New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts
Survey of fruit mineral concentrations and postharvest quality
of New Zealand-grown `Hass' avocado (Persea americana Mill.)
T. G. THORP
D. HUTCHING
T. LOWE
K. B. MARSH
The Horticulture and Food Research
Institute of New Zealand
Mt Albert Research Centre
Private Bag 92 169
Auckland, New Zealand
Abstract New Zealand `Hass' avocado (Persea americana
Mill.) orchards were surveyed to determine if an imbalance in fruit mineral
concentrations (Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), and Potassium (K)) was associated
with poor fruit quality. Ranges for average fruit mineral concentrations on
surveyed orchards were: Ca, 25-47 mg/100 g dry weight (DW); Mg, 91-113 mg/100 g
DW; and K, 1126-1608 mg/100 g DW. Fruit with low Ca concentrations had more
vascular browning and flesh browning than fruit with high Ca concentrations.
Also, fruit Ca concentrations were lower and the incidence of vascular browning
higher in fruit that were more mature at harvest. Fruit harvested below the
minimum maturity standard (26% DW) had practically no postharvest rots. If
harvested above this standard, 12-38% of ripe fruit had severe rots. A new
disorder "anthocyanin staining" was observed in the flesh of several fruit.
Results are discussed in relation to industry options for predicting and
managing fruit quality.
Keywords Persea americana; avocado; fruit minerals;
fruit maturity; fruit quality; anthocyanin
New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 1997, Vol. 25:
251-260
0114-0671/97/2503-0251 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand
1997
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (1117K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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