New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts

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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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