6533b859fe1ef96bd12b80b4
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Quality of cactus pear [Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.] fruit in relation to ripening time, CaCl2 pre-harvest sprays and storage conditions
Paolo IngleseTommaso La MantiaMario Schirrasubject
HorticulturePEARAgronomyOpuntia ficusCactusPostharvestRelative humidityRipeningPreharvestChilling injuryHorticultureBiologydescription
Abstract Post-harvest behaviour of summer and autumn ripening cactus pear ( Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. Cactaceae) fruit cv. Gialla was investigated in relation to pre-harvest growing conditions, and CaCl 2 applications. Summer ripening cactus pear fruit were stored for 5 weeks at 6°C and 90–95% relative humidity (RH), and 3 days at 20°C, 75% RH to simulate a marketing period (SMP). Autumn ripening fruits were kept under the same conditions for 7 weeks plus a SMP. Summer ripening cactus pear fruit were more susceptible to chilling injury and to weight loss, but less sensitive to decay than autumn fruit. CaCl 2 delayed rind colour development and increased fruit resistance to decay but promoted susceptibility to chilling injury.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-10-01 | Scientia Horticulturae |