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The changes in ripening parameters of ‘Spadona’ pears were monitored from 95 days after full bloom (DAFB) until the end of the harvest season in 2 orchards during 3 years, in an attempt to predict the timing of the pre-climacteric minimum (PCM), as a tool for determining the optimum harvest maturity for extended controlled atmosphere (CA) storage. A model based on the pre-harvest rates of changes of fruit weight, firmness, starch degradation and seed colour was found to predict the timing of the PCM with an accuracy of 24 h of its occurrence (R2 = 0.9925). Changes in soluble solid content (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA) did not improve the model. Fruit quality assessed at removal from CA storage after 6 months, followed by 2 weeks of shelf-life at 20 °C, verified that the optimal time for harvest of ‘Spadona’ pears was at the PCM. |
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