Evaluación de la tecnología NSure en la predicción de la fecha óptima de cosecha de manzanas cv. Royal Gala y peras cv. Packham’s Triumph

Abstract

During the season 2010/2011, samplings were carried out prior to harvest so as to determine the effectiveness of NSure technology in predicting the optimum harvest date in Royal Gala cv. apples (Trial 1) and Packham´s Triumph cv. pears (Trial 2). The objective was to evaluate two productive areas – north and south-, represented by one grower per area for each apple and pear cultivar. In Trial 1, the samples were collected three weeks before the comercial harvest date, mean while for Trial 2, these samples were collected five weeks before the comercial harvest date. The aforementioned trials were carried out in order to predict the optimal harvest time (according to NSure test). Regarding Royal Gala cv., due its ripening pattern, the fruit samples were harvested from the peripheral area (exposed) and inside the tree canopy (interior). In the Packham´s Triumph cv., was performed only one sampling type in the tree. In each collected sample were evaluated 15 fruits per orchard using the NSure test. At harvest time and after cold storage (60 and 120 days) were performed fruit maturity assessments (skin color, flesh firmness, soluble solids, starch index, acidity and ethylene production rate (TPE)). Maturity assessments were carried out to the fruit at comercial harvest (CC) and to the fruit harvested using Nsure test (CN) at two times during -1,0 to – 0,5 °C and 90-95 % RH cold storage (60 and 120 days), and after 7 days at room temperature for each period after cold storage. The results show that for the apples trial, CN ocurred before CC, showing higher flesh firmness, even after the fruit was taken out from cold storage. In pears trial, CC ocurred before CN, showing higher flesh firmness, keeping this difference after each period under cold storage. Keywords: Royal Gala, Packham's Triumph, Nsure, Maturity, Firmness, Ethylene