Ranking Tissue Mineral Analyses to Identify Mineral Limitations on Quality in Fruit

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A diagnostic procedure was developed to identify mineral limitations on pome fruit quality. Fruit mineral levels were useful only when developed on a ranked or percentile (0 to 100) basis. Therefore, procedures were developed using percentile values for both leaf and fruit mineral concentration. An individual can decide which quality parameters are important and whether minimum, maximum, or intermediate values for these quality parameters are most desirable. Multiple regression is used to predict relative rankings for each qualify parameter. A simple sorting program allows the operator to use these rankings to choose which categories of fruit are undesirable. It is then possible to select from among remaining lots those likely to contain fruit having the poststorage quality factors the operator considers most important. The approach is demonstrated with 2 years of data from a high-density ‘Starkspur Golden Delicious’ apple orchard. Selections of fruit with the best poststorage quality were based on mineral content, assuming that maximum firmness, soluble solids, titratable acidity, and yellow color were considered as most desirable. Further ranking evaluations were obtained by evaluating 6 years of data relating quality in ‘d’Anjou’ pears with fruit mineral concentrations. A ranking approach allows meaningful interpretation despite large differences in fruit mineral concentrations reported for different locations and years by a range of analytical laboratories. The procedure is flexible, and fruit could be categorized successfully according to several definitions of optimum quality.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: