Macro-climatic effects on fruit development and maturity of non-astringent persimmon (Diospyros kaki L. cv Fuyu)

Abstract

Export focused on non-astringent persimmon industries have been established in climatic zones ranging from temperate through to tropical regions. Market value of persimmon fruit can be sensitive to the influence of environment on quality, yield and seasonality of supply. This study investigates macro-climatic effects on fruit development and maturation.
The study was based on ‘Fuyu’ orchards located in a warm-temperate region (North Island, New Zealand) and in a warm-subtropical region (S.E. Queensland, Australia). Fruits were sampled at regular intervals during fruit growth over two growing seasons. Fruit quality and compositional parameters assessed included fresh weight, skin colour, dry matter, soluble solids and soluble tannins.

Mature fruit grown in the warm-subtropical region had significantly higher soluble solids concentration and content, and lower soluble tannins concentration and content than fruit grown in the warm-temperate region. A comparison of fruit development patterns showed significant differences in soluble soluble solids concentration and content occurring after 15 weeks from full bloom (WFB) and differences in soluble tannin concentration and content occurring before 7 WFB and after 7 WFB respectively. Internal fruit quality attributes appear to be more sensitive to macro-climatic differences between warm-temperate and warm-subtropical regions than the external quality attributes of fruit weight and skin colour.