CRACKING AND SPLITTING OF FRUIT - Washington State …开裂和水果-华盛顿州的分裂….ppt

CRACKING AND SPLITTING OF FRUIT Preston K. Andrews Dept Hort LA Washington State Univ Pullman, USA IMPACT Cherry cracking 50% in many years, 75-100% in some years Limits fresh market production Apple splitting 90% in ‘Stayman Winesap’ (Virginia) Up to 40% in ‘Royal Gala’ (Maryland) 27% in ‘Royal Gala’, 78% in ‘Gala’ 62% for ‘Fuji’ (New Zealand) Tomato, citrus, pear pomegranate CONSEQUENCES Mechanical strength reduced Moisture loss shriveling Harvest before optimum maturity Quality storage/shelf life lowered Infection by opportunistic fungi Chemical injury during washing TERMINOLOGY Cracking Physical failure of cuticle or skin Results from stresses acting on skin Blistering; checking; star, lenticel rain cracking Splitting Extreme cracking that penetrates into flesh Results from stresses acting within flesh Calyx- stem-end splitting, internal ring cracking RESEARCH OBSTACLES Erratic in occurrence Years locations Poor correlation with weather soil conditions Variable fruit-to-fruit susceptibility Between and within trees, branches spurs Maturity is predominate factor Distinct genetic differences CONTRIBUTING FACTORS Skin/flesh physiology Genetic Environmental Soil moisture, rainfall, VPD evapotranspiration Temperature light Cultural Rootstock, vigor, fruit size, nutrients, irrigation, foliar sprays QUANTIFICATION Exposure to: Natural occurrence Simulated rain/mist Immersion Expressed as: Percent Index (number x exposure duration) CRACKING INDEX Immersion method (10 hr) “Dose response” = % fruit cracked X hrs cracked (concentration) X (duration) Earlier cracking contributes more to index Compare susceptibility among genotypes GENERAL HYPOTHESIS Fruit cracking or splitting occurs when stress generated by an imbalance in water status results in an irreversible mechanical strain on, and failure of, cellular, extracellular and tissue integrity Imbalance in water status: differentials between external vs internal, or environmentally- vs developmentally