Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41154090›Full record

ArticleFoods (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Resolving the Texture-Flavor Trade-Off in 'Annurca' Apples with an Integrated Postharvest System.

Giandomenico Corrado, Alessandro Mataffo, Pasquale Scognamiglio, Maurizio Teobaldelli, Boris Basile

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Giandomenico CorradoDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-8681-6988
Alessandro MataffoDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy.
Pasquale ScognamiglioDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy.
Maurizio TeobaldelliDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-1057-385X
Boris BasileDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-4207-576X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The 'Annurca' apple, a traditional Italian cultivar protected by the "Melannurca Campana" EU PGI designation, undergoes a mandatory, traditional postharvest reddening process in a melaio. While essential for developing its characteristic flavor and color, this process can also lead to significant textural degradation, resulting in a mealy and soft fruit that conflicts with modern consumer expectations. This study investigated an integrated postharvest strategy to resolve this quality trade-off. We evaluated the sensory profile and consumer acceptance of 'Annurca' apples subjected to three treatments: traditional melaio reddening (Melaio), a 1-methylcyclopropene treatment alone (MCP), and a combined treatment of MCP followed by melaio reddening (MCP+Melaio). A panel of 534 consumers evaluated the apples for overall liking and the intensity of seven key sensory attributes. The results showed that the integrated 'MCP+Melaio' treatment was significantly preferred (Mean liking = 6.61) over both the traditional 'Melaio' (M = 5.91) and 'MCP' alone (M = 5.91) treatments. This preference was driven by a superior sensory profile that combined the high crunchiness and low mealiness of the MCP treatment with the high perceived aroma intensity and sweetness developed during the melaio phase. Furthermore, consumer segmentation analysis identified four distinct preference clusters, revealing that the integrated treatment's success derived from its ability to satisfy the divergent priorities of the two largest segments: "Melaio Fans" (37%) and "Texture & Flavor Seekers" (35%). Our findings demonstrate that combining 1-MCP with traditional practices creates a synergistic effect, producing a high-quality apple that is texturally superior, aromatically intense, and has an extended sensory shelf-life. This integrated approach offers a scientifically validated and practical solution to enhance the quality and consistency of 'Annurca' apple production.

Indexed as

consumer preferenceconsumer segmentationMalus domesticapostharvest technologysensory analysis

Identifiers

PMID41154090
PMCPMC12564671

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.