USE OF INTERNAL ETHYLENE CONCENTRATION AS A MATURITY INDEX OF ELEVEN APPLE CULTIVARS

Eleven commercial apple cultivars were harvested weekly during two harvest seasons (1982 & 1983). The internal ethylene concentration in the cores of apple fruits was measured within four hours after harvest on each harvest date to evaluate fruit maturity.
Each apple cultivar had its own characteristic change pattern of internal ethylene concentration.
McIntosh, Spartan, Northern Spy, Golden Delicious (standard and spur type), and Mutsu showed a rapid increase in ethylene production after their optimum harvest dates.
Delicious (standard and spur type) cultivars showed a moderate increase in ethylene production after their optimum harvest dates.
Empire and Jonagold cultivars showed a slight increase in ethylene production after their average picking dates.
Idared did not generate more than one ppm of internal ethylene throughout the whole harvest season.
Two years of data have revealed that the pattern only changed slightly, although the concentration of ethylene in the fruit varied considerably between years.
The change pattern of each apple cultivar rather than the internal ethylene concentration should be considered when making a decision on the proper harvest date for storage.

Postharvest Handling of Vegetables

C.L. Chu

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1985.157.16