Variations in firmness and sugar content in 'Huanghua' pear (Pyrus pyrifolia 'Nakai')

SummaryKnowledge of the firmness and sugar content of fruit flesh and intact fruit is required for grading and processing. Little detailed information is available on anisotropic differences in firmness and sugar content, and their relationship within fruit. The objectives of this study were to determine any spatial or orientational differences in firmness and/or sugar content in ‘Huanghua’ pear, and to analyse the relationship between firmness and sugar content. Significant differences in firmness and sugar content existed between unripe and ripe pears. Our analyses showed that firmness and sugar content did not differ significantly in the radial (longitudinal) axis, but along the stem-to-calyx (latitudinal) axis (i.e., the proximal to distal end of the fruit) there were significant differences between the two parameters. Firmness and sugar content were greatest in the top or proximal, stem-end of the fruit, and lowest in the distal or calyx end. Thus, it is necessary to consider axis orientation and spa...

[1]  E. E. Finney,et al.  DYNAMIC ELASTIC PROPERTIES AND SENSORY QUALITY OF APPLE FRUIT. , 1971, Journal of texture studies.

[2]  Jun Wang,et al.  Pear dynamic characteristics and firmness detection , 2004 .

[3]  T. R. Rumsey,et al.  A Method for Determining the Shear Relaxation Function of Agricultural Materials , 1977 .

[4]  Julian F. V. Vincent,et al.  Anisotropy of apple parenchyma , 1990 .

[5]  E. Mercado-Silva,et al.  Fruit development, harvest index and ripening changes of guavas produced in central Mexico , 1998 .

[6]  V. M. Puri,et al.  Characterization of nonlinear creep behavior of two food products , 1991 .

[7]  J. DeBaerdemaeker,et al.  Effect of Apple Shape on Acoustic Measurements of Firmness , 1993 .

[8]  A. Peirs,et al.  Light penetration properties of NIR radiation in fruit with respect to non-destructive quality assessment , 2000 .

[9]  Z. Schmilovitch,et al.  Determination of mango physiological indices by near-infrared spectrometry , 2000 .

[10]  R. J. Petrell,et al.  DYNAMIC MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE APPLE CORTEX IN RELATION TO SAMPLE LOCATION AND RIPENING , 1980 .

[11]  N. Mohsenin.  Physical properties of plant and animal materials , 1970 .

[12]  J. De Baerdemaeker,et al.  Determination of the Viscoelastic Properties of Apple Flesh , 1976 .

[13]  A. Nerd,et al.  Ripening and postharvest behaviour of fruits of two Hylocereus species (Cactaceae) , 1999 .

[14]  Pictiaw Chen,et al.  Stress-Relaxation Functions of Apples Under High Loading Rates , 1986 .

[15]  E. E. Finney.  Dynamic elastic properties of some fruits during growth and development , 1967 .

[16]  Jun Wang.  Anisotropic Relaxation Properties of Pear , 2003 .

[17]  Renfu Lu,et al.  A NEAR–INFRARED SENSING TECHNIQUE FOR MEASURING INTERNAL QUALITY OF APPLE FRUIT , 2002 .

[18]  Jun Wang,et al.  Mechanical Properties of Pear as a Function of Location and Orientation , 2004 .

[19]  Ada Rocha,et al.  Shelf life of minimally processed apple (cv. Jonagored) determined by colour changes , 2003 .

[20]  Franci Stampar,et al.  The composition of fruit of different strawberry varieties depending on maturity stage , 2003 .