Post-cut enzymatic browning of apples is a
very important issue for the fresh-cut industry
because of its negative impact on the
appearance and quality of processed product.
The rate and intensity of enzymatic browning
are affected by several pre-, post-harvest and
handling factors. The objectives of the present
study were to assess browning propensity of 8
advanced and semi-advanced apple lines
(Table 1) compared to 4 named varieties.
Browning intensity of cut apple surface was
evaluated subjectively using visual
assessment and objectively using a
chromatometer. There were significant
differences between the tested genotypes for
cut surface browning. ‘Reinette Russet’
displayed the highest browning indexes
independent from the cutting tool or
assessment methods. ‘Eden
TM
’, a recently
released line from Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada (AAFC), exhibited the lowest browning
indexes. Almost all the tested genotypes
evaluated visually and with a chromatometer
had lower browning values when a surgical
blade was used compared to a stainless steel
knife. The former method could be
recommended to the industry to improve
quality and reduce post-cut browning of apple
slices. There was a significant interaction,
between the genotypes and the method (tool)
used, indicating that some lines responded
differently to the method used for slicing. In
summary, tested genotypes SJCA39R5A80,
SJCA37R5A76, JCA21R5A20, SJCA14R3A10
had relative high enzymatic browning and are
not recommended for apple slices production,
while SJCA28R6A73 and SJCA30R6A10 had
relative low enzymatic browning value and
might be suitable for apple slices industry