Articles
Effects of acclimation prior to storage on marketable attributes for fresh-market blackberries
Article number
1388_40
Pages
271 – 280
Language
English
Abstract
Since fresh-market blackberries (Rubus L. subgenus Rubus Watson) are a delicate fruit, handling during harvest and storage impacts marketability and profitably.
In 2020 and 2021, four blackberry cultivars (Natchez, Osage, Prime-Ark® ® Traveler, and Sweet-Ark® CaddoRSQUO) grown commercially in Arkansas were harvested and stored after two acclimation treatments (non-acclimated berries placed at 2°C and berries acclimated at 10°C for 4 h then transferred to 2°C). The blackberries at harvest had physical (3-9 g, 18-31 mm long, 18-23 mm wide, and 6-10 N firmness) and composition (8-12% soluble solids, 3.0-3.3 pH, and 1.0-1.4% titratable acidity) attributes within optimal ranges.
Marketability attributes evaluated after storage for 21 days at 2°C included percent leakage (berries with juice visible), decay (visible mold or rot), and red drupelet reversion (drupelets change from black to red) of berries in a clamshell.
Acclimation and cultivar did not impact decay, but blackberry decay was higher in 2021 (16.56%) than in 2020 (0.31%). The interaction of acclimation × cultivar × year was significant for leakage.
Regardless of acclimation, all cultivars in 2020 (0.83-7.50%) had lower leakage than in 2021 (4.80-55.54%). While acclimation did not impact leakage in any cultivar in 2020, in 2021, non-acclimated Natchez had higher leakage than acclimated berries but the reverse for Prime-Ark® Traveler and Sweet-Ark® Caddo. Cultivar × year and acclimation × year were significant for red drupelet reversion.
Acclimation did not impact red drupelet reversion within each year.
Non-acclimated blackberries in 2020 (4.79%) had higher red drupelet reversion than non-acclimated berries (0.97%) in 2021. Year did not impact rates of red drupelet reversion for Natchez, Osage, or Prime-Ark® Traveler. However, rates were higher for Sweet-Ark® Caddo in 2020 (9.58%) than in 2021 (1.91%). Overall, year and cultivar had more of an impact on marketability attributes than acclimation, but red drupelet reversion and decay were low for fresh market acclimated and non-acclimated blackberries stored at 2°C for 21 days.
In 2020 and 2021, four blackberry cultivars (Natchez, Osage, Prime-Ark® ® Traveler, and Sweet-Ark® CaddoRSQUO) grown commercially in Arkansas were harvested and stored after two acclimation treatments (non-acclimated berries placed at 2°C and berries acclimated at 10°C for 4 h then transferred to 2°C). The blackberries at harvest had physical (3-9 g, 18-31 mm long, 18-23 mm wide, and 6-10 N firmness) and composition (8-12% soluble solids, 3.0-3.3 pH, and 1.0-1.4% titratable acidity) attributes within optimal ranges.
Marketability attributes evaluated after storage for 21 days at 2°C included percent leakage (berries with juice visible), decay (visible mold or rot), and red drupelet reversion (drupelets change from black to red) of berries in a clamshell.
Acclimation and cultivar did not impact decay, but blackberry decay was higher in 2021 (16.56%) than in 2020 (0.31%). The interaction of acclimation × cultivar × year was significant for leakage.
Regardless of acclimation, all cultivars in 2020 (0.83-7.50%) had lower leakage than in 2021 (4.80-55.54%). While acclimation did not impact leakage in any cultivar in 2020, in 2021, non-acclimated Natchez had higher leakage than acclimated berries but the reverse for Prime-Ark® Traveler and Sweet-Ark® Caddo. Cultivar × year and acclimation × year were significant for red drupelet reversion.
Acclimation did not impact red drupelet reversion within each year.
Non-acclimated blackberries in 2020 (4.79%) had higher red drupelet reversion than non-acclimated berries (0.97%) in 2021. Year did not impact rates of red drupelet reversion for Natchez, Osage, or Prime-Ark® Traveler. However, rates were higher for Sweet-Ark® Caddo in 2020 (9.58%) than in 2021 (1.91%). Overall, year and cultivar had more of an impact on marketability attributes than acclimation, but red drupelet reversion and decay were low for fresh market acclimated and non-acclimated blackberries stored at 2°C for 21 days.
Publication
Authors
A. Myers, R. Threlfall, A. McWhirt
Keywords
Rubus, composition, shelf-life, red drupelet reversion, decay, firmness
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