Articles
THE EFFECT OF STORAGE CONDITIONS AND DATE OF PICKING ON STORABILITY AND QUALITY OF SOME PLUM (PRUNUS DOMESTICA L.) FRUIT CULTIVARS
Article number
485_42
Pages
301 – 308
Language
Abstract
The high rate of flesh softening and susceptibility to internal breakdown are the main limitations of the market life of plum fruit.
Plum softening was effectively controlled when the storage room temperature was maintained as low as possible without freezing the tissue.
For cultivars ‘Valor’ and ‘Bluefre’ the optimal storage temperature was -0.5°C. At this temperature ethylene production and water loss were minimal.
Development of physiological disorders was also suppressed with some varietal differences in fruit susceptibility.
Restriction of fruit transpiration by placing fruit in polyethylene bags reduced the incidence of skin shrivelling.
Plum softening was effectively controlled when the storage room temperature was maintained as low as possible without freezing the tissue.
For cultivars ‘Valor’ and ‘Bluefre’ the optimal storage temperature was -0.5°C. At this temperature ethylene production and water loss were minimal.
Development of physiological disorders was also suppressed with some varietal differences in fruit susceptibility.
Restriction of fruit transpiration by placing fruit in polyethylene bags reduced the incidence of skin shrivelling.
The susceptibility of plum cultivars to physiological disorders was influenced by fruit maturity at harvest.
In these experiments fruits were picked on 3 dates, at 4–6 day intervals.
It was found that plums of both cultivars picked the earliest and stored at -0.5°C were the least susceptible to disorders.
This indicates that good temperature management and early picking are essential, if fresh plums are to survive a long-term cold storage in acceptable condition.
Authors
H. Plich
Keywords
plum, storage, senescence, internal breakdown, picking maturity
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