ISHS Acta Horticulturae 293: IX International Symposium on Apricot Culture
MATURITY INDEXES AS A FUNCTION OF QUALITY IN APRICOT HARVESTING |
| Authors: | G. Biondi, G.C. Pratella, R. Bassi |
| Abstract:
A five-year study was conducted on the apricot cultivars 'Reale d'Imola' and 'Precoce Cremonini' grown in Italy's Emilia-Romagna Region to determine stastically the following maturation indexes over a 28-day period: weight, diameter, firmness, colour, SSC, acidity and the weight-diameter and SSC-acidity ratios. Mean values and standard deviations were calculated for each parameter at the main orchard harvest, and the correlation coefficients were compared to each other and over time; about the latter aspect, the linear regression and the variability of the fitted regression lines were also determined. All the indexes were found to be highly significant in recording the physical and chemical changes displayed by fruit approaching maturity, thereby confirming the index method's usefulness. The highest correlations were registered among the physical indexes (weight, diameter and firmness), followed to a lesser yet still high extent by the correlations of the SSC parameters. The least variable indexes proved to be colour and diameter, whereas the variability of weight and firmness was high. The SSC and acidity parameters were the most differentiated between the two cultivars. These findings can be employed to determine quality standards based on objective criteria. | |
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