ISHS Acta Horticulturae 636: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Key Processes in the Growth and Cropping of Deciduous Fruit and Nut Trees
DEVELOPMENT OF TEXTURE IN APPLE FRUIT - A BIOPHYSICAL PERSPECTIVE |
| Authors: | R.K. Volz, F.R. Harker, I.C. Hallet, A. Lang |
| Keywords: | Malus x-domestica Borkh., firmness, sensory, anatomy, cortical cell morphology |
| Abstract:
Factors influencing texture of Malus x-domestica Borkh cv. ‘Royal Gala’ apples were characterized through measurement of puncture force (firmness). Softening during fruit development, and firmness differences associated with different geographic regions in New Zealand and crop loads were determined, and related to changes in cell size, cell packing and intercellular air space. Fruit softened by about 0.07 kgf/day from 80 days after full bloom through to commercial harvest. The magnitude of firmness difference between regions and crop loads, but not fruit sizes, exceeded the minimum required for discrimination of crispness/hardness by consumers (0.5 kgf). Fruit from regions producing firmer fruit had smaller cortical cells, more cell packing, and less intercellular air space. Fruit from light cropping trees were firmer than heavy cropping trees. The firmer fruit (light cropping trees) had smaller cells, more cell packing, and more intercellular air spaces. The study attempts to identify the biophysical factors that determine texture of apples during fruit development, and understand the implications of early events during fruit development on consumer perceptions of fruit quality. | |
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