Influence of harvest maturity on fruit quality and storage potential of ‘Scilate’ apples

In apples, fruit maturity at harvest is one of the key factors influencing fruit storage potential and postharvest quality. This study investigated the influence of three different harvest timings on fruit quality, fruit softening (FS) and incidence of internal flesh browning (IFB) in 'Scilate' apples. Apples were harvested 187 days after full bloom (DAFB) (early harvest), 194 DAFB (mid-harvest) and 202 DAFB (late harvest). In addition to its influence on fruit maturity, harvest timing also affected several fresh and stored fruit quality parameters as well as FS and IFB (only radial browning was detected). Starch pattern index increased, and average fruit weight, dry matter content, and colour were improved with later harvest timings, but malic acid (MA) content followed a declining trend. While no effect was observed on fruit flesh firmness and total soluble solids (TSS) at harvest, in the stored fruit, flesh firmness and MA content were significantly lower and TSS and juice pH were significantly higher in late harvested fruit. There was no significant difference between early or mid-harvest timings for FS and incidence of IFB, but both were higher at late harvest compared with mid-harvest. We conclude that despite some improvements in fresh fruit quality parameters, delaying harvest of 'Scilate' fruit also increases the risk of FS and IFB.