The Effects of Fruit Thinning on the Development of Cox’s Orange Pippin Apples in Relation to the Incidence of Storage Disorders |
| |
| Authors: | R O Sharples |
| |
| Institution: | East Mailing Research Station, Kent |
| |
| Abstract: | Severe hand thinning of fruitlets on Cox’s Orange Pippin trees five weeks after full blossom led to a doubling of fruit weight by harvest. Although the rate of cell division was stimulated slightly, the larger fruit size was due mainly to an increased rate of cell enlargement.The respiration rate of whole fruits was slightly higher after thinning and the onset of the climacteric rise was advanced. Respiration per cell was correspondingly higher in the larger cells of the thinned fruit and respiration per unit protein was similar to that of fruit from unthinned trees.Potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus contents, expressed on a fresh weight basis, were higher in the cortical tissue of the thinned fruits. Calcium per unit fresh weight was unaffected by thinning and the ratio of calcium to cell surface remained relatively constant throughout development in both types of fruit.Senescent breakdown and bitter pit developed during storage only in the thinned fruit. Slight differences in the incidence of rotting and low temperature breakdown between the two types of fruit are attributed to the effects of maturity rather than of fruit size. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
