Comparison of the Effects of Early and Conventional Defoliation on Fruit Growth,  Quality and Skin Color Development in ‘Fuji’ Apples

Kazuhiro  Matsumoto; Tomomichi  Fujita; Saki  Sato; Jong-Pil  Chun

doi:10.12972/kjhst.20170044

All Issue

2017 Vol.35, Issue 4 Preview Page Next Page

Comparison of the Effects of Early and Conventional Defoliation on Fruit Growth, Quality and Skin Color Development in ‘Fuji’ Apples

31 August 2017. pp. 410-417

PDF XML

Abstract

We compared the quality of ‘Fuji’ apples (Malus × domestica ) from trees whose leaves were not removed (no artificial defoliation; NAD) with apples from trees that underwent early defoliation (ED, treated in mid September and early October) and conventional defoliation (CD, treated in early and mid October). The experiment was conducted in three consecutive years using 15-year-old ‘Fuji’ apple grafted on Malus prunifolia . Fruits were harvested on November 7, 16 or 12 in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. Compared to NAD treatment, ED and CD treatment reduced the fresh weight by 4.7% and 0.6%, respectively. The soluble solids content of NAD apples (14.4°Brix) was slightly higher than that of CD (14.1°Brix) and ED (14.0°Brix) apples. Soluble sugar content, flesh firmness, water-core index, and titratable acidity were not affected by defoliation treatment regardless of treatment timing. The skin blush index of NAD apples (2.3) was inferior to that of CD (3.3) and ED (3.4)- treated apples. Furthermore, artificial defoliation treatments increased skin redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) and significantly improved the degree of skin blush compared to NAD fruits.

Keywords

cultivation

Malus × domestica

skin blush

soluble solids content

sugar content

References

Aomori Apple Expt. Sta (1985) Effects of defoliation on fruit quality in apples. Ann Rep Aomori Apple Expt Sta pp 56-57

Arakawa O, Komori S (2006) Apple. In Japanese Society for Horticultural Science, ed. Horticulture in Japan. Nakanishi Printing Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan, pp 34-42

Enseikai (2014) Guideline of the apple production in Aomori prefecture (in Japanese). Enseikai, Aomori, Japan

Fukuda H (2006) A possibility of work load saving on apple cultivations. Agric Hortic 81:1286–1292 (in Japanese)

Fukuda H, Masuda T (2006) Saving of labor inputs to grow apple fruit. Bull Natl Inst Fruit Tree Sci 5:1–13 (in Japanese with English abstract)

Goto S, Kudo S (2014) Effect of defoliation time on fruit quality of ‘Fuji’ apples. Tohoku Agric Res 76:77-78

Jackson JE (2003) Biology of apples and pears. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511542657

Jakopič J, Fajt N, Š tampar F, Veberič R (2013) Effect of crop load on fruit quality of ‘Fuji’ apple. Acta Aliment 42:318-327. doi:10.1556/ AAlim.2012.0005

Ju Z, Duan Y, Ju Z (1999) Effects of covering the orchard floor with reflecting films on pigment accumulation and fruit coloration in ‘Fuji’ apples. Sci Hortic 82:47-56. doi:10.1016/S0304-4238(99)00038-2

Krissoff B, Calvin L, Gray D (1997) Barriers to trade in global apple markets. In: Fruit and Tree Nuts Situation and Outlook. FTS-280,ERS, USDA, pp 42-51

Layne DR, Jiang Z, Rushing JW (2002) The influence of reflective film and ReTain on red skin blush and maturity of ‘Gala’ apples.HortTechnology 12:640-645

Lee YC, Kang SM (1996) Current and carry-over effects of defoliation on vegetative and fruit growth of Siebel 9110 grapes (Vitis spp.).J Kor Soc Hortic Sci 37:406-415

Li ZH, Gemma H, Iwahori S (2002) Stimulation of ‘Fuji’ apple skin color by ethephon and phosphorus–calcium mixed compounds in relation to flavonoid synthesis. Sci Hortic 94: 193-199. doi:10.1016/S0304-4238(01)00363-6

Link H (2000) Significance of flower and fruit thinning on fruit quality. Plant Growth Reg 31:17-26. doi:10.1023/A:1006334110068

Oba S, Kikuchi H, Chiba Y, Sato H (1996) Effect of defoliation time on growth and fruit quality of ‘Fuji’ apple trees on M.26 rootstock. J Jpn Soc Hortic Sci 65(Suppl. 2):134-135 (in Japanese)

Osanai Y (2006) Studies on internal browning induced by methyl bromide fumigation on apples. Bull Apple Exp Station, Aomori Pref Agric Forest Res Cent 34:1-40 (in Japanese with English abstract)

Rudell DR, Fellmann JK, Mattheis JP (2005) Preharvest application of methyl jasmonate to ‘Fuji’ apples enhances red coloration and affects fruit size, splitting, and bitter pit incidence. HortScience 40:1760-1762

Sharma RR, Pal RK, Asrey R, Sagar VR, Dhiman MR, Rana MR (2013) Pre-harvest fruit bagging influences fruit colour and quality of apple cv. Delicious. Agric Sci 4:443-448. doi:10.4236/as.2013.49059

Information

Publisher :KOREAN SOCIETY FOR HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE
Publisher(Ko) :한국원예학회
Journal Title :Horticultural Science and Technology
Journal Title(Ko) :원예과학기술지
Volume : 35
No :4
Pages :410-417
DOI :https://doi.org/10.12972/kjhst.20170044

Horticultural Science and Technology 원예과학기술지 ISSN:1226-8763(Print) 2465-8588(Online)

All Issue