Girdling of cherry trees generally resulted in fruit of superior quality for export

Major export countries use a matrix of quality attributes of fruit at harvest to support decisions on the travel potential of key varieties. However there is uncertainty whether levels of firmness and soluble sugars at harvest are indicative of these attributes postharvest. Trunk girdling treatments were applied 6 weeks after fullbloom in trees of ?Kordia? and ?Lapin? varieties in order to manipulate carbohydrate supply to fruit. Fruit quality and consumer perception of quality were assessed atharvest and 28 days postharvest. Soluble sugars were relatively high at harvest and increased significantly with time postharvest in fruit of girdled, relative to control, treatments of both varieties. Compression tests (FirmTech) indicated an increase in firmness with time postharvest in girdled treatments in both varieties, but not in controls. In contrast penetration tests (G?ss flesh texture analyser) indicated increased firmness with time postharvest in both treatments and varieties. Greater maturity of fruit at harvest from the girdled treatments was indicated by an increase in juice phenolics and a lowering in stem pull force values in ?Lapin?, but not in ?Kordia?. Consumer trials indicated that girdled fruit of both varieties was preferred at harvest. Whilst ?Kordia? fruit was preferred over ?Lapin? at harvest, this finding was reversed at 28 days postharvest. These findings indicate that girdling generally resulted in fruit of superior quality for export. Original title, full list of authors and sourcesTHE EFFECT OF CARBOHYDRATE AVAILABILITY ON FRUIT QUALITY POSTHARVEST IN SWEET CHERRYMertes, EF1, Close, DC1, Corkrey, R1, Jones, J1Eric.Mertes@utas.edu.au1Perennial Horticulture Centre, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Hobart, AustraliaIHC 2014, International Horticulture Congress, 17-22 August 2014, Brisbane, http://www.ihc2014.org/Picture from Sweet cherry fruit quality for post harvest shelf life ?