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Synthesis, Oxidation, And Distribution Of Polyphenols In Strawberry Fruit During Cold Storage, Katrina E. Kelly

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Plants inherently produce polyphenols (i.e., antioxidants) as a response to reduce oxidative stress caused by abusive environmental pre- and postharvest conditions. These antioxidants, as well as vitamin C, are present in considerable levels in strawberries; however, excessive oxidative stress brought on by improper postharvest handling conditions can reduce the levels of antioxidants in the fruit and shorten the shelf-life of strawberries. Nevertheless, it may be possible to utilize strawberry’s naturally occurring polyphenols to reduce postharvest stress and extend their shelf life. The polyphenolic profile has been previously investigated in several strawberry cultivars, however no studies have determined the unique polyphenolic …