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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Raleigh, North Carolina » Food Science and Market Quality and Handling Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #416717
Research Project: Improved Vegetable Processing Methods to Reduce Environmental Impact, Enhance Product Quality and Reduce Food Waste

Location: Food Science and Market Quality and Handling Research Unit

Title: Blueberry texture and total polysaccharide composition of 10 southern highbush cultivars

Author
item TRANDEL-HAYSE, MARLEE - North Carolina State University
item OH, HEEDUK - North Carolina State University
item Johanningsmeier, Suzanne
item IORIZZO, MASSIMO - North Carolina State University
item PERKINS-VEAZIE, PENELOPE - North Carolina State University

Submitted to: Acta horticulturae
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/24/2025
Publication Date: 11/28/2025
Citation: Trandel-Hayse, M., Oh, H., Johanningsmeier, S.D., Iorizzo, M., Perkins-Veazie, P. 2025. Blueberry texture and total polysaccharide composition of 10 southern highbush cultivars. Acta horticulturae. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1440.48.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1440.48

Interpretive Summary: Fruit firmness in fresh market blueberries is a critical quality component for shelf-life and consumer acceptance. Shelf-life and fruit quality are highly variable among different blueberry types. This study explored the cell wall composition of 10 blueberry cultivars in relation to fruit texture before and after 14 days of cold storage. The results give insights into the types of cell wall components that influence shelf-life and fruit quality, which can be used by breeders for developing new and improved blueberry varieties.

Technical Abstract: Blueberry texture is critical for consumer acceptance and inconsistent texture of a cultivar can decrease market value. Loss of berry texture may be associated with solubilization of cell wall polysaccharides during storage. In this study, blueberry texture and total polysaccharide fractions in peel and pulp were evaluated in ten southern highbush cultivars at harvest and after cold storge. Blueberry cultivars of crisp, firm and soft phenotypes were harvested (T0) and stored for 14 days at 3 °C, 80% RH (T2). Fruit texture of the epidermis (Fep), hypoderm (Fh), parenchyma (Fp) and inner pulp (Finner) were determined using a TA.XTPlus Texture Analyzer equipped with a 1.4 mm needle probe. Peel and pulp alcohol insoluble residues (AIRs) were prepared then sequentially extracted to yield water soluble pectin (WSF), chelator soluble pectin (ESF), sodium carbonate soluble pectin (NSF), alkali soluble hemicellulose (KSF) and un-extractable cellulose (UNX) fractions. Fep decreased by 15% after 14 days storage. Although Finner was highest in the crisp cultivars, no change among cultivars was found in firmness after storage. WSF increased through storage and was highest in firm and crisp cultivars (11.48 to 12.99%). UNX differed among the cultivars and was highest in ‘Windsor’, ‘Bluecrisp’ and ‘Croaton’ (30.25 to 31.08%). WSF and UNX differed in tissue type with WSF highest in the peel (11.70%) and UNX highest in the pulp (30.27%). The storage index (SI) of Fep and Finner were correlated to the SI of the total sequential fractions. Changes in Fep were negatively correlated to pulp NSF (r = -0.80), while changes in Finner were negatively correlated to pulp UNX (r = -0.88). NSF is composed of covalently bound pectin, specifically rhamnogalacturonan I and homogalacturonan, suggesting loss of epidermal firmness is related to the degradation of covalently bound pectins in the pulp. UNX is composed of cellulose, indicating cellulose content of the pulp decreases with storage of blueberries and is related to softening.