Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Effect of harvest date on fruit maturity, quality and storability of ‘Lodel’ apples

Author(s):

Nomeda Kviklienė, Darius Kviklys, Alma Valiuškaitė, Pranas Viskelis ^*, Nobertas Uselis, Juozas Lanauskas, Loreta Buskiene

Recieved Date: 2011-07-28, Accepted Date: 2011-10-13

Abstract:

Investigations of quality changes of ‘Lodel’ apple (Malus x domestica) during maturity and storage were carried out at the Institute of Horticulture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, in 2008-2009. Apples for long storage were harvested 5 times at weekly intervals 2-3 weeks before and after the predictable optimum harvest date. Maturity and quality parameters were determined at each harvest and after 90, 150 and 180 days of storage. During the investigation period fruit quality parameters changed according to the harvest date. Later harvested fruits had bigger size and were more colourful. Earlier picked apples were firmer both before and after storage, though the highest softening was observed at the same time. Later picked apples showed higher soluble solid content (SSC) not only at harvest time, but at the end of storage too. The results of fruit firmness, soluble solids, eating quality and storage ability for the various harvest dates indicate that ‘Lodel’ fruits should be harvested at maturity index of 0.20 – 0.13. The effect of the harvest date on fruit quality and storability was significant up to 150 days of storage. After this date a fast decline of apple quality parameters was observed. During the last month of storage an increase of rot incidence and a decrease of appearance and taste were recorded irrespectively of the harvest time. ‘Lodel’ apple rot caused by Monilinia sp., Gloeosporium spp. and Penicillium spp. and bitter rot caused by Gloeosporium album were the most common storage diseases recorded in this study. Early wilting of ‘Lodel’ apples was the main problem of the variety during storage.

Keywords:

Firmness, Malus x domestica, maturity index, respiration, rot, soluble solids, weight loss

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2011
Volume: 9
Issue: 3&4
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 210-213

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