*Prunus* spp. Fruit Quality and Postharvest: Today's Challenges and Future Perspectives

*Sara Ricardo-Rodrigues, Marta Laranjo, Miguel Elias and Ana Cristina Agulheiro-Santos*

### **Abstract**

*Prunus* is a genus of trees and shrubs that date to the Eocene. Some species are known for their health benefits and for their exceptional role in international trade. Several *Prunus* species are widely cultivated all over the world, such as sweet cherry (*Prunus avium* L.), sour cherry (*Prunus cerasus* L.), plums (*Prunus salicina* L.), prunes (*Prunus domestica* L.), peaches (*Prunus persica* L.) or almonds (*Prunus amygdalus*, syn. *Prunus dulcis*). In this work, we review the most important quality parameters and sensory attributes for the abovementioned main *Prunus* species. Moreover, we focus on the postharvest challenges that are posed today to producers and retailers, as well as on consumer preferences. Finally, we discuss some new commercialization perspectives considering that the final aim agronomic activity is to produce fruits of good nutritional and sensory quality, with the least environmental impact possible and in a sustainable manner, according to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of 2030 Agenda of the United Nations.

**Keywords:** stone fruits, quality, shelf-life, consumers, trade

#### **1. Introduction**

Peaches (*Prunus persica* L.), Japanese plums (*Prunus salicina* Lindl), prunes (*Prunus domestica* L.), apricots (*Prunus armeniaca* L.), sweet (*Prunus avium* L.) and sour (*Prunus cerasus* L.) cherry fruits, and even some well-known varieties such as flat peach (*Prunus persica* var. platycarpa, also called var. compressa) and nectarines (*Prunus persica* var. nucipersica or var. nectarina Batsch), are fleshy fruits from the *Prunus* genus, whose culture is widespread, and these fruits are broadly consumed and appreciated all over the world. Within this genus, almonds (*Prunus amygdalus* Batsch) are an exception because they are a dry fruit, whose production and consumption have great expression.

Drupes can be of two types, namely dry or fleshy and succulent fruits. Drupes or stone fruits usually have one seed per carpel [1]. Fleshy or succulent fruits have a fleshy and thick pericarp, with three layers, an exterior protective epicarp, a fleshy

and edible mesocarp and woody inner stony endocarp, which adhere to the seed [1]. On the other hand, dry fruits have an entire pericarp with enclosed seeds, which is dry stony at full maturity [1].
