Objetivo Because of the health benefits, much effort nowadays is directed towards increasing the consumption of fruit. The attractiveness of fruit with respect to the purchasing behaviour of consumers is affected by visual appearance, but the expected internal quality is of equal importance. Mealiness is such an important internal quality parameter, which is characterised by a texture deterioration of the fruit during inappropriate storage resulting in soft, dry and mealy fruit. The phenomenon is of particular significance for fruit such as apples, peaches, nectarines and tomatoes which are characteristically juicy when fresh. It is estimated that 30 % of the apples in the Northern European countries are affected by mealiness to some degree. Because of the considerable economic loss and consumer aversion associated with mealy fruit, there is need for better understanding and control of the mealiness phenomenon. The overall objective of this project is to enhance the consumer's quality of fresh fruit by prevention or elimination of mealy products through respectively improved treatment, and the use of instrumental, objective measurement and monitoring techniques.To this end, the following sub-objectives will be assessed in the proposedproject :- development of a sensorial description of mealiness by means of profile descriptive techniques;- establishment of a relationship between the sensorial perception of mealiness, selected physical properties of the fruit and the availability of chemical taste components;- assessment of the factors influencing the development and intensity of mealiness;- establishment of the physical and histological phenomena underlying the development of mealiness;- the development of instrumental monitoring techniques for mealiness for use in optimal storage management;- the assessment of consumer perception of mealiness and its geographical dependency, its influence on the consumer acceptability of the fruit, and the effects of influencing consumers expectations towards a reduced incidence of mealiness in fruit.The above list of topics in conjunction with the products under study require aparticipation from a large geographical areas in a multidisciplinary research consortium. Ámbito científico agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturehorticulturefruit growing Programa(s) FP4-FAIR - Specific research, technological development and demonstration programme in the field of agriculture and fisheries (including agro-industry, food technologies, forestry, aquaculture and rural development), 1994-1998 Tema(s) 3.1.5 - Food consumption trends, consumer behaviour and nutritional status and sensory analysis Convocatoria de propuestas Data not available Régimen de financiación CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinador KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección KARDINAAL MERCIERLAAN, 92 3001 HEVERLEE Bélgica Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Participantes (5) Ordenar alfabéticamente Ordenar por aportación de la UE Ampliar todo Contraer todo ATO - DLO - AGROTECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE Países Bajos Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección BORNSESTEEG, 59 - P.O. BOX 17 6700 AA WAGENINGEN Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos BBSRC Institute of Food Research Reino Unido Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Reading Laboratory Earley Gate Whiteknights Road RG6 6BZ Reading Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos BRAN + LUEBBE G.M.B.H. Alemania Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección WERKSTR., 4 22844 NORDERSTEDT Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos C.S.I.C. España Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección POLIGONO LA COMA S/N 46010 VALENCIA Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE MADRID España Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección AVDA. COMPLUTENSE 28040 MADRID Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos