Fresh blueberries are very susceptible to mechanical damage, which limits postharvest life and firmness. Softening and susceptibility of cultivars "Duke" and "Brigitta" to developing internal browning (IB) after mechanical impact and subsequent storage was evaluated during a 2-year study (2011/2012, 2012/2013). On each season fruit were carefully hand-picked, segregated into soft (<1.60 N), med...

Light scattering is related to the structural characteristics of fruit and hence is potentially useful for estimating fruit firmness. This research investigated hyperspectral scattering as a means for measuring peach fruit firmness. A hyperspectral imaging system was used to simultaneously acquire 153 spectral scattering profiles, generated by a broadband light beam, from ‘Red Haven’ and ‘Coral...

The physiological basis for host antibiosis or nonpreference to a quarantine pest is often not understood. Studies are needed on the mechanisms that impart resistance to better understand how resistance might fail. Experiments were conducted to examine the infestability of 'Sharwil' avocados by oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), and Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wi...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of foliar application of boron and calcium on postharvest storage characteristics of Asian pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) fruit. This experiment was carried out in the experimental orchard of Asian pear at Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. The treatments were two concentrations of boric acid (0% and 0.5%) and three concentrations of calcium chlo...

The laser air-puff method was investigated for non-destructive firmness measurements on kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa (A. Chev.) C.F. Liang et A.R. Ferguson cv. Hayward) and apricot (Prunus armeniaca L. cv. CluthaGold). The method involves delivering a sharp puff of air onto a stationary fruit whilst recording the resulting surface deformation with a laser displacement sensor. At a 65-kPa maxi...

Plots of 19 clones of strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) were planted in 1996. Fruit of 16 clones were harvested in 1997 and fruit of 11 of the same clones plus three additional clones in 1998. Individual plots were harvested on three or four dates in 1997 and from three to seven dates in 1998. Fruit firmness was determined with a penetrometer at harvest, and additional samples were processe...

Objectives: The overall objective of the project was to develop a novel light-based sensing technique to assess internal quality (firmness and sugar content or soluble solids content) of apples. Specific objectives were to: 1. Investigate a new sensing method, using hyperspectral and multispectral imaging, for quantifying the absorption and scattering properties of apple fruit; 2. Develop mathe...

Grafting watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) to control Fusarium wilt has been practiced in Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East for decades. Until recently, grafting watermelon has not been practiced in the United States due to labor costs and land availability. There is some disagreement in the literature as to the effects that grafting has on watermelon fruit quality. This study was designed...