Forced-air cooling applied before fruit handling to prevent mechanical damage of plums (Prunus salicina Lindl.)

Abstract The effect of forced-air cooling on plums ( Prunus salicina Lindl., cv. Santa Rosa), applied before or after mechanical damage, and then stored at 1 °C for 4 days, was studied. CO 2 production rate, weight loss, firmness (force–deformation ratio and flesh fruit deformation) and colour were investigated. In another set of ‘Santa Rosa’ fruit without a pre-cooling treatment (damaged and non-damaged), CO 2 production rate was examined. Forced-air cooling led to a reduction in the respiration rate of mechanically damaged plums. Damaged fruit before pre-cooling showed a respiration rate double that of damaged fruit after pre-cooling during storage. Damaged plums before pre-cooling showed higher weight losses, lower firmness (for both force–deformation ratio and flesh fruit firmness parameters), and lower chroma values than damaged fruit after pre-cooling. Pre-cooling ‘Santa Rosa’ plums after harvesting and before manipulation (transportation to packing-house, handling in packing-house, during storage or transportation) can help to maintain fruit quality and prolong shelf life.

[1]  P. D. Lidster,et al.  Lowbush Blueberry Quality Changes in Response to Mechanical Damage and Storage Temperature , 1991 .

[2]  J. L. Woods.  Moisture loss from fruits and vegetables. , 1990 .

[3]  J.-P. Emond,et al.  Study of Parameters Affecting Cooling Rate and Temperature Distribution in Forced-air Precooling of Strawberry , 1996 .

[4]  D. Valero,et al.  Role of polyamines in extending shelf life and the reduction of mechanical damage during plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) storage , 2002 .

[5]  Adel A. Kader,et al.  Post Harvest Technology of Horticultural Crops , 1991 .

[6]  C. Crisosto,et al.  Relationship between Fruit Respiration, Bruising Susceptibility, and Temperature in Sweet Cherries , 1993 .

[7]  N. L. Schulte-Pason,et al.  Carbon Dioxide as an Indicator of Fruit Impact Damage , 1987, HortScience.

[8]  D. Valero,et al.  Effects of post‐harvest putrescine and calcium treatments on reducing mechanical damage and polyamines and abscisic acid levels during lemon storage , 1999 .

[9]  D. Valero,et al.  Exogenous Polyamines and Gibberellic Acid Effects on Peach (Prunus persica L.) Storability Improvement , 2000 .

[10]  D. Valero,et al.  Influence of Postharvest Treatment with Putrescine and Calcium on Endogenous Polyamines, Firmness, and Abscisic Acid in Lemon (Citrus lemon L. Burm Cv. Verna) , 1998 .

[11]  T. Ying,et al.  Respiration Rate, Ethylene Production, and Cellular Leakage of Fig Fruit following Vibrational Stress , 1995 .

[12]  A. Klieber,et al.  Ice or an Ice-replacement Agent does Not Improve Refrigerated Broccoli Storage at 1C , 1993 .

[13]  N. Maness,et al.  Impact bruise resistance comparison among peach cultivars , 1992 .

[14]  D. Valero,et al.  Comparative Study of Two Plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) Cultivars during Growth and Ripening , 2001 .

[15]  S. Gillies,et al.  Cooling Method Influences the Postharvest Quality of Broccoli , 1995 .