New technological measures for growing fruits without phytopharmaceutical residues

Due to recent food scandals, fruit safety is receiving more attention than ever by governments, policy makers, health professionals and food industry. For most consumers from all over the world, food safety has become one of the most important attributes of food. Consumer cocern fueled by several food scandals has influenced food purchasing patterns, as well as several aspects of political structures, international trade and farming industry. One such aspect has been the expansion of demand for organically grown fruit which still represents only a small market sector but is one of the fastest growing food segment. The reasons for this increased trend have been associated with increased interest towards personal health and environmental protection. There is a widespread belief that organic food is healthier and safer than conventional food nad consumers are wiling to pay premium price to obtain it. Although regarded as safier due to the absence of synthetic agrochemicals, some concernes regarding secondary metabolites of moulds are arising among food experts. Mycotoxins are such by-products with extremely controversial issue for orgically produced fruit. Since effective synthetic fungicides are not allowed in organic production, it is logical to assume that organically produced fruit has higher microbial load and is more susceptible to mould contamination. The aim of our study is to grow resistant apple cultivar ‘Topaz’ under different agricultural growing regimes (standard organic system and experimental low-input organic system) and apply hot water treatment (52 °C, 2 minutes) to reduce microbial load and subsequent formation of mycotoxin patulin during the storage of fruits. Hot water treatment is regarded as safe to fruit but may change slightly metabolism at least in peel. Due to this changes, some attributes like aroma compounds and content of ascorbic acid and total phenols will be monitored in hot water-treated and control ‘Topaz’ apples. The same experiments will be carried out in resistant peach fruit (local variety nicknamed wineyard’s peach) and one cherry cultivar as well as one strawberry cultivar sutable for organic growing approach according to the information obtained in our previous research activities. With regard to safety, microbial load on fruit surface and the content of mycotoxin patulin will be monitored in above mentioned fruit species. This project proposal is a contiunuation of previous project in which we studied pesticide residues as influenced by time of application in orchard and storage conditions. The results of these sub-projects could be directly transferred to fruit growers and fruit storage sector. We expect the results will improve to understand the influence of agriculture practice (pest management (zero residues technology, use of “plant extracts and simiochemicals)  instead of pesticides), pruning, mechanical thinning, , resistent cultivars, soil management, use of predators,  cowering of trees, “intercropping” in self regulating orchard, etc.) and pre-storage treatments (hot water dipping) on storeability, quality and microbial safety of apples, peach fruit, cherries and strawberries. This project will also provide an information of economical efficiency of tested technologies.

The results will be further presented to the professional and scientific community at scientific / professional meetings and in relevant scientific publications. Accomplished research offer extensive opportunities for further exploration and the search for alternative measures for the production of safe and quality food. The project has set methods for the determination of patulin , a method for the determination of pesticide residues and method for analysis of aroma compounds in apples, pears and strawberries. We expect further ineteres of fruit growers, fraudulent authorities and extension service to cooperate in the future.

Results of experiments regarding the effects of various measures in orchard on the quality of the product and the occurrence of disease offer a solution to the tendency of consumers for safe and quality food. The results obtained so faar will allow the direct transfer of knowledge to the agri-food industry and will contribute to the self-supply of strawberries, cherries , apples and pears. The results will improve food safety of fruit produced in Slovenia ( without the presence of phytopharmaceutical residues and mycotoxins ) , extended storability and improve the quality of stored fruit. This will eventually lead to safer technology of production and abandoning some spraying , where proved efficient.