The effect of timing for harvesting apple fruits on keeping and commercial qualities during storage: DOI 10.34919/IM.2023.25.3.006

Abstract

In modern horticulture, the production of apple fruits is constantly increasing, production technologies are being
improved, new high-quality cultivars, able to replenish the assortment of varieties suitable for long-term storage, are emerging. One of the most important indicators affecting the transportability and keeping quality of fruits is the timing of harvesting. The article presents the results of research in 2014–2020 on the study of apple harvesting timing on biochemical composition and commercial qualities of apple fruits of new varieties – local and introduced. The optimal terms for harvesting fruits on the basis of experimental plantations in various soil and climatic conditions were studied, chemical and technological assessment of their suitability for storage in normal and gaseous environments were made (on the basis of experimental refrigerator in the department of Crimean Experimental Horticulture Station FSBSI NBG-NSC, as well as at the production and experimental bases of JSC Crimean Fruit Company in Krasnogvardeiskiy district and Yarosvit-Agro in Simferopol district). A data bank was created on the content of dry and soluble substances in fruits, pulp density indicators, starch-iodine test. Fruit shape and size, skin color, flavor and other properties of the varieties under study in the conditions of Crimea were identified. Harvesting timing for autumn and early-winter varieties (‘Gala’, ‘Salgirskoye’, ‘Priam’, ‘Krymskoye’, ‘Dyulber’, ‘Kimmeria’) was established – from 05 to 20.09; the latest dates of fruit harvesting (15.10–01.11) were registered for the varieties ‘Tavria’, ‘Krymskoye Zimnee’, ‘Granny Smith’, ‘Fuji’, ‘Pink Lady’. The indicators of fruit pulp density in the studied varieties are at the optimal harvesting time, from 7.3 kg/cm² (‘Kimmeria’, ‘Golden Delicious’) to 9.5 kg/cm² (‘Renet Simirenko’). The content of dry soluble substances ranges from 12.9 % (‘Kimmeria’) to 15.8 % (‘Pink Lady’). The estimated maturity coefficient is in the range from 0.17 to 0.23 units. With the right selection of harvesting timing, losses are decreasing by 1.5–2.0 times. The best results in terms of storage time (200–210 days) with a high yield of fruits (91–98 %) and good flavor quality (4–5 points) showed the fruits of following varieties of Experimental Station breeding: ‘Tavria’, ‘Krymskoye Zimnee’, as well as the introduced one ‘Pink Lady’.