The Relation Between Time of Picking and Storage Disorders in Cox’s Orange Pippin Apple Fruits

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In four successive seasons. Cox’s Orange Pippin apples were picked at weekly intervals and stored under various conditions to assess the effect of time of picking on wastage from different causes. Mean fruit weight increased by up to 20% over the 6 to 10 weeks of the picking periods. The maturity of the fruit when picked was assessed by following the respiration pattern of samples kept at 12°C. The results for successive pickings of fruit kept at 37°-38° F. (2.8°-3 ·3° C.) (normal cold storage temperature for Cox) and all removed from store at the same time, showed more core flush in early-picked apples, and more senescent breakdown and rotting in late-picked apples. There was no sudden change in liability to any of these disorders which could be associated with any particular stage of maturity. There were no consistent effects of time of picking on the amount of bitter pit or on weight loss during storage. Storage at 32° F. (o° C.) (below the recommended temperature for the storage of Cox’s Orange Pippin) resulted in low temperature breakdown. This disorder tended to be less severe in apples picked just before the climacteric rise in respiration rate. It is concluded that, for any particular orchard, picking date should be based not only on maturity as judged by colour and size, but on the expected liability of the fruit to disorders, such as core flush and rotting due to Gloeosporium, and on the type and period of storage required.

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit: