Unidade de Investigação - MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre
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Percorrer Unidade de Investigação - MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre por Domínios Científicos e Tecnológicos (FOS) "Ciências Agrárias::Biotecnologia Agrária e Alimentar"
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- Assessment of Thermosonication as Postharvest Treatment Applied on Whole Tomato Fruits: Optimization and ValidationPublication . Gonçalves, Elsa M.; Silva, Cristina L.M.; Pinheiro, Joaquina; Maneta Ganhão, Rui ManuelTomatoes are a popular and rich fruit due to their nutritional and bioactive composition as vitamins, antioxidants, and phenolics contributing to the promotion of consumer health. For this reason, emerging postharvest technologies need to be evaluated to achieve the maintenance of sensorial and quality-related characteristics, like color and texture, while aiding to fruit decontamination. Optimization of thermosonication as postharvest treatments on whole, mature-green tomatoes (cv. “Zinac”) to improve quality (color, texture, total phenolic content, and weight loss) was performed by response surface methodology. Temperature (32–48 °C), treatment time (13–47 min), and storage period at 10 °C (1–15 days) at constant ultrasound frequency (45 kHz; 80% power level), were the independent variables. In general, thermosonication delayed tomato color changes while achieving total phenolic content increase and good overall quality. Three optimal thermosonication conditions were selected and validated (32 °C-13 min, 35 °C-20 min and 40 °C-30 min). The most suitable thermosonication condition that promoted a longer storage while keeping a high-quality standard was at 40 °C during 30 min. This study demonstrated that thermosonication provides an effective alternative methodology to guarantee tomato quality without significant change during the expected postharvest period.
- Evaluating the Potential of the Defatted By-Product of Aurantiochytrium sp. Industrial Cultivation as a Functional FoodPublication . Reboleira, João; Félix, Rafael; Félix, Carina; Melo, Marcelo M. R. de; Silva, Carlos M.; Saraiva, Jorge A.; Bandarra, Narcisa M.; Teixeira, Bárbara; Mendes, Rogério; Paulo, Maria C.; Coutinho, Joana; Lemos, Marco F. L.While Aurantiochytrium sp. is an increasingly popular source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), its extraction generates high amounts of waste, including the spent, defatted residue. The composition and bioactivities of this by-product could prove to be a major part of the sustainable valorisation of this organism within the framework of a circular economy. In this study, the defatted biomass of commercial Aurantiochytrium sp. was nutritionally characterised, and its amino acid profile was detailed. Additionally, the antioxidant and prebiotic potentials of an enzymatically digested sample of defatted Aurantiochytrium sp. were evaluated under a set of miniaturised in vitro assays. The nutritional profile of the spent Aurantiochytrium biomass revealed a protein and dietary-fibre rich product, with values reaching 26.7% and 31.0% for each, respectively. It also held high concentrations of glutamic and aspartic acid, as well as a favourable lysine/arginine ratio of 3.73. The digested samples demonstrated significant Weissela cibaria and Bifidobacterium bifidum growth-enhancing potential. Residual ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) activity was likely attributed to antioxidant amino acids or peptides. The study demonstrated that some of the nutritional and functional potential that reside in the defatted Aurantiochytrium sp. waste encourages additional studies and the development of food supplements employing this resource’s by-products under a biorefinery framework.
- Pre- and Postharvest Determinants, Technological Innovations and By-Product Valorization in Berry Crops: A Comprehensive and Critical ReviewPublication . Gonçalves, Elsa M.; Ganhão, Rui; Pinheiro, JoaquinaBerries—including strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cranberries, and several less commonly cultivated berry species—are highly valued for their sensory quality and rich content of bioactive compounds, yet they are among the most perishable horticultural products. Their soft texture, high respiration rate, and susceptibility to fungal pathogens lead to rapid postharvest deterioration and significant economic losses. This review synthesizes advances in berry postharvest management reported between 2010 and 2025. Conventional strategies such as rapid precooling, cold-chain optimization, controlled and modified atmospheres, and edible coatings are discussed alongside emerging non-thermal technologies, including UV-C light, ozone, cold plasma, ultrasound, biocontrol agents, and intelligent packaging systems. Particular emphasis is placed on the instability of anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds, microbial spoilage dynamics, and the influence of cultivar genetics and preharvest factors on postharvest performance. The review also highlights opportunities for circular-economy applications, as berry pomace, seeds, and skins represent valuable sources of polyphenols, dietary fiber, and seed oils for use in food, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and bio-based packaging sectors. Looking ahead, future research should prioritize integrated, multi-hurdle, low-residue postharvest strategies, the scale-up of non-thermal technologies, and data-driven cold-chain management. Overall, coordinated physiological, technological, and sustainability-oriented approaches are essential to maintain berry quality, reduce postharvest losses, and strengthen the resilience of berry value chains.
- Production of parsley and pennyroyal with an African catfish-based aquaponics partially fed with yellow mealworms - Tenebrio molitorPublication . Bernardino, Raul; Vieira, Judite; Vaz, Daniela C.; Santos, Ounísia D.; Ribeiro, Vânia S.; Pires, Cristiana L.; Cotrim, Luís; Bernardino, SusanaInsects can be used as alternative protein/food sources. Here, a novel aquaponic system based on the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fed with 30% of yellow mealworms (YM) (Tenebrio molitor) as substitute feed to 100% of fish meal (FM) was employed to produce parsley (Petroselinum crispum) and pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium). The two systems implemented (30YW/70FM and 100FM - control) showed identical water quality parameters. The 30YW/70FM operation led to a reduction by 27% of the carbon footprint, relatively to the 100FM system. Plants cultivated in the 30YW/70FM aquaponic system led to lower plant biomass (↓∼75%), as stated by the statistically significant (p < 0.05) lower values of “plant height”, “foliage diameter”, “leaf number”, “biggest leaf length” and “root length”. Moreover, 100FM parsley showed higher levels of greenness (100%) and health status (97%) than the 30YW/70FM plants (↓50% greenness; ↓20% health status). Likewise, 100FM pennyroyal also showed higher levels of greenness (100%) and health status (100%) than 30YW/70FM pennyroyal (↓56 % greenness; ↓59% health status). Also, even if all plants presented equivalent levels of P, K, Ca and Fe, the plants grown in the 30YW/70FM system showed some Cl-accumulation (>7.0 g Cl.kg−1 for parsley and > 4.0 g Cl.kg−1 for pennyroyal, in dry weight) in the leaves and Cu and Mn accumulation in the roots (> 0.4 g.kg−1 in dry weight). The presence of high concentrations of Cl in T. molitor, and consequently in the water and fish faeces, might have caused some abiotic stress and toxicity to plant tissues, reducing plant growth.