ISHS Acta Horticulturae 682: V International Postharvest Symposium
CONSUMER EXPECTATIONS AND SOLUBLE SOLIDS, ACIDITY AND FIRMNESS OF PLUMS (PRUNUS DOMESTICA ´CACAKS BEAUTY´) |
| Authors: | E. Hoehn, F. Gasser, B. Naepflin, J. Ladner |
| Keywords: | consumer tests, quality, acceptability, maturity, crop load, storage, analyses |
| Abstract:
Soluble solids content, acidity and firmness are important factors determining eating quality of fruit. Tests with consumers confirmed that acceptance can be predicted by instrumental measurements of total soluble solids (refractometer), titratable acidity and firmness measurements for plums. The cultivar ‘Cacaks Beauty’ of acceptable eating quality should attain a minimum of 14°Brix. Acidity should be less than 10 g/L (malate) and firmness should not exceed 37 Durofel units. A sugar acid ratio ranging between 17 and 18 seemed most acceptable. Phenolics ranged from 100-120 mg/100 g and seemed not to impact acceptability. Soluble solids content and acidity of plums were related to crop load. Furthermore, acidity and firmness were dependant of picking time or ripening stage of plums. Plums picked at a too early stage of ripeness and stored for four weeks were not liked by consumers. Although firmness and acidity decreased during storage. Hence control of crop load and picking at the optimal ripeness stage are decisive for the eating quality of plums. | |
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