Analysis of the dynamic mechanical properties of apple tissue and relationships with the intracellular water status, gas distribution, histological properties and chemical composition

摘要

Mechanical properties of fruit depend on many parameters, including microporosity, cell characteristics and cell wall composition/structure. Recent developments in quantitative MRI provide the possibility of studying fruit through local measurements of multi-exponential T-2 reflecting water status and distribution at the subcellular level, and apparent microporosity. In the present study, dynamic mechanical analysis provided Young's modulus and the damping factor, reflecting elastic and viscous properties of apple tissue, respectively. These measurements were compared to quantitative MRI measurements, biochemical analysis (water, free sugar and alcohol-insoluble solid contents, cell wall composition) and histological measurements, all performed on apple parenchyma tissue, The aim was to investigate the respective contributions of microporosity, intracellular water status and distribution, and chemical composition to mechanical properties characterizing fruit texture quality.