ISHS Acta Horticulturae 761: XXVII International Horticultural Congress - IHC2006: International Symposium on Advances in Environmental Control, Automation and Cultivation Systems for Sustainable, High-Quality Crop Production under Protected Cultivation
EFFECT OF FRUIT CANOPY POSITION ON MICROENVIRONMENT, PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL DEVELOPMENT OF STARFRUIT (AVERRHOA CARAMBOLA) CV. 'B10' UNDER PROTECTED CULTIVATION |
| Authors: | M. Zabedah, A. Yusoff, A.H. Ridzwan, H. Aishah, R. Fauzi |
| Keywords: | starfruit, protected cultivation, irradiance (PAR), heat units, fruit quality |
| Abstract:
A study was conducted to look at the effect of fruit position in the canopy on the fruit microenvironment, fruit physical and chemical development of starfruits under protected cultivation in Malaysia. When starfruits are cultivated under protected structure, they are not individually wrapped. The fruit canopy position had significant influence on fruit temperature and the amount of irradiance (PAR M m-2) on the fruits. The difference in daily temperature resulted in significantly different degree days on the fruits at the various canopy positions. Fruit facing the morning sun had degree days 20°C higher than fruits facing the evening sun, and 125°C higher than fruits under the canopy at 80 days from anthesis. Simultaneously the fruits facing the morning sun received a total PAR value of 1,017 M m-2 that is 268 M m-2 higher than fruits facing the evening sun, and 974 M m-2 higher than fruits under the canopy. Fresh weight (p<0.001) and dry weight (p<0.01) of fruits under the canopy were significantly higher than those of exposed fruits. Thus fruits under the canopy were in the medium ('M'), while exposed fruits were in the small ('S') size. At harvest, exposure to high cumulative irradiance resulted in an increase in fruit vitamin C concentration and but did not significantly influence the fruit total soluble solid concentration. | |
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