New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science

ISSN: 0114-0671 (Print) 1175-8783 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tnzc20

Fruit maturity and quality of selectively picked

Royal Gala apples

P. L. Brookfield , J. G. Hughes & C. B. Watkins

To cite this article: P. L. Brookfield , J. G. Hughes & C. B. Watkins (1993) Fruit maturity and
quality of selectively picked Royal Gala apples, New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural
Science, 21:2, 183-187, DOI: 10.1080/01140671.1993.9513766

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01140671.1993.9513766

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New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 1993, Vol. 21: 183-187
0114-0671/93/2102-0183 $2.50/0 The Royal Society of New Zealand 1993
Fruit maturity and quality of selectively picked 'Royal Gala' apples
P. L. BROOKFIELD
J. G. HUGHES
The Horticulture and Food Research Institute
of New Zealand
Private Bag 1401
Havelock North, New Zealand
C. B. WATKINS
The Horticulture and Food Research Institute
of New Zealand
Mt Albert Research Centre
Private Bag 92 169
Auckland, New Zealand
Abstract Royal Gala' apple trees were selectively
picked to export grade criteria on either two or four
occasions during the commercial harvest period, and
the maturity and quality of fruit compared at harvest
and after storage. When the total crop was recovered
using four sequential picks, overall maturity at harvest
was less advanced and less variable, and fruit were
firmer, greener, and less greasy after storage than
when the crop was harvested using only two selective
picks. The most uniform fruit quality was obtained
from the second and third picks of trees harvested
four times. Internal ethylene concentrations tended to
increase within commercial background colour
categories with progressively later harvest date. Total
fruit yield and size distribution was similar for the
overall crop from both harvest regimes. These results
indicate that four rather than two harvests, and
segregation of packed lines according to time of
harvest, may be used to optimise out-turn quality of
'Royal Gala' apples.
Keywords Malus domestica; postharvest
physiology; ethylene; background colour
H92086
Received 23 December 1992; accepted 4 May 1993
183
INTRODUCTION
Multiple harvests by selective picking is recom-
mended to New Zealand apple growers as a means of
improving fruit size and quality, and reducing the
incidence of mixed fruit maturity (Anon. 1976; Ivey
1978). The cultivar 'Gala' and its red strains, are
picked selectively using a progressive series of
background colours, since background rather than
red colour has proven to be a more reliable indicator
of harvest maturity (Volz & Watkins unpubl. data).
However, increased crop volumes have resulted in a
tendency for orchardists to reduce the number of
picks over the harvest period. At the same time,
marketing of fruit now occurs over an extended period
and the need to maximise storage potential of fruit
has increased.
Although information has been published on the
maturation and ripening of 'Gala' and 'Royal Gala'
(Morgan et al. 1984; Watkins et al. 1989; Greene &
Autio 1990; Walsh & Volz 1990), no studies on the
effects of selective picking on fruit maturity and
quality have been reported. The objective of this
study was to compare the effects of recovering the
total crop in either two or four harvests on maturity
and quality of 'Royal Gala' fruit.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
Twelve 9-year-old apple cv. 'Royal Gala' {Malus
domestica Borkh.) trees carrying similar crop loads
were selected randomly within an orchard block at
the DSIR Research Orchard, Havelock North, New
Zealand. The trees were grown as slender pyramids
on MM106 rootstock at 520 trees/ha. Fruit from six
trees were picked on four occasions at weekly intervals
(19 and 26 February, 5 and 12 March), starting in the
first week and finishing in the last week of the
commercial harvest period. Fruit from another six
trees were picked on only two occasions (26 February,
12 March) to establish a less frequent picking regime
within the same harvest period.
184 New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 1993, Vol. 21
At each harvest, fruit was selectively picked
according to the harvest maturity criteria of
background colour 4-7 (NZAPMB background colour
chart where 1 = green and 10 = yellow) and a minimum
of 66% red blush coverage required for export fruit
quality. The number, weight, and size distribution of
fruit from each tree was collected during size grading.
Fruit in four size classes (fruit weights 88-99, 109-
118,130-142, and 156-174 g) were segregated and
10 fruit randomly selected from each size class from
each replicate tree. Thus, a total of 60 fruit in each
size class (10 fruit/tree) were assessed per harvest.
Background colour was assessed using the colour
chart as before. Fruit of size class 130-142 g were
divided equally to provide 30 fruit for maturity and
30 fruit for storage assessment. A visual assessment
was made of the percentage blush coverage of each
apple. From each fruit, 1 ml of gas was drawn into a
hypodermic needle inserted into the core cavity and
analysed for internal ethylene concentration (IEC) by
gas chromatography (Phillips PU450 fitted with a
flame ionisation detector, Philips England). Fruit
firmness was measured by taking two readings from
pared surfaces on opposite sides of each fruit using
an Effegi pressure tester (Effegi, Italy) fitted with an
11.1 mm diameter tip. After cutting each apple in
half transversely, the cut surface of the stem end was
placed in iodine solution for c. 30 s then assessed for
starch pattern index using the 'Granny Smith' starch
pattern chart where 0 = 100% starch and 6 = 0%
starch (Reid etal. 1982).
Background colour, flesh firmness, and greasiness
of fruit were assessed after 12 weeks storage at 0.5C
followed by 7 days at 20C. Greasiness was rated
subjectively by touch, using a single evaluator and a
scale of 0 (for none)-3 (for severe greasiness) (Leake
etal. 1989).
Analysis of variance was carried out on median
values of data obtained from individual trees. Ethylene
data were transformed to logarithms prior to analysis.
RESULTS
Fruit from trees picked twice were overall more highly
blushed than those from trees picked four times.
However, the effect of harvest number was detected
on the last harvest only (Fig. 1 A). Although the blush
level of fruit from trees picked four times was above
the 66% requirement for commercial pack-out, it was
lower in the first harvest than in the second or third
harvest.
Background colour scores increased during the
harvest period (Fig. IB) and were higher overall for
fruit picked twice rather than four times. Differences
between treatments were not significant however
within any one harvest date on which both treatments
were picked. A comparison of distribution of
background colours in fruit from both harvest regimes
also demonstrated a shift to yellower fruit in trees
picked only twice compared with fruit from trees
picked four times (Fig. 2). Background colour was
yellower with increasing fruit size in both treatments
but the differences as a result of harvesting frequency
remained similar over the range of fruit sizes (data
not shown).
IEC increased over the harvest period in the two-
pick regime and after the first harvest in the four-pick
regime (Fig. 1C), but there was no effect of picking
regime overall on the IEC. In the first harvest of the
four-pick regime, a wide range of values and relatively
high concentrations in some individual fruit
contributed to a high overall IEC. Further analyses
were performed on IEC values using background
colour as an independent variate. IEC generally
increased as fruit background colour became more
yellow (data not shown). The relationship between
IEC and fruit background colour changed over the
harvest period, but harvesting regime per se did not
affect this relationship. For any one background
colour, fruit tended to have higher IEC at the last
harvest than on earlier harvests, with the change
being greatest in greener fruit e.g., IEC of fruit with
background colour4 of 0.8 ulitre/litre on 26 February
and 2.6 ulitre/litre on 12 March.
The starch pattern index was higher in fruit picked
twice than fruit picked four times (Fig. ID). Starch
pattern indices for fruit picked twice increased
significantly from 3.4 to 4.4 between the two harvests,
whereas those of fruit harvested four times were
similar over the harvest period with a mean value
of 2.8.
Fruit softened during the harvest period (Fig. IE),
and overall the flesh firmness of fruit from trees
picked on two occasions (70.6 N) was lower than in
fruit from trees picked on four occasions (75.5 N).
However, within harvest dates, only fruit from the
two-pick regime on Harvest 4 were significantly
different.
Total fruit yield was 608 and 606 kg for the two-
and four-pick treatments respectively. Fruit size
distribution was similar between treatments overall,
and yield differences at harvest reflected the number
of fruit harvested on each occasion (data not shown).
Most fruit were harvested on the first and second
harvests for the two- and four-pick regimes
respectively. By 5 March, 76% of fruit had been
Brookfield et al.'Royal Gala' apples 185
100 -i

**
X D
CD

ind-
5- **
90 - NS T *
n r c
4- NS
*
CD
80 - rl j 4'
4-
1

1 TO

1 I

Q. 3-
o
70 -
1 (^ 2-

11 C/)

19 Feb 26 Feb 5 Mar 12 Mar Overall

Harvest date

harvested from trees of the four-pick treatment but

NS
19 Feb 26 Feb 5 Mar 12 Mar Overall
Harvest date
Fig. 1 Maturity and quality of 'Royal Gala' apples at
harvest from trees picked two (open bar) or four times
(solid bar). A, percentage blush coverage; B, background
colour; C, internal ethylene oncentration; D, starch
pattern index; E, flesh firmness. NS, not significant;
*,P = 0.05; **, P = 0.01 ; ***, P = 0.001.
only 56% of fruit from trees of the two-pick
treatment.
After storage, background colour was higher than
at harvest, but similar treatment differences to those
found at harvest were evident (Fig. 3 A). Overall, fruit
from the four-pick treatment were less yellow than
fruit from the two-pick treatment, but there was no
effect within any one harvest date on which both
treatments were picked.
Fruit from trees picked twice were softer after
storage than fruit from trees picked four times.
However, the overall difference was not great (51.0
N and 52.9 N respectively, Fig. 3B). Fruit from the
last harvest were significantly softer than those picked
at the second harvest date for both treatments.
Greasiness after storage was worse on fruit picked
only twice, increasing from slight to moderate (Fig.
3C). Changes as a result of harvest date were not
significant for fruit picked four times, although more
variation occurred in fruit on the fourth harvest (data
not shown).
186 New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 1993, Vol. 21

4 5 6 7

Background colour
Fig. 2 Background colour distribution of 'Royal Gala'
apples from trees harvested on four occasions () and two
occasions (A).

DISCUSSION
The rate of fruit maturation did not appear to be
influenced by frequency of harvests. Individual fruit
from trees harvested only twice tended to be very
mature because these fruit remained on the tree longer.
Thus overall differences in fruit maturity between the
two treatments may have resulted from the presence
of these more mature fruit in fruit harvested from the
two-pick treatment. Moreover, there were no
differences between the two treatments in the
relationship between IEC and background colour.
Background colour is regarded as the main
harvesting indicator for 'Royal Gala' and it has
historically been assumed that the physiology of fruit
is similar for any single background colour irrespective
of harvest date. However, this is unlikely to be true.
Ethylene production of 'Royal Gala' fruit has been
shown to increase over the commercial harvest period 19 Feb 26 Feb 5 Mar 12 Mar Overall
(Watkins et al. 1989; Walsh & Volz 1990), and the
present study indicated that IEC tended to increase Harvest date
for any one background colour over this period. At
the last harvest, greener fruit had similar IEC to Fig. 3 Quality of 'Royal Gala' apples after storage
from trees picked two (open bar) or four (solid bar)
yellower fruit. Therefore infrequent, delayed, or late times. A, background colour; B, flesh firmness; C,
harvesting may result overall in considerably higher greasiness index. NS, not significant; *, P = 0.05;
IEC in the fruit population regardless of background **,/> = 0.01 ;***,P = 0.001.
colour. It appears more critical to avoid over maturity
as the end of harvest approaches, and therefore a
lower background maximum colour grade may need regime with background colour 4.7, had been picked
to be imposed at this time. A comparison of treatments by the third harvest date of the four-harvest regime.
in this experiment showed that 56% of the crop from The most uniform fruit maturity and quality came
the two-harvest regime with background colour 5.3, from the second and third harvests of trees picked
compared with 76% of the crop from the four-harvest four times. Fruit from earlier or later harvests had
Brookfield et al.'Royal Gala' apples
more variable IECs. Those from the last harvest were
relatively more mature, with limited differences in
IECs between fruit across the range of background
colours.
This study confirms industry observations (Anon.
1976; Ivey 1978) that problems with fruit quality
may occur if the crop is picked less frequently and
fruit of incorrect maturity find their way into the
packed line. Fruit harvested using only two picks
resulted overall in higher percentage blush in fruit
and similar fruit yield and size than in those picked
four times, but advanced maturity in fruit from these
trees resulted in softer, yellower, and more greasy
fruit after storage. Thus the results demonstrate the
potential to improve quality after storage by four
rather than two harvests and segregation of fruit from
different harvest dates, even on trees which are open
structured with balanced fruiting and vegetative
growth, and with no residual fruit (i.e., fruit with less
than the required % blush), after harvest. The trends
would be expressed to a greater extent in overcrowded
and overcropped trees in which harvesting is delayed
to achieve sufficient red blush development on fruit.
As a consequence a higher proportion of the crop
would be harvested in the latter period, which this
study has shown to result in fruit of advanced maturity
and lower quality after storage.
Interestingly, an increase in yield, and thus
financial return to the grower, by picking selectively
shown by Ivey (1978) was not found in our study.
Fruit from trees picked only twice were of more
variable quality, but were of current export standard
generally. The balance between improved fruit storage
quality resulting from greater number of harvests
which will be required to maximise storage periods,
and the financial cost to the grower, needs to be
considered.
187
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank Dr Anne Gunson for biometrical assistance.
This study was supported by the Foundation for Research,
Science & Technology.
REFERENCES
Anonymous 1976: Selective picking of Galas
recommended. Orchardist of New Zealand 49: 37.
Greene, D. W.; Autio, W. R. 1990: Evaluation of ripening
and fruit quality of 'Gala' and 'McIntosh' apples
at harvest and following air storage. Fruit varieties
journal 44: 117-123.
Ivey, I. D. 1978: Selective picking of apples. Orchardist of
New Zealand 2: 13-14.
Leake, A. L.; Hoggett, S. M.; Watkins, C. B. 1989: Solving
the greasiness problem in Granny Smiths.
Orchardist of New Zealand 62(4): 24-26; 62(6):
23.
Morgan, D. C.; Stanley; C. J.; Volz, R.; Warrington, I. J.
1984: Summer pruning of 'Gala' apple: the
relationships between pruning time, radiation
penetration, and fruit quality. Journal of the
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637-642.
Reid, M. S.; Padfield, C. A. S.; Watkins, C. B.; Harman, J.
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for Granny Smith apples. New Zealand journal of
agricultural research 25: 229-237.
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sports: a preliminary comparison of fruit maturity.
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Assessment of ethylene production by apple
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