ISHS Acta Horticulturae 410: II International Cherry Symposium
RESPIRATION AND STORAGE POTENTIAL IN NORWEGIAN-GROWN SWEET CHERRIES |
| Author: | L. Sekse |
| Abstract:
Sweet cherries are fruits with a short shelf life, resembling most other non-climacteric fruits; post-harvest deterioration occurs very quickly if adequate precautions are not taken to prevent it. In order to improve the marketing quality of sweet cherries grown in Norway, these problems have been the focus of research work at Ullensvang Research Station. The studies revealed the main causes of post-harvest fruit rotting and weight loss. Comprehensive studies of quality loss of sweet cherries during storage were carried out in which particular attention was given to post-harvest respiration and storage potential. The studies revealed a close correlation between post-harvest storage temperature, respiration (measured as net evolution of carbon dioxide per kilo of fruit) and the occurrence of rotting fruits in sweet cherries. Estimations of storage potential for sweet cherries, based on net evolution of carbon dioxide, were developed. Regardless of the storage temperature used, a pronounced increase in rotting occurred when carbon dioxide evolution reached 6–8 g.kg-1.hour-1. In most cases the primary rotting was caused by infections of Botrytis. To avoid untenable quality loss, the storage potential estimate, measured as net amount of evolved carbon dioxide, was set to 5 g.kg1- hour-1. Storage potential estimations differed little between cultivars. Introducing better cooling routines to Norwegian-grown sweet cherries has increased the post-harvest shelf life of sweet cherries from 2–3 days in the early 1980s to 6–10 days today. Implementing still better post-harvest handling routines and marketing strategies to improve the marketing quality of sweet cherries is discussed. | |
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