days of storage at 0 ℃ and 10 days of storage at RT °.

Figure 27 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the process, object of the present invention, as described in example 6 of this document. This figure shows the flesh firmness of three different groups of fruits: t0 is fruit to which no preservation treatment was applied; t1 is fruit treated with 2% "formulation 3"; t2 is fruit treated with 5% "formulation 3". The firmness was assessed after 47 days of storage at 0 ℃.

Figure 28 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the process, object of the present invention, as described in example 6 of this document. This figure shows the flesh firmness of three different groups of fruits: t0 is fruit to which no preservation treatment was applied; t1 is fruit treated with 2% "formulation 3"; t2 is fruit treated with 5% "formulation 3". The firmness was assessed after storage at 0 ℃ for 47 days and storage at RT for 10 days.

Figure 29 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the formulation object of the present invention as described in example 6 of this document. This figure shows the flesh firmness of three different groups of fruits: t0 is fruit to which no preservation treatment was applied; t1 is fruit treated with 2% "formulation 3"; t2 is fruit treated with 5% "formulation 3". The firmness was assessed after storage at 0 ℃ for 47 days and storage at RT for 15 days.

Figure 30 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the process, object of the present invention, as described in example 6 of this document. This figure shows the weight loss of three different groups of fruit: t0 is fruit to which no preservation treatment was applied; t1 is fruit treated with 2% "formulation 3"; t2 is fruit treated with 5% "formulation 3". The weight loss was evaluated after 30 days of storage at 0 ℃.

Figure 31 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the process, object of the present invention, as described in example 6 of this document. This figure shows the weight loss of three different groups of fruit: t0 is fruit to which no preservation treatment was applied; t1 is fruit treated with 2% "formulation 3"; t2 is fruit treated with 5% "formulation 3". The weight loss was evaluated after storage at 0 ℃ for 30 days and after storage at RT ° for 10 days.

Figure 32 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the process, object of the present invention, as described in example 6 of this document. This figure shows the weight loss of three different groups of fruit: t0 is fruit to which no preservation treatment was applied; t1 is fruit treated with 2% "formulation 3"; t2 is fruit treated with 5% "formulation 3". The weight loss was evaluated after 47 days of storage at 0 ℃ and 10 days of storage at RT °.

Figure 33 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the process, object of the present invention, as described in example 6 of this document. This figure shows the firmness of the capsule for different three groups of fruits: t0 is fruit to which no preservation treatment was applied; t1 is fruit treated with 2% "formulation 3"; t2 is fruit treated with 5% "formulation 3". The firmness was evaluated after 30 days of storage at 0 ℃.

Figure 34 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the process, object of the present invention, as described in example 6 of this document. This figure shows the firmness of the capsule for different three groups of fruits: t0 is fruit to which no preservation treatment was applied; t1 is fruit treated with 2% "formulation 3"; t2 is fruit treated with 5% "formulation 3". The firmness was stored at 0 ℃ for 30 days and evaluated after 10 days of storage at RT °.

Figure 35 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the process, object of the present invention, as described in example 6 of this document. This figure shows the firmness of the capsule for different three groups of fruits: t0 is fruit to which no preservation treatment was applied; t1 is fruit treated with 2% "formulation 3"; t2 is fruit treated with 5% "formulation 3". The firmness was assessed after 47 days of storage at 0 ℃.

Figure 36 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the process, object of the present invention, as described in example 6 of this document. This figure shows the firmness of the capsule for different three groups of fruits: t0 is fruit to which no preservation treatment was applied; t1 is fruit treated with 2% "formulation 3"; t2 is fruit treated with 5% "formulation 3". The firmness was stored at 0 ℃ for 30 days and evaluated after 10 days of storage at RT °.

Figure 37 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the process, object of the present invention, as described in example 7 of this document. Longitudinal view of fruit stored at 0 ℃ for 19 days, at 10 ℃ for 1 day and at 17-18 ℃ for 15 days. Fig. 37.1 shows fruit treated with formulation 4 in combination with other additives. Fig. 37.2 shows untreated fruit (control).

Figure 38 presentation of the results of the study on the effectiveness of the process, object of the present invention, as described in example 7 of this document. Images of cross sections of fruits stored at 0 ℃ for 19 days, at 10 ℃ for 1 day and at 17-18 ℃ for 15 days. Fig. 38.1 shows untreated fruit (control). Fig. 38.2 shows fruit treated with formulation 4 in combination with other additives.

Detailed Description