1/6/2024 0 Comments Apple color in iodine testOnce you have collected your samples, measure them within 2 hours after picking, as results can be affected due to temperature changes. Always collect your samples at the same time of the day. When sampling fruit avoid fruits with any visible disease or insect damage, make sure fruits of the same size, and be consistent in your sampling method (consider both sides of the tree and canopy height from where fruits are collected). Sample 2 to 3 fruits from the periphery of each marked tree, as this fruit generally tend to ripen earlier than fruit in the inner part of the canopy. Initially sample once per week, but as the fruits advance in their maturity, consider sampling several times per week if time allows. It's important to consider that DAFB is only a general reference to indicate when the fruit will reach its maturity, thus there might be a 5- to 20-day difference between the estimated harvest date and the optimal harvest date for a specific cultivar/strain. Do this yearly considering that full bloom may vary annually throughout different sites of your farm. To use DAFB as a reference guide, record the data of full bloom by orchard block and cultivar/strain in the spring. For this purpose, days after full bloom (DAFB) can be used as an estimator of anticipated harvest dates. Ideally, you should begin collecting samples around 4 to 5 weeks before the anticipated normal harvest date. Proceed to mark the trees as you will weekly collect samples from these. Try to avoid choosing trees located in the borders of any block. These trees should be representative of the rest of the trees in the same block regarding crop load and vigor. The first step consists of selecting 5 to 8 trees per each block per cultivar/strain and rootstock. How to Collect a Representative Apple Fruit Sample?Įach cultivar or strain and each orchard block should be sampled separately as fruit maturity can vary within the same orchard block as well as within the same tree. But before performing any measurement, the first step is to know how to collect a representative fruit sample from the orchard block. There are several tests that are used to determine apple fruit maturity, and these will be described throughout this article. If fruit are harvested too late, they will become overripe, leading to off-flavor development, high softening rates, highly prone to damage and pathogens, a very short postharvest life as well as increased potential development of physiological disorders. Fruits that are harvested too early will generally present insufficient red skin coloration, low sugar contents (soluble solids), high acidity levels, will be too firm, small-sized, lacking flavor, and/or be susceptible to physiological disorders such as bitter pit or storage scalds.
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