Articles
DEVELOPMENT OF A POSTHARVEST PROCEDURE FOR SEA EXPORT OF ‘QUEEN VICTORIA’ PINEAPPLES FROM SOUTH AFRICA TO EUROPE
Article number
529_39
Pages
329 – 336
Language
Abstract
The pineapple cultivar, Queen Victoria, is produced in a subtropical area of Kwazulu Natal, South Africa and is consumed as a fresh fruit.
Because it is not possible to store the fruit for the duration of a sea export voyage to Europe, only small, mostly ratoon fruit, are currently exported by air.
The main problem encountered is blackheart, a physiological ailment which manifests as browning of the flesh on the periphery of the central cylinder.
A detailed study is currently being conducted on the blackheart problem.
The research is concentrated on various aspects, namely, establishing the environmental conditions under which the problem manifests itself, breeding and selection of resistant cultivars as well as the development of preharvest horticultural, plant nutritional and hormonal practices which may result in a higher quality product.
Postharvest treatments are also evaluated and involves the use of prestorage heat treatments, storage under specialised atmospheric conditions (controlled/modified atmosphere, ethylene scrubbing and hypobaric storage) and stepped temperature regimes.
Two trials have to date proved to be especially successful.
In the first trial, the fruit were sprayed with the hormonal fruit enlarger 2-(-chlorophenoxy) propionic acid at varying periods before harvest.
Treatments which were applied approximately 40 days before harvest proved to inhibit blackheart effectively.
The second successful trial entailed the use of step-down temperature regimes.
The starting temperature, the magnitude of the steps, the lowest holding temperature and the rate at which the fruit are reheated were all found to be relevant.
The project is continuing along the above lines.
Semi-commercial experimental export trial are planned for the future.
Because it is not possible to store the fruit for the duration of a sea export voyage to Europe, only small, mostly ratoon fruit, are currently exported by air.
The main problem encountered is blackheart, a physiological ailment which manifests as browning of the flesh on the periphery of the central cylinder.
A detailed study is currently being conducted on the blackheart problem.
The research is concentrated on various aspects, namely, establishing the environmental conditions under which the problem manifests itself, breeding and selection of resistant cultivars as well as the development of preharvest horticultural, plant nutritional and hormonal practices which may result in a higher quality product.
Postharvest treatments are also evaluated and involves the use of prestorage heat treatments, storage under specialised atmospheric conditions (controlled/modified atmosphere, ethylene scrubbing and hypobaric storage) and stepped temperature regimes.
Two trials have to date proved to be especially successful.
In the first trial, the fruit were sprayed with the hormonal fruit enlarger 2-(-chlorophenoxy) propionic acid at varying periods before harvest.
Treatments which were applied approximately 40 days before harvest proved to inhibit blackheart effectively.
The second successful trial entailed the use of step-down temperature regimes.
The starting temperature, the magnitude of the steps, the lowest holding temperature and the rate at which the fruit are reheated were all found to be relevant.
The project is continuing along the above lines.
Semi-commercial experimental export trial are planned for the future.
Publication
Authors
F.J. Kruger, E.C. Rabie, H.A. Tustin, K.T. Wesson
Keywords
postharvest procedure, sea transport, Africa, Europe, blackheart
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