Influence of maturity stage on fruit quality during storage of 'Shampion' apples.

Influence of fruit maturity on apple cv. ‘Shampion’ storage ability and rot development was investigated at the Lithuanian Institute of Horticulture in 2004–2005. Fruits for storage were harvested 5 times at weekly intervals before, during and after predictable optimum harvest date. Quality changes, presence of storage disorders, mass losses were measured during harvest period and at the end of storage. During investigation period fruit quality parameters changed according to harvest date and were specific for each trial year. Later harvested fruits were softer and had higher content of soluble solids. Fruit storage ability was closely connected to fruit maturity too. Apples were of the best quality at the end of storage, when maturity index at picking date was 0.22–0.17. During storage ‘Shampion’ apple rot was caused by Monilinia sp., Gloeosporium spp. and Penicillium spp. On the average apple fruits were mostly infected by fungus of Gloeosporium genus.

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