Articles
Intra-canopy variability in apple fruit quality is great
Article number
1346_105
Pages
821 – 828
Language
English
Abstract
Fruit quality is a fundamentally important determinant of crop value and, combined with yield, largely determines orchard profitability.
As such, fruit quality parameters are well-studied among genotypes, within orchard systems, or in response to a myriad of treatments.
Irrespective of trial design and objectives, fruit quality data are typically generated from analyses of random subsamples from within the population of fruit.
In the current study, we evaluated the variability in quality attributes among all fruit in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) trees.
As an initial step to developing management strategies for optimizing fruit quality, we sought to better define the existing variability in quality attributes among fruit and identify the sources of that variability.
We compared quality of apples from 6-year-old WA38 trees trained to a bi-axis system, and 3-year-old Fuji apple trees in a high-density spindle commercial orchard. Fuji trees were defoliated manually just prior to commercial harvest, and the position of each fruit and major tree limbs were mapped using a Topcon total station laser scanner.
Each fruit was evaluated for key quality parameters, including weight, exocarp color, firmness, and soluble solids content.
There was significant variability in every quality trait among individual fruit, with 2-3 fold range for most attributes.
There were no clear relationships between fruit position in the canopy and any quality attribute in the high-density trees for Fuji, but in WA38 the fruit in the upper canopy were larger and firmer than fruit in the basal regions.
This work highlights significant variability in fruit quality among fruit despite their being grown with high management inputs and in modern fruiting wall systems.
Our work continues to identify key developmental and/or physiological factors that contribute to this variability.
As such, fruit quality parameters are well-studied among genotypes, within orchard systems, or in response to a myriad of treatments.
Irrespective of trial design and objectives, fruit quality data are typically generated from analyses of random subsamples from within the population of fruit.
In the current study, we evaluated the variability in quality attributes among all fruit in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) trees.
As an initial step to developing management strategies for optimizing fruit quality, we sought to better define the existing variability in quality attributes among fruit and identify the sources of that variability.
We compared quality of apples from 6-year-old WA38 trees trained to a bi-axis system, and 3-year-old Fuji apple trees in a high-density spindle commercial orchard. Fuji trees were defoliated manually just prior to commercial harvest, and the position of each fruit and major tree limbs were mapped using a Topcon total station laser scanner.
Each fruit was evaluated for key quality parameters, including weight, exocarp color, firmness, and soluble solids content.
There was significant variability in every quality trait among individual fruit, with 2-3 fold range for most attributes.
There were no clear relationships between fruit position in the canopy and any quality attribute in the high-density trees for Fuji, but in WA38 the fruit in the upper canopy were larger and firmer than fruit in the basal regions.
This work highlights significant variability in fruit quality among fruit despite their being grown with high management inputs and in modern fruiting wall systems.
Our work continues to identify key developmental and/or physiological factors that contribute to this variability.
Publication
Authors
M. Whiting, B. Sallato
Keywords
fruit weight, soluble solids, firmness, orchard system
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