Effect of maturity and tree age on the behaviour of Queensland grown Delicious apples stored at 34-36 degrees F.

Abstract

Investigations were conducted over a period of four years to determine the effect of maturity and tree age on the cool storage behaviour of Queensland grown apples of the Delicious variety. The main disorder encountered was superficial scald, which was extremely severe in fruit picked in February. Later picking dates resulted in almost complete absence of the disorder. As a general rule, fruit from young trees was more susceptible to storage disorders than that from old trees. Of the picking dates studied, those in the first week in March resulted in long storage with fewer disorders than the earlier picking dates. In order to avoid severe losses due to withering in the store, the fruit should be removed from storage before the end of September.