Postharvest technologies play a key role in enhancing shelf life and maintaining quality characteristics of tender fruits, such as nectarines (Prunus persica [L.] Batsch var. nectarina). This research investigated the effects of an enhanced freshness formulation (EFF), containing hexanal as the key ingredient, in enhancing the shelf life of field grown nectarines and its effects on the composition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). ‘Fantasia’ nectarine fruits at two commercial orchards in the Niagara region were subject to preharvest sprays of 2% EFF (15 and 7 days preharvest) and stored at ambient conditions (25 °C) with volatile analyses conducted at 0, 3, 5, 7, and 11 days postharvest. The volatile analysis study indicated for the first time that hexanal is naturally present in nectarine fruit. This was confirmed by GC–MS analysis and validated with standards. GC–EIMS analyses of targeted VOCs validated with standards indicated reduced levels of VOCs associated with fruit ripening and fruity odor, such as lactones, in hexanal-treated fruit, and an increased level of C6 compounds associated with unripe fruit. Principal component analysis biplot with scores and loadings of the fruit VOCs and quality parameters indicated a tight association between TSS and lactones, which was inversely associated with firmness, ground color, acetates, and ester compounds. Pearson correlation coefficients also indicated a very high positive correlation between hexanal and levels of VOCs, such as 1-hexanol, E-2-hexanal, 3-hexanal, hexen-1-ol, and other C6 acetates. These findings may indicate a delay in the ripening process caused by hexanal formulation, which may be associated with modulated expression of key ripening-related volatile pathways, therefore enhancing the shelf life and quality of nectarines.

中文翻译：

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“幻想曲”油桃挥发性特征的变化 [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, var. nectarina] 用含有己醛的增强新鲜度配方 (EFF) 处理

采后技术在延长保质期和保持嫩果实（如油桃（Prunus persica [L.] Batsch var. nectarina））的质量特征方面发挥着关键作用。该研究调查了以己醛为主要成分的增强新鲜度配方 (EFF) 在延长田间种植油桃的保质期方面的效果及其对挥发性有机化合物 (VOC) 组成的影响。尼亚加拉地区两个商业果园的“幻想曲”油桃果实在收获前喷洒了 2% EFF（收获前 15 天和 7 天），并在环境条件 (25 °C) 下储存，并在 0、3、5、收获后第7天和第11天。挥发性分析研究首次表明，油桃果实中天然存在己醛。这通过 GC-MS 分析得到证实，并通过标准进行验证。用标准验证的目标 VOC 的 GC-EIMS 分析表明，在己醛处理的水果中，与水果成熟和水果气味（如内酯）相关的 VOC 水平降低，与未成熟水果相关的 C6 化合物水平增加。带有水果 VOC 和质量参数的分数和负载的主成分分析双标图表明 TSS 和内酯之间存在紧密关联，内酯与硬度、底色、醋酸盐和酯化合物呈负相关。Pearson 相关系数还表明，己醛与 VOC 水平之间存在非常高的正相关，例如 1-己醇、E-2-己醛、3-己醛、己烯-1-醇和其他 C6 乙酸酯。这些发现可能表明由己醛配方引起的成熟过程延迟，