Correlation between Destructive and Non-Destructive Measurements of Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) Fruit during Maturation

A relatively new, non-destructive, method for the assessment of optimal blueberry fruit maturity directly on plant uses a DA-meter (delta absorbance) to measure chlorophyll absorbance (IAD). Here, ‘Aurora’ quality parameters (peel color, firmness), chemical composition (individual sugars, organic acids and phenolics) relative expression anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) genes were examined at four different stages (immature, light purple, darker fully ripe). All observed changed significantly during ripening sometimes exhibited high correlation with IAD values, as R2 values ranged between 0.61 0.97. Peel lightness (L*), chroma (C*), firmness decreased ripening, while sugar/organic acid ratio, total phenolics ANS increased. The current study is first determine using evaluate their most commonly used ripe fruit, ANS.