Influence of harvest time and storage duration on 'Cripps Pink' apple cultivar (Malus × domestica Borkh) quality parameters Influencia del tiempo de cosecha y duracion en almacenamiento en los parametros de calidad de la variedad de manzana Cripps Pink (Malus × domestica Borkh)

The aim of this research was to determinate the influence of harvest time and storage duration on several chemical and physical quality parameters of 'Cripps Pink' apple cultivar. Fruits were harvested 199 (1Ht), 207 (2Ht), and 214 (3Ht) days after full bloom, and analyzed after 0 (1St), 14 (2Sd), and 30 (3Sd) weeks of storage in a controlled atmosphere (2 °C, 95% relative air moisture, 2% CO2, and 1% O2). Fruit firmness, content of starch, total soluble solids, dry matter, as well as vitamin C, and total acids content were decreased after 14 weeks of storage in each harvest time. The same results were obtained after 30 weeks of storage, except that the pH was increased. Total phenol content and non-flavonoid phenolic fraction decreased during storage, unlike fruit color which did not markedly increased or decreased during storage in every harvest time. Results shown influence of harvest time on storage life and quality of apple fruit, which resulted in progressive content decreasing of some compounds in apple fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]