Volume 59 Number 1 Article 3
Year 2005 Month 1
Title: Postharvest Berry Quality of Six Rabbiteye Blueberry Cultivars in Response to Temperature
Authors: D.S. NeSmith, A. Nunez-Barrios, S.E. Prussia and D. Aggarwal
Abstract:
The effect of storage and handling temperature regimens on berry firmness and mass loss of six rabbiteye blueberry
(Vaccinium ashei Reade) cultivars was examined. 'Climax', 'Premier', 'Brightwcll', Tifblue', 'Powderblue', and
'Yadkin' were studied at 1, 12, 22 or 32°C. Firmness immediately after harvest (determined using a FirmTech II
instrument) for all cultivars ranged from 161.0 to 214.6 g/mm. 'Brightwell' had the greatest initial firmness, followed
by 'Tifbluc', 'Climax', and 'Yadkin'. 'Powderblue' and 'Premier' had the lowest initial firmness.
Following 7
days storage, firmness followed a similar cultivar order with 'BrightwcH' having the highest value (195.6 g/mm)
across all temperatures and 'Powderblue' having the lowest (136.9 g/mm). Rate of firmness loss was similar among
cultivars at 1°C and 12°C, except for 'Premier', which lost firmness more rapidly.
At 22°C 'Brightwell' had the
lowest rate of firmness loss.
The greatest difference in rate of firmness loss among cultivars was observed at 32°C,
where 'Powderblue' had a 6-fold increase over 'Brightwell' in rate of loss.
Storage temperature also affected rate
of loss of berry mass, but with fewer differences among cultivars.
However, 'Powderblue' had the greatest rate
of quality deterioration as measured by loss of mass at the highest temperature.
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