Stonefruit maturity & fruit quality

Information about stonefruit maturity and quality is available on the “Profitable Stonefruit” section of the Australian site Horticulture Industry Networks. Agriculture Victoria’s researchers at Agribio, Bundoora, are looking at ways to optimise fruit maturity at harvest, using non-destructive technologies, to meet market expectations and to understand how fruit maturity affects storage and its impact on fruit composition and quality. Variable maturity at harvest affects fruit responses to shelf life, cold storage and consequent quality through the handling chain. Fruit composition and flavour volatiles in particular, are a fundamental element of fruit quality and therefore consumer acceptance. The fruit volatile profile is affected by fruit maturity on the tree, during postharvest storage and consequent ripening. The project in which they work aims to generate knowledge of the interaction between harvest maturity measured by the DA-Meter, storage and ripening behaviour and resultant effects on soluble solids content (SCC i.e. brix - fruit sweetness index), firmness and volatiles profile. The trial orchard is in Tatura and the project is linked to 'optimal ripening protocols' to which will deliver preliminary data on the varieties used and will add important information for the protocols. This project will identify maturity classes to optimize harvest timing depending on the market of choice, with particular emphasis to export, for up to 10 nectarine and peach varieties. The project will generate cold storage and ripening protocols. The results will provide knowledge to optimise fruit quality and consistency on domestic and export markets. Consistent, high quality fruit will increase consumer demand and provide a point of difference for Victorian stonefruit increasing both domestic and export markets by at least 5% equating to an increase in export value alone of $15 to $20 million per annum. The site contains various videos about how to use the DA meter. Already included is a database with DA meter IAD maturity classes for a series of varieties.  The information about summerfruit in Horticulture Industry Networks ccomprises - Stonefruit rootstock experiments- Stonefruit research orchard & equipment- Stonefruit irrigation experiments- Stonefruit canopy experiments- Peach and nectarine canoies for mechanical pruning and mechanical harvesting- Some stonefruit pruning techniques- Stonefruit maturity & fruit quality- Stonefruit export market research. The researchers dealing with stone fruits are Mark O´Connel, Dario Stefanelli, Christine Frisina & Hohn Lopresti. More information & videos about stonefruit maturity and & fruit quality