ISHS Acta Horticulturae 553: IV International Conference on Postharvest Science
THE INFLUENCE OF CULTIVAR ON POSTHARVEST PERFORMANCE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES |
| Authors: | C.B. Watkins, M.P. Pritts |
| Keywords: | cultivar, chilling, carbon dioxide, oxygen, storage |
| Abstract:
Cultural practices and climate are important preharvest factors that affect postharvest performance of fruits and vegetables, but relatively little attention has been given to cultivar effects on postharvest responses at the metabolic level. In this paper, cultivar responses to postharvest chilling temperatures and exposure to controlled atmospheres (low O2 and high CO2) are examined to better understand the genetic basis for these responses. Our review finds that responses are extremely variable, even among closely related individuals, making it difficult to understand the genetic basis of chilling injury or response to injurious gas partial pressures. The diversity of responses among cultivars must be taken into account when developing postharvest models. We hypothesize that this diversity of response reflects the evolutionary absence of selection pressure on postharvest performance, making generalization and extrapolation particularly difficult. | |
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