Changes in Asian and European pear cultivars fruit after harvest in various storage conditions

Asian pears are characteristic for the high variability of postharvest ripening among cultivars.
Some cultivars are classified as climacteric and the rest shows non-climacteric pattern of ripening.
Five Asian pear cultivars (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai) and two European cultivars (Pyrus communis L.) were analysed during postharvest ripening.
One half of the pear fruits was stored under controlled atmosphere, DCA (0.5% O₂, 0.5% CO₂) at various temperatures after harvesting, while the other half was stored under regular atmosphere, RA (20.9% O₂, 0.05% CO₂). A portion of the fruit was treated with exogenous ethylene for investigation of ethylene influence.
Production of CO₂ and ethylene, changes in flesh firmness, soluble solids and organic acids were monitored.
Asian pears showed higher flesh firmness after storing than European pears.
Differences in ethylene production and the rate of fruit respiration were also observed.
Effects of postharvest ripening typical of European pears such as production of buttery consistency were not confirmed in Asian pears.

III Balkan Symposium on Fruit Growing

M. Horak, J. Golias, J. Balik, A. Nemcova, P. Snurkovic, J. Koziskova

Pyrus pyrifolia, Pyrus communis, controlled atmosphere, ethylene, firmness

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1139.105