Relationships Between Horticultural Oil Application and Postharvest Behaviour of Apples
Author: John Fellman
Published: 2004
Summary: Th objectives of this project were: 1. Determine the influence of a growing season-applied soybean oil spray on harvest quality and postharvest behaviour of apples. a. Ascertain the effects of a one-time soybean oil application on fruit quality parameters, ripening patterns, storability, and volatile aroma production capacity of ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Gala’ apples. b. Investigate the influence of application timing and the orchard location. 2. Determine the effects of a preharvest soybean oil application on colour development, fatty acid metabolism, and flavour regeneration capacity after controlled atmosphere storage and under shelflife conditions. a. Inhibit ethylene responses of ‘Golden Delicious’ apples with 1-MCP to test ethylene dependence of apple response to soybean oil applications. 3. Describe and compare the development of epicuticular wax during maturation and storage of ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Gala’ apples. a. Determine the impact of a preharvest application of soybean oil emulsion on fruit morphology. b. Compare the rate of weight loss during storage and subsequent shelf life between untreated and oil-treated fruit.
