When pre-harvest treatments are applied to apples, post-storage quality effects should be evaluated

Two approaches for enhancing red blush in Ambrosia? apple were evaluated: 1) reflective row covers, or 2) application of foliar phosphorus-rich sprays, both applied several weeks before anticipated harvest. Two experiments were conducted, - the first to evaluate a white reflective row cover versus foliar phosphorus spray and - the second to evaluate two types of reflective row cover, ? ? ? ?- one being made of a woven white polyethylene and ? ? ? ?- the other a solid silvered Mylar?. The comparative effect these pre-harvest treatments on at-harvest fruit quality and quality after storage were assessed in both experiments. It was determined that foliar phosphorus sprays or one of the two types of reflective row covers resulted in similar enhancement of red blush colour with no negative effects on at-harvest quality. However, in the first experiment it was found that after 8 months CA storage (1 kPa O2 + 1 kPa CO2 at 0.5 ?C), apples from the phosphorus foliar spray treatment developed greasiness and sooty blotch, as compared with either those from the reflective row cover or control treatments. In the second experiment, after 5 months of air storage at 0.5 ?C, the apples from the silvered Mylar? reflective row cover treatment developed severe soft scald and soggy breakdown as compared with the control and white reflective row cover treatments which developed lower or very slight incidence in soft scald, respectively, and no soggy breakdown. These results indicate that when pre-harvest treatments are applied to apples, that post-storage quality effects should be evaluated. QuotePostharvest quality implications of pre-harvest treatments applied to enhance Ambrosia? apple red blush color at harvestPeter Toivonen, Changwen LU, Jared StoochnoffCanadian Journal of Plant Science, https://doi.org/10.1139/CJPS-2018-0193 Sourceshttp://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/CJPS-2018-0193#.W6EI_egzbIUPicture,?Momobud