Commercial handling influences quality and ripening of Bartlett pears

Agar, I; Mitcham, E

Commercial handling influences quality and ripening of Bartlett pears

Authors

I. Tayfun Agar
Elizabeth J. Mitcham

Authors Affiliations

I. T. Agar is a visiting scholar from the Department of Horticulture, University of Çukurova, Adana, Turkey; E.J. Mitcham is a Postharvest Extension Specialist, Pomology Department, UC Davis.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 54(3):34-37. DOI:10.3733/ca.v054n03p34. May 2000.

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Abstract

Pear fruit injury occurs during harvest and additional injuries occur during postharvest handling in packinghouses. With increased commercial handling, Bartlett pears exhibited higher rates of ethyiene production and respiration, which are associated with ripening. Fruit softening and change in skin color from green to yellow occurred faster in pears that were harvested by a commercial crew and then dumped onto the packing line, as compared to pears that were harvested by a commercial crew, without packing-line handling. Immersion dumps used with flotation salts may be less damaging to pears as compared to non-immersion dumps.

References

Agar IT, Biasi WV, Mitcham EJ. Exogenous ethylone accelerates ripaning responses in ‘Bartlett’ pears regardless of maturity or growing region. Postharv Biol and Technol. 1999. 17:67-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0925-5214(99)00038-1

Mitcham E, Thompson J, Elkins R, et al. Development and demonstration of solutions to problem areas identified in postharvest handling of pears. 1994 Reports: Research Projects for California Bartlett pears. California Pear Advisory Board, Sacramento, CA 1994.

Mitchell FG, Kader AA. Preparation for fresh market. Postharvest Technology of Horticultural Crops.. 1992a. Oakland, CA: Publication 3311, UC Div Agri and Nat Resources. p. 31-8.

Mitchell FG, Kader AA. Postharvest handling systems: Temperate zone fruits (pome fruits and stone fruits). Postharvest Technology of Horticultural Crops.. 1992b. Oakland, CA: Publication 3311, UC Div Agri and Nat Resources. p. 215-22.

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