HARVEST DATE AND QUALITY CONSERVATION OF PLUMS

Cultivars of plums, which in relation to their picking date cover the whole plum season in Switzerland, were picked at 3-4 different times in order to determine the influence of fruit ripeness on qualitative changes after picking, sensory quality and susceptibility to decay.
As was to be expected, there was a relatively large reduction of fruit firmness in all cultivars the later the harvesting date.
Fruit firmness was reduced further during the shelf life of 7 days.
The sugar content remained stable, while acidity decreased by 5–10%. The sugar-acid ratio increased slightly, but sufficient to be significant for the sensory evaluation, as the harvesting date was delayed.
The later the harvesting date, the higher was the proportion of unsaleable fruit.
The cultivar and the amount of precipitation before and during harvesting had a strong influence on susceptibility to decay.
The minimum acceptance values for the internal quality parameters were attained by most of the cultivars only at later harvesting dates, although their susceptibility to decay was then higher.
The sensory evaluation showed that sweetness and firmness were less decisive attributes than acidity.

X International Controlled and Modified Atmosphere Research Conference

F. Gasser, M. Kockerols, C. Heiniger, S. Gasser, Y. Kneubuehler, T. Eppler, W. Naunheim, A.B. Nising

plums, Prunus domestica, picking date, ripening

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.876.51