ISHS Acta Horticulturae 592: V International Peach Symposium
INFLUENCE OF CANOPY FRUIT POSITION ON THE MATURITY AND QUALITY OF ¿ANGELUS¿ PEACHES |
| Authors: | L. Luchsinger, P. Ortin, G. Reginato, R. Infante |
| Keywords: | Prunus persica, ethylene, ripening, light, color, foliar analysis |
| Abstract:
The influence of canopy fruit position on the quality and maturity parameters was studied on peach fruit [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.] cv. ‘Angelus’, during the 1998/99 Chilean season. Within the tree, after fruit set, fruit were marked at three positions: (a) the top, between 2.5-5.0m above ground level, with fruit completely exposed to sunlight; (b) the middle, between 1.0-2.5m above ground level, with fruit illuminated but not completely exposed to sunlight; and (c) the bottom, at 1.0m above ground level, with fruit inside the lower part of the canopy, not exposed to sunlight. Before, during and after harvest radiation levels were measured from the top, middle and bottom canopy. In addition, a leaf analysis was made in the position mentioned above. Six harvests were done and 20 fruit per harvest were collected. After the fruit reached a pulp temperature of 20°C, individually and maintaining their identity, non destructive analyses were done (L*, C* and Hab ground and over color, ethylene evolution rate, fresh weight and diameter). Additionally, destructive analyses were made (flesh color, firmness, soluble solids concentration [SSC], titratable acidity [TA], SS/TA ratio and pH). Fruit ground and flesh color, percentage of over color, ethylene evolution rate, soluble solids concentration, and pH were greater at the top than in the lower positions of the canopy. The fruit size and fresh weight were reduced under shade conditions. Moderate and strong correlations existed between the log of ethylene production with fruit firmness, and also they showed the highest values of correlation coefficient (R) with the a* and Hab parameters of the ground and flesh color. This association was related to the fruit position within the tree. | |
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